The in vitro antioxidant effects of some flavonylthiazolidinediones (Ia-d, IIa-d) on rat liver microsomal NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation (LP) levels were determined by measuring the formation of 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substance. The free radical-scavenging properties of the compounds were examined in vitro by determining the capacity to scavenge superoxide anion formation and of the interaction with the stable free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The compounds had no inhibitory effects on LP. However, they had variable inhibitory influence on superoxide anion production and DPPH radical in a concentration-dependent manner. The most active compound, 3-(2,5-dimethoxyphenacyl)-5-[2-phenyl-4H-4-oxo-1-benzopyran-6-yl)methylenyl]-thiazolidine-2,4-dione, Id showed 98% inhibition of superoxide anion production and 95% inhibition of DPPH stable free radical at 10(-3) M.