Plant Flavonoids: Chemical Characteristics and Biological Activity
In recent years, more attention has been paid to natural sources of antioxidants. Flavonoids are natural substances synthesized in several parts of plants that exhibit a high antioxidant capacity. They are a large family, presenting several classes based on their basic structure. Flavonoids have the...
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doaj-f9bb94ac5c824d499f9641eaebf5dedd2021-09-09T13:53:45ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492021-09-01265377537710.3390/molecules26175377Plant Flavonoids: Chemical Characteristics and Biological ActivityMaria Celeste Dias0Diana C. G. A. Pinto1Artur M. S. Silva2Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, PortugalLAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, Campus Universitário de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalLAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, Campus Universitário de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalIn recent years, more attention has been paid to natural sources of antioxidants. Flavonoids are natural substances synthesized in several parts of plants that exhibit a high antioxidant capacity. They are a large family, presenting several classes based on their basic structure. Flavonoids have the ability to control the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via scavenger ROS when they are formed. Therefore, these antioxidant compounds have an important role in plant stress tolerance and a high relevance in human health, mainly due to their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. In addition, flavonoids have several applications in the food industry as preservatives, pigments, and antioxidants, as well as in other industries such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. However, flavonoids application for industrial purposes implies extraction processes with high purity and quality. Several methodologies have been developed aimed at increasing flavonoid extraction yield and being environmentally friendly. This review presents the most abundant natural flavonoids, their structure and chemical characteristics, extraction methods, and biological activity.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/17/5377antioxidantsbioactive compoundsextraction methodsnatural sourcesstructure |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Maria Celeste Dias Diana C. G. A. Pinto Artur M. S. Silva |
spellingShingle |
Maria Celeste Dias Diana C. G. A. Pinto Artur M. S. Silva Plant Flavonoids: Chemical Characteristics and Biological Activity Molecules antioxidants bioactive compounds extraction methods natural sources structure |
author_facet |
Maria Celeste Dias Diana C. G. A. Pinto Artur M. S. Silva |
author_sort |
Maria Celeste Dias |
title |
Plant Flavonoids: Chemical Characteristics and Biological Activity |
title_short |
Plant Flavonoids: Chemical Characteristics and Biological Activity |
title_full |
Plant Flavonoids: Chemical Characteristics and Biological Activity |
title_fullStr |
Plant Flavonoids: Chemical Characteristics and Biological Activity |
title_full_unstemmed |
Plant Flavonoids: Chemical Characteristics and Biological Activity |
title_sort |
plant flavonoids: chemical characteristics and biological activity |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Molecules |
issn |
1420-3049 |
publishDate |
2021-09-01 |
description |
In recent years, more attention has been paid to natural sources of antioxidants. Flavonoids are natural substances synthesized in several parts of plants that exhibit a high antioxidant capacity. They are a large family, presenting several classes based on their basic structure. Flavonoids have the ability to control the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via scavenger ROS when they are formed. Therefore, these antioxidant compounds have an important role in plant stress tolerance and a high relevance in human health, mainly due to their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. In addition, flavonoids have several applications in the food industry as preservatives, pigments, and antioxidants, as well as in other industries such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. However, flavonoids application for industrial purposes implies extraction processes with high purity and quality. Several methodologies have been developed aimed at increasing flavonoid extraction yield and being environmentally friendly. This review presents the most abundant natural flavonoids, their structure and chemical characteristics, extraction methods, and biological activity. |
topic |
antioxidants bioactive compounds extraction methods natural sources structure |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/17/5377 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT mariacelestedias plantflavonoidschemicalcharacteristicsandbiologicalactivity AT dianacgapinto plantflavonoidschemicalcharacteristicsandbiologicalactivity AT arturmssilva plantflavonoidschemicalcharacteristicsandbiologicalactivity |
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