Correlation between reduction potentials and inhibitory effects on Epstein–Barr virus activation of poly-substituted anthraquinones

As a continuation of our studies using natural and synthetic products as cancer chemopreventive agents, we examined the reduction potentials of some poly-substituted anthraquinones in phosphate buffer at pH 7.2 by means of cyclic voltammetry. A definite correlation has been found between the reduction potentials and the inhibitory effects of the poly-substituted anthraquinones on Epstein–Barr virus early antigen activation. It has been further shown that the correlation can be enhanced by introducing log P as an additional parameter.