Inhibitory effects of flavonoids rutin and quercetin on ferrous ion-dependent lipid peroxidation of lecithin liposomes and NADPH- and CCl4-dependent lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes were studied to elucidate the chelating and free radical scavenging activities of these compounds. The interaction of rutin with superoxide ion and ferrous ions and the reaction of quercetin with lipid peroxy radicals were also studied. Both flavonoids were significantly more effective inhibitors of iron ion-dependent lipid peroxidation systems due to chelating iron ions with the formation of inert iron complexes unable to initiate lipid peroxidation. At the same time, iron complexes of flavonoids retained their free radical scavenging activities. The chelating mechanism of inhibition was more important for rutin than for quercetin. The mutual effect of rutin and ascorbic acid on non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation was also studied. It was concluded that rutin and quercetin are able to suppress free radical processes at three stages: the formation of superoxide ion, the generation of hydroxyl (or cryptohydroxyl) radicals in the Fenton reaction and the formation of lipid peroxy radicals.