Electrochemical studies of quercetin interacting with DNA

An electrochemical investigation of the interaction between quercetin and DNA is reported for the first time. When DNA was added into quercetin solution, both the reduction and oxidation currents of quercetin decreased with few changes in the peak potentials. There was no great difference between the electrochemical parameters determined from the native quercetin solution and those from the solution mixed with DNA. We assume that quercetin interacting with DNA produces an electrochemically inactive supramolecular complex via intercalation. Comparing the phenomena motioned above with those of interaction between morin and DNA, we infer the possible active part of quercetin that interacts with DNA. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.