Synthesis of feruloyl-myo-inositols and their inhibitory effects on superoxide generation

Ester compounds consisting of ferulic acid and myo-inositol, obtained from rice bran, were synthesized. The inhibitory effects of these feruloyl-myo-inositols on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced superoxide (O2−) generation were examined using differentiated HL-60 cells. Among the derivatives tested, only 3,4,5,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1,2-di-O-[3-(4′-acetoxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-2-propenoyl]-myo-inositol (3) showed a distinct inhibitory activity.