Maia Merlani
Tbilisi State Medical University
Georgia
Title: Natural biopolymer-Poly[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)glyceric acid] from comfrey and its synthetic analogues
Biography
Biography: Maia Merlani
Abstract
From ancient times extracts, teas and pulps obtained from various comfrey species (Symphytum L., family Boraginaceae) and amongst them Caucasian ones (Symphytum asperum Lepech. and S.caucasicum Bieb. widespread in Georgia) are known in folk medicine as powerful wound healing and anti-inflammatory remedies. It was established that all aforementioned plants contain high molecular constituents namely a caffeic acid derived polyether - poly[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)glyceric acid] (PDPGA). Some of the plants medicinal effects, like its wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties, could be attributed to this polymer. Moreover, the polymer showed antioxidant, immunomodulatory and antitumor activity. Interestingly, this polymer is a first representative of a previously unknown class of natural occurring biopolymers: phenolic polyethers. Recently racemic and pure enantiomeric forms of PDPGA monomer - 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-glyceric acid were synthesized as well as a methylated analogue of PDPGA -poly(MCDMPO). Comparative investigation of antioxidant properties of natural polymer and its monomer revealed that the latter appeared 40 fold active than polymer in both DPPH and chemiluminescence assays.