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. 2023 Mar 17;28(6):2713.
doi: 10.3390/molecules28062713.

Do Rutin and Quercetin Retain Their Structure and Radical Scavenging Activity after Exposure to Radiation?

Natalia Rosiak  1 , Judyta Cielecka-Piontek  1 , Robert Skibiński  2 , Kornelia Lewandowska  3 , Waldemar Bednarski  3 , Przemysław Zalewski  1
Affiliations

Do Rutin and Quercetin Retain Their Structure and Radical Scavenging Activity after Exposure to Radiation?

Natalia Rosiak et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

The influence of ionizing radiation on the physicochemical properties of quercetin and rutin in the solid state was studied. Quercetin and rutin were irradiated with the standard recommended radiation dose (25 kGy) according to EN 522 standard. The samples were irradiated by electron beam radiation. EPR studies indicate the formation of a small number of free radicals due to irradiation. Moreover, some radicals recombined with the mean lifetime of 1200 and 93 h, and a stable radical concentration reached only 0.29 and 0.90 ppm for quercetin and rutin, respectively. The performed spectroscopic study (FT-IR) confirmed the radiostability of the flavonoids tested. Chromatographic tests (HPLC, HPLC-MS) showed that irradiation of quercetin and rutin with a 25 kGy dose did not change the physicochemical properties of the tested compounds. Degradation products were not observed. The antioxidant activities were determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity assay, ABTS Radical Scavenging Assay (ABTS), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power Assay (FRAP), Cupric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Capacity Assay (CUPRAC). The conducted research confirmed that exposure to ionizing radiation does not change the chemical structure of tested flavonoids and their antioxidant properties.

Keywords: EPR; FTIR; HPLC; antioxidant; electron beam irradiation; quercetin; rutin.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
EPR spectra of non-irradiated (0 kGy) and irradiated (dose 25 kGy) samples recorded 51 and 595 h (quercetin) (a); 50 and 596 h (rutin) (b) after irradiation. The concentration of free radicals vs. time after irradiation (25 kGy) calculated from EPR spectra for quercetin (c) and rutin (d), respectively. The solid lines in (c,d) are the approximations of Equation (2) to the experimental points.
Figure 1
Figure 1
EPR spectra of non-irradiated (0 kGy) and irradiated (dose 25 kGy) samples recorded 51 and 595 h (quercetin) (a); 50 and 596 h (rutin) (b) after irradiation. The concentration of free radicals vs. time after irradiation (25 kGy) calculated from EPR spectra for quercetin (c) and rutin (d), respectively. The solid lines in (c,d) are the approximations of Equation (2) to the experimental points.
Figure 2
Figure 2
IR absorption spectra of non-irradiated (Quercetin 0 kGy—black) and irradiated (Quercetin 25 kGy—blue) quercetin at room temperature, range from 400 to 4000 cm−1.
Figure 3
Figure 3
IR absorption spectra of non-irradiated (Rutin 0 kGy—black) and irradiated (Rutin 25 kGy—blue) rutin at room temperature, range from 400 to 4000 cm−1.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Summary of the results of antioxidant properties. IC50 value in DPPH and ABTS assay and IC0.5 value in FRAP and CUPRAC assay.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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