Enzymatic propyl gallate synthesis in solvent-free system: Optimization by response surface methodology

The ability of a non-commercial immobilized Staphylococcus xylosus lipase to catalyze the esterification of propanol with gallic acid was investigated and the antioxidant as well as the antimicrobial activities of the ester formed were evaluated. The response surface methodology, based on a three variables Box–Behnken design (reaction temperature, enzyme amount and 1-propanol/gallic acid molar ratio), was used to optimize the experimental conditions of propylgallate synthesis. The maximum conversion yield (90% ±3.5) was obtained by using 400 IU of immobilized lipase and a propanol/gallic acid at a molar ratio of 160 at 52 °C. The obtained ester was characterized by spectroscopic methods, NMR and FTIR. The antioxidant activity of propyl gallate was evaluated and compared to the synthetic classical antioxidants, BHA and ascorbic acid, taken as references. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of the propyl gallate was tested against S. xylosus, Escherchia coli and Staphylococcus aureus using disc diffusion and macrodilution methods. Our results show that the synthesized propyl gallate ester presents a higher antioxidant and antimicrobial power than the parent gallic acid as well as the synthetic classical antioxidants.