Antiradical activity of delphinidin, pelargonidin and malvin towards hydroxyl and nitric oxide radicals: The energy requirements calculations as a prediction of the possible antiradical mechanisms

•Conformational analysis of delphinidin, pelargonidin and malvin was performed.•OH and NO antiradical activity was examined theoretically and experimentally.•EPR measurements proved Dp, Pg and Mv was selective towards hydroxyl radical.•EPR measurements proved Dp, Pg and Mv was not selective towards nitric oxide.•Molecules investigated reacted with hydroxyl radical via HAT and SPLET mechanisms.

Naturally occurring flavonoids, delphinidin, pelargonidin and malvin, were investigated experimentally and theoretically for their ability to scavenge hydroxyl and nitric oxide radicals. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy was used to determine antiradical activity of the selected compounds and M05-2X/6-311+G(d,p) level of theory for the calculation of reaction enthalpies related to three possible mechanisms of free radical scavenging activity, namely HAT, SET-PT and SPLET. The results obtained show that the molecules investigated reacted with hydroxyl radical via both HAT and SPLET in the solvents investigated. These results point to HAT as implausible for the reaction with nitric oxide radical in all the solvents investigated. SET-PT also proved to be thermodynamically unfavourable for all three molecules in the solvents considered.

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