Bee pollen is a valuable apitherapeutic product and has been known to have diverse biological activities, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and even anticancer activity. However, its effect on the immune system is not well studied and is rather controversial. This study intended to elucidate the biological activity of bee pollen on immunity. For this purpose, we used lyophilized bee pollen after wet grinding, which shows increased extraction of bioactive components and enhanced biological activity. First, lyophilized bee pollen after wet grinding significantly increased the proliferation of splenocytes isolated from normal mice. On the other hand, lyophilized bee pollen after wet grinding dose-dependently reversed splenocyte proliferation by concanavalin A or lipopolysaccharide. To clarify the activity of bee pollen on immunity lyophilized bee pollen after wet grinding was administered daily to mice for five weeks and isolated splenocytes. In this study, there was no significant difference in the population of immune cells and the size of spleen between bee pollen- and sterile water-treated groups. However, proliferation of splenocyte isolated from bee pollen-administered animals was boosted by both concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide. Finally, kaempferol, a well-known flavonoid from bee pollen, dose-dependently increased splenocyte proliferation by both Con A and LPS. On the other hand, naringenin, another flavonoid in the bee pollen, dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of splenocytes by Con A and LPS. Together, these data indicate that bee pollen may be able to prime the immunity to boost immune reaction after inflammation.

본 연구에서는 flavonoid apigenin과 baicalein의 세포 실험으로 콜라겐 회복효과를 확인하고 전사체 비교 분석을 통하여 collagen 회복 효과를 뒷받침할 수 있는 결과를 제안하고자 한다. 연구 결과 apigenin과 baicalein은 HS68 세포주에서 UV에 의해 손상된 I형 collagen 회복에 효과를 보였으며, 두 물질 모두에서 ECM 관련 유전자들의 발현 변화를 확인하였다. ECM을 조절하는 공통적인 메커니즘을 보일 뿐 아니라 각각 다른 범주의 유전자들을 변화시키는 결과도 보여서, 세포에 다양한 영향을 미치는 것으로 예측할 수 있었다.

Flavonoids are a group of plant polyphenol secondary metabolites, which widely exist in plant systems. Recently, flavonoids from plant-based sources have been gaining more interest due to their versatile biological activities. The biological activities of flavonoids are dependent upon their chemical structures, which in turn rely on their structural class, level of hydroxylation, substitution pattern, connection position, existence of C2=C3 double bond, and level of polymerization. Flavonoids are considered nutraceuticals in diet. They help prevent many chronic and degenerative illnesses through various biological activities, such as free radical scavenging, anti-lipid peroxidation, and xanthine oxidase inhibition, as well as their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-cancer activities. The goal of the present review is to evaluate flavonoids’ chemical structural features and their biological activities as they relate to preventing chronic diseases affecting human health, and further navigate the relationship between the chemical structure and their biological function.

The development of drugs from natural plant sources is at growing interest due to the limitations of chemical drugs in terms of side effects and cost-effective factors of natural medicines. Among the various components contained in natural plant materials, flavonoids are of increasing interest because of their extended biological benefits. Flavonoids are classified into various types according to their structure and possess different activities depending on the structure. In this study, the flavonoids contained in Artemisia, native to Korea were examined and reviewed. HPLC chromatograms of three Artemisia species (Artemisia annua L., Artemisia iwayomogi and Artemisia argyi H.) were examined from published sources and their component analysis by MS data were summarized. The various flavonoids of Artemisia were classified into 12 types according to the main structure, and 10 flavonoids based on various activities were examined. The 10 flavonoids were identified as quercetin, kaempferol, rhamnetin, diosmetin, luteolin, methoxyflavone, catechin, apigenin, malvidin and genkwanin with extensive reported studies till date. The ten flavonoids examined have been reported to be effective in preventing and treating various diseases and exhibit activities such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic and anti-Alzheimer. The collective results from the reported studies suggest that the three types of Korean native Artemisia, contains various flavonoids with beneficial activities and may have therapeutic effects against diseases.

Neuroinflammation is known as the main mechanism implicated in the advancement of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The main feature of neuroinflammation is associated with the activation of microglia. The activated microglia increase proinflammatory cytokine production and induce progressive neuronal cell death. Citrus flavonoids show neuroprotective effects that are associated with the anti-inflammatory action of flavonoids in neurodegenerative diseases. Among these citrus flavonoids, kaempferol, naringin, and nobiletin show inhibitory effects on nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways that can modulate inflammatory conditions in microglial cells. In the present review, we present the anti-inflammatory activities of citrus flavonoids and therapeutic potential of flavonoids as neuroprotective agents.

