Inhibitory effects of caffeic acid ethyl ester on H2O2-induced cytotoxicity and DNA single-strand breaks in Chinese hamster V79 cells.

Cytotoxicity and DNA single-strand breaks caused by H2O2 were assessed by a colony formation assay and a DNA precipitation assay, respectively, with Chinese hamster V79 cells. In both assays, caffeic acid ethyl ester showed protective effects. The structure-activity relationship showed that the o-dihydroxy structure of caffeic acid ethyl ester was essential for the protective effects.