Flavonoids: an overview

Abstract

Flavonoids, a group of natural substances with variable phenolic structures, are found in fruits, vegetables, grains, bark, roots, stems, flowers, tea and wine. These natural products are well known for their beneficial effects on health and efforts are being made to isolate the ingredients so called flavonoids. Flavonoids are now considered as an indispensable component in a variety of nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, medicinal and cosmetic applications. This is attributed to their anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic properties coupled with their capacity to modulate key cellular enzyme function. Research on flavonoids received an added impulse with the discovery of the low cardiovascular mortality rate and also prevention of CHD. Information on the working mechanisms of flavonoids is still not understood properly. However, it has widely been known for centuries that derivatives of plant origin possess a broad spectrum of biological activity. Current trends of research and development activities on flavonoids relate to isolation, identification, characterisation and functions of flavonoids and finally their applications on health benefits. Molecular docking and knowledge of bioinformatics are also being used to predict potential applications and manufacturing by industry. In the present review, attempts have been made to discuss the current trends of research and development on flavonoids, working mechanisms of flavonoids, flavonoid functions and applications, prediction of flavonoids as potential drugs in preventing chronic diseases and future research directions.

Regulatory Roles of Flavonoids on Inflammasome Activation during Inflammatory Responses

“…“Flavonoid” originated from the Latin term “flavus” meaning yellow. Flavonoids are considered as key ingredients for human diet and are associated with greater longevity and many biological functions, including anti‐oxidative, antimicrobial, anti‐mutagenic, vasodilatory, cardioprotective, and anticancer activities …”

Microscopic investigations and pharmacognostic techniques for the standardization ofCaralluma edulis(Edgew.) Benth. ex Hook.f.

“…They contain hydroxyl groups that assist in scavenging free radicals (Soobrattee, Neergheen, Luximon‐Ramma, Aruoma, & Bahorun, ). Flavonoids are also present in plants and equally antioxidant because of the available –OH groups (Panche, Diwan, & Chandra, ). Hydroxyl groups are polar in nature, and they are extracted in a higher ratio with polar solvents as compared to nonpolar solvents (Aryal et al, ).…”

Natural products and their derivatives as multifunctional ligands against Alzheimer's disease

“…Flavones are mainly present in leaves, flowers, and fruits, and show inhibitory effect on advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and also anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective activities. A series of analogs of flavones acts as promising anti‐Alzheimer agents have been reported (Cruz et al, ; F. Li et al, ; Li, Wang, Hu, & Kong, ; Luo et al, ; Panche et al, ; Shen et al, ; Sheng, Lin, Zhang, Chol, & Huang, ; Singh, Kaur, Singh, & Silakari, ; Singh & Silakari, ). Figure shows a few derivatives based on flavones scaffold.…”