Peroxynitrite scavenging activity of sinapic acid (3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) isolated from Brassica juncea.

Peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), formed from a reaction of superoxide and nitric oxide, is one of the most potent cytotoxic species that are known to oxidize cellular constituents including essential proteins, lipids, and DNA. In this study, the ability of sinapic acid (3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxycinnamic acid), isolated from Brassica juncea, to scavenge ONOO(-) was investigated. The data obtained show that sinapic acid can efficiently scavenge native ONOO(-) as well as ONOO(-) derived from the peroxynitrite donor 3-morpholinosydnonimine hydrochloride (SIN-1). Spectrophotometric analyses revealed that sinapic acid suppressed the formation of ONOO(-)-mediated tyrosine nitration through an electron donation mechanism. In further studies, sinapic acid also showed a significant ability of inhibiting nitration of bovine serum albumin and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in a dose-dependent manner. Sinapic acid decreased the LDL peroxidation induced by SIN-1-derived ONOO(-). The present study suggests that sinapic acid has an efficient ONOO(-) scavenging ability, which may well be a potent ONOO(-) oxidant scavenger for the protection of the cellular defense activity against the ONOO(-)-involved diseases.