Dodecyl gallate is a derivative of the antioxidant gallic acid that has diverse biological activities, including antioxidant, antiproliferative, and antibacterial properties.1,2,3 It inhibits proliferation of a variety of cancer cells, including WEHI-231 mouse B cell lymphoma, Daudi human lymphoma, and HT-29 human colon cancer cells (IC50s = 0.8, 1.4, and 17.0 µM, respectively).1 It induces apoptosis of WEHI-231 cells but not L-929 mouse fibroblasts. Dodecyl gallate decreases peroxidation of ox brain phospholipid liposomes by 71 and 76% when used at concentrations of 12 and 50 µM, respectively, and scavenges trichloromethyl peroxyl radicals at 0.05% w/v.2 It is active against a variety of Gram-positive bacteria, including B. subtilis (MIC = 25 µg/ml), as well as M. luteus, S. aureus, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA; MICs = 12.5 µg/ml for all), and acts by inhibiting the bacterial membrane respiratory chain.3
1.Serrano, A., Palacios, C., Roy, G., et al.Derivatives of gallic acid induce apoptosis in tumoral cell lines and inhibit lymphocyte proliferationArch. Biochem. Biophys.350(1)49-54(1998) 2.Aruoma, O.I., Murcia, A., Butler, J., et al.Evaluation of the antioxidant and prooxidant actions of gallic acid and its derivativesJ. Agric. Food Chem.41(11)1880-1885(1993) 3.Kubo, I., Fujita, K.-i., Nihei, K.-i., et al.Non-antibiotic antibacterial activity of dodecyl gallateBioorg. Med. Chem.11(4)573-580(2003)