Important Flavonoids and Their Role as a Therapeutic Agent

Molecules. 2020 Nov 11;25(22):5243. doi: 10.3390/molecules25225243.

Abstract

Flavonoids are phytochemical compounds present in many plants, fruits, vegetables, and leaves, with potential applications in medicinal chemistry. Flavonoids possess a number of medicinal benefits, including anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. They also have neuroprotective and cardio-protective effects. These biological activities depend upon the type of flavonoid, its (possible) mode of action, and its bioavailability. These cost-effective medicinal components have significant biological activities, and their effectiveness has been proved for a variety of diseases. The most recent work is focused on their isolation, synthesis of their analogs, and their effects on human health using a variety of techniques and animal models. Thousands of flavonoids have been successfully isolated, and this number increases steadily. We have therefore made an effort to summarize the isolated flavonoids with useful activities in order to gain a better understanding of their effects on human health.

Keywords: antioxidative; flavonoids; neuroprotective; polyphenols; quercetin.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / prevention & control
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Antimalarials / chemistry
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Cardiovascular System / drug effects
  • Flavonoids / chemistry*
  • Flavonoids / economics
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / chemistry
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Nervous System / drug effects
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neuroprotective Agents / chemistry
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Plants / chemistry
  • Polyphenols / chemistry
  • Polyphenols / pharmacology
  • Quercetin / chemistry
  • Quercetin / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Stroke / drug therapy
  • Stroke / prevention & control

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Antimalarials
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Flavonoids
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Plant Extracts
  • Polyphenols
  • Quercetin