Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical investigations of quercetin on unmodified and DNA-modified carbon paste electrode and its determination using voltammetry

Abstract

The electrochemistry of quercetin on a carbon paste electrode in non aqueous and aqueous media has been investigated. Cyclic voltammetric experiments were carried out and the basic electrochemical parameters such as diffusion coefficient, exchange current density and the anodic Tafel slopes were determined. A differential pulse voltammetric procedure was proposed for the determination of quercetin in aqueous solution using a carbon paste electrode, and the detection limit was obtained as 38.5 nM L⁻¹. The electrochemical properties of quercetin were studied using a DNA-modified carbon paste electrode using electrochemical impedance measurements. From spectroelectrochemical measurements it was evident that the hydroxyl groups at the 3′ and 4′ positions were oxidized in the presence of Cu(II) and are responsible for DNA damage. Impedance measurements supported the intercalation of quercetin into the DNA strands.