Abstract
Obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are just a few chronic diseases for which proper nutrition has been demonstrated to be a crucial factor in prevention. Flavonoids, found in many fruits and vegetables, are a type of dietary polyphenol with potent antioxidant activity and anti-carcinogenic characteristics. Flavonoids and foods rich in flavonoids have been shown in recent years to have profound effects on cognitive function, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Foods high in flavonoids, such as green tea, chocolate, blueberries, and other fruits and vegetables, have ameliorated symptoms of cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia in several animal models. As a result of their ability to prevent neuronal death generated by neurotoxic chemicals such as free radicals and β-amyloid proteins. Furthermore, flavonoids are also effective in slowing the evolution of clinical signs of neurodegenerative illnesses. In addition, flavonoids can improve lipid profiles by preventing the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, and these antioxidant capabilities are responsible for their therapeutic impacts. Finally, the potential of flavonoids to induce vasodilation and control apoptotic processes in the endothelium is another way in which they benefit the cardiovascular system. This review aims to offer up-to-date information on categorizing these compounds, their primary methods of action in the human body, and their positive impacts on the management of neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disorders, and other life-threatening diseases.
Graphical Abstract
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.09.001]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2008.10.012] [PMID: 18992719]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11130-004-0049-7] [PMID: 15678717]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0955-2863(95)00168-9]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0010(20000515)80:7<1063::AID-JSFA605>3.0.CO;2-Q]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0271-5317(98)00169-9]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.268.5211.686] [PMID: 17832380]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1104/pp.110.161430] [PMID: 20921162]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/162750] [PMID: 24470791]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jns.2016.41] [PMID: 28620474]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/79.5.727] [PMID: 15113710]
[PMID: 3520586]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2621.1976.tb00743.x]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-384947-2.00685-1]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2020.104720] [PMID: 32910994]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000399407] [PMID: 790781]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B0-12-226694-3/00252-0]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-381373-2.00132-0]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.111.00211] [PMID: 23232643]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c3fo60030k] [PMID: 23831969]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.03.057] [PMID: 24751712]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.01300] [PMID: 32982731]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1369-703X(02)00221-8]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf00024a011]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0308-8146(01)00114-5]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf000070p] [PMID: 10898604]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.profoo.2013.04.008]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2010.513800] [PMID: 21058200]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1368980014000780] [PMID: 24800753]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007114515004006] [PMID: 26489826]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.112.037358] [PMID: 23076618]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2009.11.024] [PMID: 20184989]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0128132] [PMID: 26010916]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/PHN2006971] [PMID: 17125569]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2018.10.006] [PMID: 30683440]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0884533610386234] [PMID: 21139124]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i17] [PMID: 26823518]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3945/an.116.012948] [PMID: 28507008]
[PMID: 32405356]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antiox9100973] [PMID: 33050575]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2015.06.021]
[PMID: 24623967]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10715769900301141] [PMID: 10630681]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0014-5793(00)01211-4] [PMID: 10692580]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2004.01.002] [PMID: 15019968]
[PMID: 4587548]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/004982599237903] [PMID: 10647909]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/bbrc.2000.3701] [PMID: 11032751]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0014-5793(98)00367-6] [PMID: 9600261]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1586/ern.10.29] [PMID: 20420492]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12906-016-0998-z]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2018.01.017] [PMID: 29391235]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.7150/jbm.26783]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2019.00155]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2012.07.006] [PMID: 22995388]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1124/jpet.108.140293] [PMID: 18544674]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0364-08.2008] [PMID: 18562609]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1582-4934.2008.00344.x] [PMID: 18410522]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2008.02.107] [PMID: 18457818]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1521-05.2005] [PMID: 16177050]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/WNR.0b013e32830b8ae1] [PMID: 18695518]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2019.02.017] [PMID: 30772273]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/1673-5374.238714] [PMID: 30136699]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.6001/biologija.v62i3.3368]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11064-014-1343-x] [PMID: 24893798]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002130100845] [PMID: 11605103]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3181/00379727-221-44393] [PMID: 10352122]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(98)00994-X] [PMID: 10081916]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007114509992364] [PMID: 20028599]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269881109106923] [PMID: 19942640]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000341101] [PMID: 22907211]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/153537020623100802] [PMID: 16946397]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1165/rcmb.2015-0323TR] [PMID: 26744837]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.33549/physiolres.933442] [PMID: 27775419]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules25184320] [PMID: 32967119]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjp.0706951] [PMID: 17088866]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/01.ATV.19.4.847] [PMID: 10195908]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf040125d] [PMID: 15291511]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.201000016] [PMID: 20486211]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf9031876] [PMID: 20108902]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules22020292] [PMID: 28216567]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb02915.x] [PMID: 12074971]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/77.6.1466] [PMID: 12791625]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/PHN2006859] [PMID: 16684389]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.112.122408] [PMID: 23319811]
[PMID: 22070681]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2006.03.017] [PMID: 16806951]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu10121852] [PMID: 30513729]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0165-7992(83)90044-1] [PMID: 6419088]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0891-5849(96)00351-6] [PMID: 9119242]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198717478.001.0001]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1042/bj3301173] [PMID: 9494082]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0885-4505(88)90060-6] [PMID: 3355718]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/bpb.17.1613] [PMID: 7735205]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v7i3.14693]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2011.10.483] [PMID: 22085656]
[PMID: 2424029]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfh148] [PMID: 15103051]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2165/00003495-200161140-00003] [PMID: 11735632]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.abb.2009.10.003] [PMID: 19822127]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ptr.3387] [PMID: 21226126]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11373-006-9081-y] [PMID: 16547767]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2005.09.002] [PMID: 16323269]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/CMR.12.4.564] [PMID: 10515903]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(95)01347-4] [PMID: 9213624]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(96)01393-1] [PMID: 8733114]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)84689-0]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0960-894X(01)80881-7]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01105-9] [PMID: 9621457]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/cpb.51.191] [PMID: 12576654]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np020331k] [PMID: 12608871]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00295-2]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00702-1] [PMID: 12770598]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02968582] [PMID: 16756077]
