Synthesis and bioactivity of novel caffeic acid esters from Zuccagnia punctata.

Synthesis of novel caffeic acid esters (1 and 2) was accomplished starting from appropriately substituted benzaldehydes (3 and 9). While compound 2 exhibited potent anti-oxidative activity in both the nitroblue tetrazolium and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging models, compound 1 showed moderate 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity.