Flavonoids

Abstract

Flavonoids, defined as plant-derived secondary metabolites, have been widely found in nature with more than 10,000 different species, since their discovery. They are divided into subclasses based on the oxidative state of the ring, such as flavones, flavonols, flavanones, isoflavones, flavandiols, dihydroflavonols, and anthocyanidins. They are promising compounds with a wide variety of biological activities including antioxidant, antitumor, antigen-toxicity properties. Furthermore, flavonoids are seen as promising tools in the development of new drug assets, and they have been the subject of studies for the development of high-efficiency formulations for the treatment of a variety of future-threatening diseases. Molecular modeling studies play an important role in identifying the most stable molecular configurations and conformations of these molecules. This chapter focuses on the structural and functional properties of flavonoids, their biological activities, bioavailability, use in cancer, use in the development of new drugs, and molecular modeling studies on these molecules.