ANTIOXIDATIVE ACTIVITY OF FLAVONES AND FLAVONOLS IN-VITRO

Forty-one flavonoids of the flavone and flavonol types were investigat ed for their antioxidative activity using a lipid peroxidation generat ion system mediated by the addition of H2O2/Fe2+ to rat liver homogena te. The results showed that both types specifically and markedly reduc ed the production of peroxidants induced by H2O2, Fe2+ or a Fenton-typ e reaction. The scavenging ability of these compounds was found to be associated closely with their chemical structure, especially the numbe r of hydroxyl groups linked to the basic skeleton, However, there were some exceptions, implying that not only hydroxyl groups but also thei r configuration determines the activity. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons , Ltd.