Oxidation of naringenin by gamma-radiation

The reaction of OH with naringenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavanone) in the presence of air induced the formation of the hydroxylation product eriodictyol (3′,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxyflavanone). Its yield was dependent on pH. The initial degradation yield of naringenin was Gi(-Nar)=(2.5±0.2)×10−7 mol dm−3 J−1. For the reaction with OH, a rate constant k (OH+naringenin)=(7.2±0.7)×109 M−1 s−1 was determined. In the presence of N2O and NaN3/N2O, no eriodyctiol was formed. Apigenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavon) was detected as decay product of the naringenin phenoxyl radicals. In Ar-saturated solutions, naringenin exhibited a pronounced radiation resistance, G(-naringenin) ∼0.3×10−7 mol dm−3 J−1.