[PMID: 12579957]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00244-8] [PMID: 11576606]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/cpb.50.630] [PMID: 12036017]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01043-1] [PMID: 9664703]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1028602031000080423] [PMID: 12608635]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np0003387] [PMID: 11141119]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chin.200517197]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14786410310001643812] [PMID: 15700645]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(99)00060-X] [PMID: 11223218]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np000054m] [PMID: 10978202]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00187-9]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np0580107] [PMID: 16038557]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1026085724239]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/cpb.50.972] [PMID: 12130858]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-50531999000200015]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hlca.19980810325]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00378-3] [PMID: 12453581]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00493-3] [PMID: 11324921]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np0100338] [PMID: 11421757]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np0500272] [PMID: 15974621]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00010-1] [PMID: 9891938]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/cpb.50.841] [PMID: 12045344]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00960-6]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00010-2] [PMID: 10389270]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2002-32554] [PMID: 12094295]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(03)00325-X] [PMID: 12877920]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00945-X]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2004.10.013] [PMID: 15649516]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2004.08.050] [PMID: 15504437]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00017-1] [PMID: 12150810]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2006.09.022] [PMID: 17055201]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00221-6] [PMID: 10647219]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(00)00137-4] [PMID: 10925009]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1012505721054]
[PMID: 11327021]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2005-871297] [PMID: 16206038]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00300-9] [PMID: 11190397]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2003.09.003] [PMID: 14630004]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00337-0] [PMID: 12453522]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np030207g] [PMID: 14510596]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np0303815] [PMID: 15043430]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np990051d] [PMID: 10654410]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(00)00165-9] [PMID: 11449498]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np990567x] [PMID: 10843587]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np0302100] [PMID: 14510590]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2006.01.008] [PMID: 16483735]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np0501233] [PMID: 16124783]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np980421i] [PMID: 10075799]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/cpb.51.412] [PMID: 12672994]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00490-3] [PMID: 11937172]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(02)00130-9] [PMID: 12165307]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00126-0] [PMID: 10466226]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2003.11.002] [PMID: 14759539]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2003.09.006] [PMID: 14599527]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(98)00534-2]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2003.09.009] [PMID: 14599526]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00409-X] [PMID: 11249100]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00671-7]
[PMID: 12579839]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np0200562] [PMID: 12350164]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1934578X0600100805]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00423-X] [PMID: 11754947]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2001-16484] [PMID: 11509977]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/cpb.49.1356] [PMID: 11605671]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)00311-3] [PMID: 11142854]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf970606f]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2006.12.018] [PMID: 17291552]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np049639x] [PMID: 15787448]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np010548z] [PMID: 12027732]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1248/cpb.54.133] [PMID: 16394568]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/np990049m] [PMID: 10543905]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-2005-871223] [PMID: 16254834]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-2361-8_3]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules25204613] [PMID: 33050462]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2015.09.013]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ps/83.11.1839] [PMID: 15554059]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2016.11.098] [PMID: 27930973]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2015.04.067] [PMID: 25936626]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2019.101329]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C7RA02861J]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2013.10.019] [PMID: 24177602]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C9RA07560G] [PMID: 35542296]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2014.05.059]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2014.08.003] [PMID: 25102112]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2016.03.031]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejps.2020.105314] [PMID: 32200044]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2011.05.023]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/ntrev-2012-0084]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10856-015-5631-z] [PMID: 26676865]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.08.029] [PMID: 31454670]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijap.2020v12i5.38425]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2013.09.037] [PMID: 24120900]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2018.09.032] [PMID: 30717028]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2016.10.095] [PMID: 27847208]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2018.04.023] [PMID: 29689288]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C6RA11658B]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-13-0230] [PMID: 24403290]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2018.06.073] [PMID: 30184773]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.7b03953] [PMID: 29236498]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2006.01.016]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpb.2012.08.001] [PMID: 22926146]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2019.05.013]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.08.008] [PMID: 24274487]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.12.037] [PMID: 22257724]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.07.024] [PMID: 30174096]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.09.087] [PMID: 29111045]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S146296] [PMID: 29026297]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1524-475X.2008.00422.x] [PMID: 19128267]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10717544.2016.1228718] [PMID: 28155509]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.22182]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21691401.2018.1431653]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40089-016-0184-9]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nano.2017.03.003] [PMID: 28343014]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.04.066] [PMID: 28521977]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/jmf.2012.0049] [PMID: 24138167]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/mp400086n] [PMID: 23557122]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2288-8_7]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2019.03.006]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.9734/jpri/2021/v33i59A34268]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22144-6_60]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6551] [PMID: 31752046]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.651441] [PMID: 34124119]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-11622-x] [PMID: 31409784]
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.20.21262354]