Reaction of hydroxyl radical with phenylpropanoid glycosides from Pedicularis species: a pulse radiolysis study.

Using pulse radiolysis technique, the reaction between hydroxyl radical and 7 phenylpropanoid glycosides: echinacoside, verbascoside, leucosceptoside A, martynoside, pediculariosides A, M and N which were isolated from Pedicularis were examined. The rate constants of these reactions were determined by transient absorption spectra. All 7 phenylpropanoid glycosides react with hydroxyl radical at high rate constants within (0.97-1.91) x 10(10)L.mol-1.s-1, suggesting that they are effective hydroxyl radical scavengers. The results demonstrate that the numbers of phenolic hydroxyl groups of phenylpropanoid glycosides are directly related to their scavenging activities. The scavenging activities are likely related to o-dihydroxy group of phenylpropanoid glycosides as well.