Flavonoids: Overview of Biosynthesis, Biological Activity, and Current Extraction Techniques

Abstract

Recently, increased attention has been paid to natural sources as raw materials for the development of new added-value products. Flavonoids are a large family of polyphenols which include several classes based on their basic structure: flavanones, flavones, isoflavones, flavonols, flavanols, and anthocyanins. They have a multitude of biological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, anticancer, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects. Current trends of research and development on flavonoids relate to identification, extraction, isolation, physico-chemical characterization, and their applications to health benefits. This review presents an up-to-date survey of the most recent developments in the natural flavonoid classes, the biological activity of representative flavonoids, current extraction techniques, and perspectives.

Romanian Wild-Growing Chelidonium majus—An Emerging Approach to a Potential Antimicrobial Engineering Carrier System Based on AuNPs: In Vitro Investigation and Evaluation

“…Flavonoids (hyperoside, luteolin, quercetol, isorhamnetin, quercetin) are another secondary metabolite class with significant beneficial effects on human health (antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antitumoral, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective). In addition, luteolin is involved in the management of pain caused by anti-inflammatory disorders [ 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 ].…”

Acheta domesticus: A Natural Source of Anti-Skin-Aging Ingredients for Cosmetic Applications

“…The explanation for this is likely due to the compatibility of the extracting solvent with the extracting compounds. As most phenolic compounds are hydrophilic molecules, they can be extracted using polar solvents, particularly water (ε = 78.4) [ 51 , 52 ]. Flavonoids, on the other hand, are slightly hydrophobic molecules that prefer semi-polar solvents such as ethanol (ε = 25.4) [ 53 ].…”

Structural investigation of interactions between halogenated flavonoids and the lipid membrane along with their role as cytotoxic agents

“…This is attributed to their prevalence in the natural world and their diverse pharmacological properties including anticancer 1 , 2 , anti-inflammatory 3 , neuroprotective 4 , cardioprotective, and antioxidant properties 5 . Due to their poor solubility, low bioactivity, and poor pharmacokinetic parameters, the use of flavonoids as drugs is significantly limited 6 . The incorporation of halogens into the composition of natural substances or artificially created compounds frequently enhances both their biological effectiveness and physical and chemical characteristics 7 .…”