Oxygen radical scavenging activity of phenylbutenones and their correlation with antiinflammatory activity.

A number of ring substituted(E)-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-ones including dehydrozingerone were studied for their oxygen radical scavenging properties. They scavenged superoxide and hydroxyl radicals to an appreciable extent. Good correlation (r = 0.87) was obtained between superoxide scavenging and antiinflammatory activity. The correlation was not significant with the hydroxyl scavenging activity.