Flavonoids: biochemical effects and therapeutic applications

Abstract

Bioflavonoids are benzo-gamma-pyrone derivatives which are ubiquitous in photosynthesizing cells. Over 4000 heave been identified from both higher and lower plants and the list constantly expands. This multiplicity is not surprising in view of the structural diversity of flavonoids. Through their food, all plant-eating animals are influenced by the flavonoids. Indeed, the average daily human intake of these compounds in western countries has been estimated to be 1 g or more. Therefore, the importance of flavonoids lies in their widespread occurrence in human foods. Moreover, they are used in more purified forms as drugs and food supplements. Flavonoids first interested pharmacologists when they were shown to possess vitamin-like properties, In the early 1930s the discovery of their vitamin C-sparing activity led to the short-lived proposal of “vitamin P” [l]. Flavonoids have been shown to be the main conseituents of folk remedies used for the treatment of thyroid and other hormonal disorders [2]. They also possess alAoxidant and antimicrobial properties and are of particular interest because several of them have been shown to be antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic [3].