Protective effects of hydroxychalcones on free radical-induced cell damage

A number of hydroxychalcones were synthesized to evaluate their protective effects against oxidative cell damage and the production of superoxide anion. The hydroxychalcones which have a 3,4-dihydroxycinnamoyl structure were potent inhibitors of lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes. In particular, we found that 2',4',3,4-tetrahydroxychalcone (3) exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on H2O2-induced hemolysis due to an antioxidant effect. In addition, this compound strongly inhibited CCl4-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultured hepatocytes and substantially decreased the production of superoxide anion by rat peritoneal exudate macrophages.