Molecular modification of chlorogenic acid via radiolysis with inhibitory effects on NO production.

The molecular modification of chlorogenic acid (1) through γ-irradiation resulted in the formation of five new products: chlorogenosins A (2), B (3), C (4), D (5), and E (6) along with known compounds rosmarinosin B (7), protocatechuic acid (8), and protocatechuic aldehyde (9). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic methods, including one-dimensional and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The potential anti-inflammatory activities of all the isolated compounds were determined by evaluating their inhibitory effects on the nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. Notably, compounds 2 and 3, which contained two hydroxymethyl functionalities instead of the trans-olefinic moiety present in the original chlorogenic acid, exhibited stronger inhibitory effects on NO production than that of the original compound. These findings suggest that the predominant chemical changes induced in chlorogenic acid by γ-irradiation may enhance its anti-inflammatory properties.