Oligomeric oxidation products of the flavonoid quercetin.

Some of the main oxidation products of quercetin were shown to be compounds formed by oligomerization of the starting flavonoid. Conditions for the preparative synthesis of these compounds were developed. Their structures were established using HPLC-MS and NMR methods. Quercetin oligomers in the natural sample, outer leaves of modified runners of Allium cepa L., were found using chromatographic procedures. The use of quercetin oligomers as indicators of its oxidation was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]