Antioxidant and antiradical activities of flavonoids

J Agric Food Chem. 2001 Jun;49(6):2774-9. doi: 10.1021/jf001413m.

Abstract

The relationship between the structure of 42 flavonoids and their antioxidant and antiradical activities was elucidated by heat-induced oxidation in a beta-carotene and linoleic acid system and by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl decoloration test. From seven structurally divergent groups of flavonoids, only flavonols with a free hydroxyl group at the C-3 position of the flavonoid skeleton showed high inhibitory activity to beta-carotene oxidation. Antiradical activity depended on the presence of a flavonol structure or free hydroxyl group at the C-4' position. The effect of the 4'-hydroxyl was strongly modified by other structural features, such as the presence of free hydroxyls at C-3 and/or C-3' and a C2-C3 double bond.

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants
  • Flavonoids / chemistry*
  • Flavonoids / metabolism*
  • Flavonols
  • Glycosylation
  • Methylation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Flavonoids
  • Flavonols