Polyphenoles are an important and aboundand compound class in nature. However, and in contrast to the main organic components of animals and plants, such as peptides, poly saccharides and lipids – polyphenols do not account for a large mass percentage of the living matter. Nevertheless, they play an essential role in metabolic pathways.

The class of „polyphenols“ consists of quite a number of different monomeric compounds with various structural motives and their oligo- and polymers. Well known examples are: proanthocyanidins (flavonoids, isoflavonoids, catechins), gallotannins, lignans and neolignans.

These compounds have been found to participate in a variety of cell functions, e.g. cell signalling, the inhibiton of DNA damage and the downregulation of the expression of adhesion molecules.

Mostly they are referred to as exhibiting ‚antioxidant effects’ due to the reducing properties of the phenolic groups. This redox behaviour certainly contributes to the physiologic effects but it is only one part of the complex interaction ways with cells.

Some of the beneficial impact of natural polyphenols on humans are know under the term „French Paradoxon“.

This acronym is based in the findings of BBC news in 1991 where BBC authors had travelled to Lyon, France, to interview doctors and hear explanations of why the French affinity for fatty cheese, foie gras and indulgently heavy sauces still result in one of the lowest rates of heart diseases, much lower than of Americans or Europeans of regions outside typical wine growing areas.

In the meantime, these findings could be scientifically verified. Today the „French Paradoxon“ is based on results of large epidemoligical studies and recent in vitro tests, which have proved the efficacy of the complex mixture of compounds in red wine to prevent cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and have shown potent inhibitory action on prostate and breast cancer lines.

Therefore, the demand for mixtures of polyphenols and for specific polyphenolic compounds of well defined structure and molar weight is incresing substantially.

Comparable to other natural compounds, even polyphenols with sophisticated structures and many streogenic centres are efficiently made by nature in a stereochemically clearly defined manner.

It goes without saying – the art of synthetic chemists lays far behind compared to these natural processes. However, as many research groups around the world are dedicating their work to polyphenols, scientists are making progress in isolation, purifying, analyzing and synthesizing these substances.

And our contribution?

ChiroBlock has been engaged in research on and the synthesis of polyphenolic compounds for about four years. Our interest in their chemistry started with an international research project, funded by the European Commission 6th Framework Programme. In the course of this research activities, we made and analyzed a number of naturally occuring and unnatural polyphenols, such as epicatechin oligomers. Many of them are used as reference compounds and analytical standards. Others, especially unnatural derivatives, are interesting substances for in-vitro and in-vivo tests.

As a customer of ChiroBlock you benefit from this know how, regardless of wheter you are looking for catechins or related (chiral) polyphenolic compounds.

The first products have been made available. Depending on the amount you need, you can buy them either directly from ChiroBlock or via our distributing partners. Please feel free to ask for availabilities, sources and prices.