Polyphenols and Flavonoids: Chemical, Pharmacological and Therapeutic Aspects

Abstract

Polyphenols and flavonoids represent a group of compounds characterized by a large assortment of phenolic structures, which can be naturally found in vegetables, roots, stems, flowers, grains, and fruits. Thanks to their biological activities, molecules belonging to these classes of compounds, besides their nutritional role, have found applications in several fields such as pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and nutraceutical. In fact, like many natural derivatives from plants, they possess several therapeutic properties, including antitumor, anti-oxidative, anti-neurodegenerative, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. Nowadays, the growing interest in polyphenolics and flavonoids translates into constant research to better define their pharmacological mechanism of action. Extraction studies in order to obtain pure compounds with a more defined biological activity, as well as pharmacokinetic studies to understand the bioavailability, the involved metabolic pathways and the related active metabolites, are carried out. Molecular docking studies are also continuously in progress to expand the field of application. Moreover, toxicity experiments to clarify their safety and studies about the interaction with other compounds to understand their selectivity of action are continuously forwarded and deepened. Consequently, many recent studies are aimed at introducing polyphenols, more specifically flavonoids, and their semi-synthetic derivatives, in the prevention, management and treatment of several diseases.