Phenolic compounds are a vast family of organic molecules characterized by at least one aromatic ring bearing one or more hydroxyl groups, a structural motif that underlies their reactivity, solubility, and biological effects. This class of compounds includes simple phenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins, stilbenes, lignans, and many other subclasses that differ in ring number, substitution pattern, and degree of polymerization. Phenolics in plants are involved with growth, reproduction, and defense, and contribute to pigmentation, flavor, astringency, and aroma. They can scavenge ROS, chelate transition metals, and modulate redox‑sensitive reactions, influencing inflammation, endothelial function, and cellular stress responses. AkrivisBio’s Phenolic Compounds Assay utilizes the reactivity of phenolics towards diazonium salts under alkaline conditions, leading to the formation of a chromophore, with a specificity which excludes reactions with other redox-sensitive compounds, such as ascorbic acid, reducing sugars and sulfites. Sensitivity is dependent upon the precise phenolic being measured. Using catechin as a “standard” and referring other phenolics to it in catechin equivalents, we can measure these well into the micromolar range with a lower limit around 1 nmole per well.
