Types of Flavonoids

In a previous insight into flavonoids, we examined the role they play in plant health and how they are crucial for protecting crops from biotic and abiotic stressors. In this insight, we are delving further into what flavonoids are and discuss the myriad of health benefits that they can provide when incorporated into the human diet.

Flavonoids are generally classified into six major subclasses based on their chemical structure:

Flavonoid Table

Health Benefits

Flavonoids are renowned for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties. They contribute to the following health benefits:

Antioxidant activity: Flavonoids can neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress, which is linked to various chronic diseases.
Cardiovascular health: They help in improving heart health by reducing blood pressure, improving blood vessel function, and lowering LDL cholesterol levels.
Anti-inflammatory effects: Flavonoids can inhibit enzymes that promote inflammation, thereby helping in conditions like arthritis.
Cancer prevention: Some studies suggest flavonoids may reduce the risk of certain cancers by preventing cancer cell growth and inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death).
Brain health: Flavonoids may enhance cognitive function and protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Mechanism of Action

Flavonoids exert their beneficial effects through various mechanisms:

Antioxidant mechanism: By donating electrons to neutralize free radicals.
Modulation of cell signalling pathways: They can influence signalling pathways that regulate cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis.
Enzyme inhibition: Flavonoids can inhibit enzymes involved in inflammation and cancer progression.
Gene expression: They can modulate the expression of genes involved in oxidative stress, inflammation and metabolism.

Summary

In summary, flavonoids are a crucial part of the human diet, offering numerous health benefits through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They are widely distributed in fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods, making them easily accessible for improving overall health.

Recognising the crucial role of bioflavonoids and polyphenols as potent bioactive compounds, Maxstim has developed a groundbreaking and distinctive range of powerful biostimulants. Our proprietary formulas optimise and amplify the concentration of these bioactive elements and include our patented technology, Amphenox™.

Sources:

Flavonoid mediated selective cross-talk between plants and beneficial soil microbiome., Sagar Bag. Anupam Mondal. Anusha Majumder. Sunil Kanti Mondal, Avishek Banik, 2022
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11101-022-09806-3

Flavonoids: A vital resource in healthcare and medicine., Dr Sumanta Modal and Tazib Rahaman Syed, 2020
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340922996_Flavonoids_A_vital_resource_in_healthcare_and_medicine_Includes_their_effective_action_on_COVID-19

Flavonoids: an overview., A. N. Panche, A. D. Diwan, and S. R. Chandra, 2016
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28620474/

Plant Flavonoids: Chemical Characteristics and Biological Activity., Maria Celeste Dias, Diana C. G. A. Pinto, and Artur M. S. Silva, 2021
10.3390/molecules26175377

Exploring natural chalcones: innovative extraction techniques, bioactivities, and health potential., Mahesh K. Samota, Dinesh Kumar Yadav, Pushpendra Koli, Maninder Kaur, Manpreet Kaur, Heena Rani, Shilpa S. Selvan, Prakash Mahala, Kailashpati Tripathi and Sandeep Kumar, 2024
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2024/fb/d4fb00126e#:~:text=Published%20studies%20suggest%20that%20chalcones,they%20have%20been%20used%20in

Anthocyanins: From Sources and Bioavailability to Cardiovascular-Health Benefits and Molecular Mechanisms of Action, Irena Krga and Dragan Milenkovic, 2019
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.8b06737