Flavonoid Natural Products: Chemistry and Biological Benefits on Human Health: A Review

Flavonoids are one of the most common groups of plant’s secondary metabolites. They are the low molecular weight polyphenolic compounds with a composition of various substituted three-ring structure and responsible for the vibrant colors of many plants. Flavonoids are recognized for their participation in plant’s defensive mechanisms by preventing insect, microbe attacks and ultraviolet radiation. Several plants and spices containing flavonoid derivatives have found to be applicable as disease preventive and therapeutic agents in traditional medicine in Asia for thousands of years. More than 8000 varieties of flavonoids have been isolated yet. Due to their broad spectrum of biological benefits on human health, flavonoids are referred as “nutraceuticals”. This review aims to categorical documentation about the chemistry and biological benefits on human health of flavonoids natural products in the light of available scientific literatures.