Glycosides, acylated glycosides, and sulfates of quercetin ( 3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone; 1), which is, together with its derivatives, among the most common polyphenols found in plants and in the human diet, were prepared and quantitatively investigated for their ability to bind metal ions (Al III , Fe II , Fe III ), enhance and vary natural colours (anthocyanin copigmentation), and trap potentially damaging radicals (antioxidant activity).Introduction. ± Flavonoids and other polyphenols are ubiquitous secondary metabolites in plants [1] which, as food components, enjoy increasing interest from researchers, food manufacturers, and consumers. Indeed, polyphenol-rich diets (e.g., the regular consumption of fruits, vegetables, red wine, and tea) have been repeatedly correlated with a low risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and cancers [2], the two major causes of mortality in occidental countries. Because of their antioxidant properties and their ability to bind to a wide range of proteins including enzymes [1] [3], polyphenols may be partially responsible for these protective effects.Besides phenolic acids (benzoic and cinnamic acid derivatives), flavonols (3-hydroxyflavones) are one of the main classes of dietary polyphenols [1]. Their antioxidant properties essentially stem from their ability to trap reactive O-species (ROS) and bind transition-metal ions, which, if not suitably complexed, could enter redox cycles that produce ROS [3]. This work focuses on quercetin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone; 1), the most representative dietary flavonol (abundant in onions, apples, and tea) and a potent antioxidant. In most naturally occurring flavonols, at least one of the OH groups of the polyphenolic nucleus (aglycone) is glycosylated by monoand oligosaccharides involving neutral sugars such as d-glucose, d-galactose, lrhamnose, and d-xylose. Quercetin b-d-glucopyranosides are particularly interesting because their biodisposability, irrespective of the location of the sugar moiety on the polyphenolic nucleus, is better than that of quercetin and other quercetin glycosides, possibly as a consequence of a facilitated intestinal absorption via glucose transporters [4]. Moreover, quercetin sulfates deserve particular attention, not only because of their natural occurrence [1] [5], but also because the quercetin conjugates found in the plasma of human volunteers after consumption of a meal rich in plant products are actually glucuronides and sulfates [6].