Zn(II) Complex of Plant Phenolic Chlorogenic Acid: Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Structural Studies

The structure of the Zn(II) complex of 5-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid, 5-CQA) and the type of interaction between the Zn(II) cation and the ligand were studied by means of various experimental and theoretical methods, i.e., electronic absorption spectroscopy UV/Vis, infrared spectroscopy FT-IR, elemental, thermogravimetric and density functional theory (DFT) calculations at B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), CUPRAC (cupric reducing antioxidant power) and trolox oxidation assays were applied in study of the anti-/pro-oxidant properties of Zn(II) 5-CQA and 5-CQA. The antimicrobial activity of these compounds against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis and Candida albicans was tested. An effect of Zn(II) chelation by chlorogenic acid on the anti-/pro-oxidant and antimicrobial activities of the ligand was discussed. Moreover, the mechanism of the antioxidant properties of Zn(II) 5-CQA and 5-CQA were studied on the basis of the theoretical energy descriptors and thermochemical parameters. Zn(II) chlorogenate showed better antioxidant activity than chlorogenic acid and commonly applied natural (L-ascorbic acid) and synthetic antioxidants (butylated hydroxyanisol (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)). The pro-oxidant activity of Zn(II) 5-CQA was higher than the ligand and increased with the rise of the compound concentration The type of Zn(II) coordination by the chlorogenate ligand strongly affected the antioxidant activity of the complex.