Estimation of antioxidative properties of phenylacetic acids using ion-exclusion chromatography

Cellular oxidative stress has been implicated as a key mechanism of cell differentiation provoked by several compounds (doxorubicins, fibrades, edelfosine). Phenylacetate and its derivatives in submillimolar to millimolar concentrations induce cell differentiation. Ion-exclusion chromatography is widely used for separation and analysis of weak acids. We applied it to the analysis of phenylacetic acids and to the determination of the hydroxyl radical-trapping potential of some of these compounds. Their total antioxidant potential for peroxy radicals was also measured using a photometric method. It was found that phenylacetates are weak antioxidants and in the concentrations which induce cell differentiation effects may substantially reinforce intracellular antioxidative potential.