2-Styrylchromones are a small group of naturally occurring chromones, vinylogues of flavones (2-phenylchromones).
Natural and synthetic 2-styrylchromones have been tested in different biological systems, showing activities with potential therapeutic
applications. In particular, the potential and hitherto understudied antioxidant behavior of these compounds has been raised as a
matter of interest. Thus the present work consisted in the study of the in vitro scavenging activities for reactive oxygen species (ROS)
and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) of various 2-styrylchromone derivatives and structurally similar flavonoids. Some of the studied
2-styrylchromones proved to be extremely efficient scavengers of the different ROS and RNS, showing, in some cases, IC50s under
1 lM. The hydroxylation pattern of 2-styrylchromones, especially in the B-ring but also in the A ring, modulates the activity of these
compounds, the catecholic derivatives being the most effective scavengers. The styryl pattern also contributes to their observed outstanding
antioxidant activity. In conclusion, the scavenging activities for ROS/RNS of 2-styrylchromone derivatives, here shown for
the first time, provide novel and most promising compounds to be applied as antioxidants.
