Flavones: From Biosynthesis to Health Benefits

Overview

Journal Plants (Basel)

Date 2016 Jun 25

PMID 27338492

Citations 101

Authors

Nan Jiang

Andrea I Doseff

Erich Grotewold

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Flavones correspond to a flavonoid subgroup that is widely distributed in the plants, and which can be synthesized by different pathways, depending on whether they contain C- or O-glycosylation and hydroxylated B-ring. Flavones are emerging as very important specialized metabolites involved in plant signaling and defense, as well as key ingredients of the human diet, with significant health benefits. Here, we appraise flavone formation in plants, emphasizing the emerging theme that biosynthesis pathway determines flavone chemistry. Additionally, we briefly review the biological activities of flavones, both from the perspective of the functions that they play in biotic and abiotic plant interactions, as well as their roles as nutraceutical components of the human and animal diet.

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