Degree Name

MS (Master of Science)

Program

Chemistry

Date of Award

12-2019

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Dr. Ismail O. Kady

Committee Members

Dr. Abbas G. Shilabin, Dr. Catherine McCusker

Abstract

Hydroxytyrosol is one of the most powerful known antioxidants. It is a naturally occurring polyphenol, most commonly produced in olive trees, (Olea europaea). The remarkable antioxidant and pharmacological properties of hydroxytyrosol has made it an outstanding compound in the polyphenol family and of great interest to many researchers. Hydroxytyrosol can scavenge free radicals produced during cellular oxidative stress and helps to protect the integrity of cells in living systems. Despite its numerous biological and pharmacological uses, it is found in very low concentration in olive oil, this limits its availability for biomedical applications. This work reports a novel and effective method for synthesizing hydroxytyrosol from the readily available precursor catechol. The cellular uptake of hydroxytyrosol is slow due to its high hydrophilicity. Therefore, this research aimed at synthesizing less hydrophilic derivatives of hydroxytyrosol by introducing some selected hydrophobic groups (such as alkyl, acyl, …) to its molecular skeleton.

Document Type

Thesis - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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