Flavonoids Biosynthesis in Plants as a Defense Mechanism: Role and Function Concerning Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetic Properties

Abstract

Flavonoids are a major class of secondary metabolites that comprises more than 6000 compounds that have been identified. They are biosynthesized via the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway that involves groups of enzymes such as isomerases, hydroxylases, and reductases that greatly affect the determination of the flavonoid skeleton. For example, transferase enzymes responsible for the modification of sugar result in changes in the physiological activity of the flavonoids and changes in their physical properties, such as solubility, reactivity, and interaction with cellular target molecules, which affect their pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic properties. In addition, flavonoids have diverse biological activities such as antioxidants, anticancer, and antiviral in managing Alzheimer’s disease. However, most marine flavonoids are still incompletely discovered because marine flavonoid biosynthesis is produced and possesses unique substitutions that are not commonly found in terrestrial bioactive compounds. The current chapter will illustrate the importance of flavonoids’ role in metabolism and the main difference between marine and terrestrial flavonoids.

Modulation of MAPK/NF-κB Pathway and NLRP3 Inflammasome by Secondary Metabolites from Red Algae: A Mechanistic Study

“…Therefore, creating novel, safer anti-inflammatory nutraceuticals is clinically relevant and may greatly impact treating inflammatory responses. Marine extracts and functional foods are comparatively undiscovered sources of potential anti-inflammatory compounds . Different polyphenolic compounds were found in the extracts, such as chlorogenic acid, one of the world’s most abundant polyphenols.…”

“…Marine extracts and functional foods are comparatively undiscovered sources of potential anti-inflammatory compounds. 37 Different polyphenolic compounds were found in the extracts, such as chlorogenic acid, one of the world’s most abundant polyphenols. Accumulated evidence has shown that chlorogenic acid possesses multiple biological activities, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-Alzheimer’s, and anticarcinogenic.…”

The Fungal, Nutritional, and Metabolomic Diagnostics of the Oil Palm Elaeis guineensis Affected by Bud Rot Disease in Esmeraldas, Ecuador

“…In addition to acting as UV filters, signal molecules, allopathic chemicals, phytoalexins, detoxifying agents, and antimicrobials, flavonoids protect plants against biotic and abiotic stress [ 68 ]. The anti-pathogenic properties of flavonoids may result from their antioxidant properties influencing the deactivation of ROS generated by both pathogens and the plant as a result of infection [ 69 ].…”

Cardiometabolic Risk: Characteristics of the Intestinal Microbiome and the Role of Polyphenols

“…Polyphenols belonging to the flavonoid group (flavonols, flavones, flavanones, flavanols, isoflavones, and anthocyanins) all have in their structure two benzene rings linked by a heterocyclic pyrone C-ring, existing in foods, and they are found as glycosides, C-glycosides, and O-glycosides, flavan-3-ols not conjugated [ 190 ].…”