What are flavonoids?
Insight
Flavonoids, part of the large family of polyphenolic compounds (polyphenols), are a diverse group of plant compounds found naturally in fruits, vegetables, grains, bark, roots, stems, flowers, tea and wine. They belong to a class of plant secondary metabolites which perform a crucial role in a plant’s response to both biotic and abiotic stressors.
Plants produce flavonoids for several critical functions that contribute to their growth, reproduction and survival.
Protection
Flavonoids have antimicrobial properties that help protect plants against bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. They can inhibit the growth of pathogens and even neutralise their toxins.
Flavonoids act as natural sunscreens for plants by absorbing ultraviolet (UV) light, particularly UV-B radiation, which can be harmful to plant tissues. This absorption protects the plant’s DNA and other cellular components from damage caused by UV radiation.
Some flavonoids can act as deterrents to herbivores. Their bitter taste or toxicity can reduce the likelihood of plants being eaten by insects and other herbivores.
Reproduction
Flavonoids, particularly anthocyanins, contribute to the pigmentation of flowers, fruits, and leaves. The vibrant colours attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds, which are essential for the reproductive process of many plants.
The bright colours of fruits, resulting from flavonoid pigments, attract animals that eat the fruits and subsequently disperse the seeds through their droppings, aiding in plant propagation.
Growth
Flavonoids play a key role in the symbiotic relationship between leguminous plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia). They act as signalling molecules that attract rhizobia to the plant roots, initiating the formation of root nodules where nitrogen fixation occurs. This process is vital for the plant’s nitrogen supply. Flavonoids also act as antioxidants within the plant, protecting cells from oxidative stress caused by various abiotic stressors such as pollution, drought, and temperature extremes. By neutralising reactive oxygen species (ROS), flavonoids help maintain cellular health and function.
Flavonoids influence several aspects of plant growth and development, including:
- Auxin transport: They modulate the transport of auxin, a key plant hormone involved in growth regulation.
- Flowering time: Some flavonoids can affect the timing of flowering, ensuring that reproduction occurs under optimal conditions.
Having identified the critical role of bioflavonoids and polyphenols as bioactive components, Maxstim has created an innovative and unique range of highly effective biostimulants. Our production techniques, which increase, maximise and harness the abundance of these bioactive compounds, are patented under the name Amphenox™.
Amphenox™ is teeming with secondary metabolites and highly active bioflavonoids, enabling plants to bolster their immune systems and stimulate essential biochemical metabolic processes. This, in turn, enhances crucial functions like growth, chlorophyll production, root development, and stress management.
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: 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
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