Inhibition of Horse Bean and Germinated Barley Lipoxygenases by Some Phenolic Compounds

Phenolic compounds have been repeatedly implicated as potent antioxidants. Efficiency has been frequently estimated by radical scavenging activity and few reports have considered lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibition. Horse bean LOX was inhibited by a range of phenolic acids, gallates and flavonoids. All compounds tested were uncompetitive inhibitors with the exception of flavonol aglycons which were non competitive type. In each class of compounds, inhibition constants were strongly affected by structures. Inhibition patterns of (-)-epicatechin on germinated barley LOXs were detailed: (-)-epicatechin acted as an uncompetitive inhibitor while (-)-epicatechin reduced hydroperoxide formation by its radical scavenging activity and thus limited enzyme activation.