ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Spectrophotometric determination of microamounts of quercetin based on its complexation with copper(II)

D. A. Kostić, G. Ž. Miletić, S. S. Mitić, I. D. Rašić, and V. V. Živanović

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia

E-mail: dan69@bankerinter.net

Received: 9 May 2006  Revised: 16 August 2006  Accepted: 7 September 2006

Abstract: The complexation process of the transition metal Cu(II) with quercetin was studied. The investigation was conducted spectrophotometrically in ethanol at the maximum absorption wavelength of 458.5 nm. Cu(II)—quercetin complex composition (1: 1) was determined using the Job, Harvey—Manning, and mole ratio methods. Complex stability constant was calculated by the Job and mole ratio methods and the respective logarithm values were 7.53 ± 0.25 and 7.44 ± 0.03. A new method for quantitative determination of the quercetin content in solution was developed in this work. At the optimal conditions quercetin was determined in concentrations ranging from 0.202 to 1.006 µg cm⁻³ with relative standard error of 2.5 % to 5.5 %. The lower detection limit was 0.067 µg cm⁻³. The method was found very accurate, reproducible, and sensitive, capable to determine microamounts of quercetin in pharmaceutical preparations.

Keywords: spectrophotometric determination - Cu(II) complex - flavonoid - quercetin

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-007-0001-z

Chemical Papers 61 (2) 73–76 (2007)