ABSTRACT:
Radical scavenging and metal reducing power of small molecules are very important in the development of new therapeutic reagents. N-Arylhydroxamic acids are neutral polyfunctional molecules, with pharmacophoric functionality,- NOH.C=O in their structure. The four different hydroxamic acid derivatives, N-p-tolyl-4- ethoxybenzo, N-o- tolyl-4- ethoxybenzo, N-m-chloro-2-methoxybenzo and N-m- chloro-4-methoxybenzo hydroxamic acids are chosen for the present study. The donor hydrogen of the hydroxyl group present in the chemical moiety of these ligands is responsible for antiradical effect. The radical scavenging activity of hydroxamic acids is estimated following the DPPH radical scavenging and DNA cleavage protection methods. Increase in absorbance with concentration in iron and copper lons Reducing Antioxidant Power Assay methods confirms that all hydroxamic acids were able to reduce ferric/cupric ion into ferrous/cuprous ion. The reducing power increases with increase in concentration of hydroxamic acids in both methods.