본 연구에서는 감국 꽃 추출물의 항산화 및 항염활성을 검색하고 유효성분을 분리하여 화학구조를 규명하였다. 감국 꽃 에탄올 추출물의 DPPH 및 ABTS+ 라디칼 소거 활성을 측정한 결과 우수한 라디칼 소거 활성이 있음을 확인하였다. 또한 LPS로 유도된 RAW264.7 대식세포에서 세포독성 없이 우수한 nitric oxide (NO) 저해 활성을 나타내었다. 감국 꽃 에탄올 추출물의 유효성분을 찾고자 medium pressure liquid chromatography (MPLC)를 실시하여 2개의 화합물을 분리하였으며 1H 및 13C NMR 데이터 분석 및 문헌 비교를 통하여 화학구조를 동정하였다; Cynaroside (1), Apigetrin (2). 분리된 화합물을 HPLC를 통하여 정량분석을 수행하였으며 감국 꽃 추출물의 주요 성분으로 확인되었다. 화합물 1, 2의 항염활성을 확인한 결과 모두 농도의존적으로 우수한 NO 저해활성을 나타내었다. 이러한 연구 결과를 바탕으로 감국 꽃 추출물은 천연 항산화 및 항염 소재로써 활용 가능할 것으로 사료된다.

The carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs–COOH) were used as adsorbent for the separation of flavonoids (naringin and rutin) from bitter orange peel. The influence of the parameters such as, pH values, contact time, and desorption conditions was investigated. The samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, derivative thermogravimetric, scanning electron microscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography. After separation and desorption process, the eluent was injected for chromatography analysis. Under the optimal conditions, experimental results showed that the extraction efficiency of rutin was higher than naringin and other compounds. Moreover, the desorption percentage of flavonoids was calculated 83.6% after four cycles. This research confirmed that this method for separation of flavonoids is simple and less cost. In addition, the separated flavonoids can be used as antioxidant for the future applications.

Inflammation is an important protective response mechanism that occurs against microbial invasion or injury. However, excessive inflammation may lead to cause of morbidity and mortality in diseases. The activated macrophages plays a vital role in inflammatory response by stimulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). This activation further damages the host by inducing certain pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin- 6 (IL-6), TNF-α, inducible nitrous oxide (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2). Flavonoids are bioactive compounds with potential effects as anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-viral and anti-bacterial activities. Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) are unique to citrus plants which are of specific interest owing to their biological effects that includes lipoprotein metabolism and anti-inflammatory activity. Sinensetin is one of the PMFs having five methoxy groups on the basic benzo-γ-pyrone skeleton with a carbonyl group at the C4 position. Sinensetin have been known for exerting various pharmacological activities including anti-angiogenesis, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory activities. However, there are no studies focused on the anti-inflammatory effects of sinensetin on skeletal muscle cells. In the present study, we investigated the antiinflammatory effect of flavonoids isolated from Sinensetin on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators mediated by nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) by inhibition of signal transduction in LPS - induced L6 skeletal muscle cells.

Based on documentary research, this study intends to provide information relevant to the effect of flavonoids over women’s health. In general, flavonoids act on cell regulation to cancer proliferation and possess antioxidant, anti-inflammation and anti-metastatic effects. This study focuses on the therapeutic effect of flavonoids in women. Using recent researches published from 2000 to 2017 relevant to women’s health and flavonoids, data acquired from searches such as RISS and Google were analyzed, compared and arranged. Flavonoids are classified with various phenolic compounds, and it activates upon various conditions in women’s body. According to several outcomes that involve the relation of flavonoids in women’s health; it brings out significant implications in bone density, muscle, nerve, breast cancer, uterus cervical cancer and obesity. Hoping this literature review supports women patients and helps in the wellness of women, we sincerely look forward to disseminate this instructive and proper information to exploit flavonoids for enhancing health promotion.

Citrus fruit is important source of flavonoids, mainly flavanones which are narirutin and hesperidin. Those citrus flavonoids have been found to have health-related properties including antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory. The main purpose of this study was to verify that the extraction of narirutin and hesperidin from Citrus peel can be more effective by combining pulsed electric field (PEF) pre-treatment and subcritical water extraction (SWE). Citrus unshiu peels were treated with PEF under conditions of electric field strength (3 kV/cm) and times (1 and 2 min). Subsequent SWE was conducted by using a Dionex Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE, Model 350) at extraction temperature 170°C for 10 min. The total flavonoids content was measured by using the aluminum chloride colorimetric method and the antioxidant capacity was analyzed by the Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay using spectrophotometer. The concentrations of narirutin and hesperidin were increased as PEF pre-treatment time increased. The highest concentrations of narirutin and hesperidin were 13.41 mg narirutin/g dry citrus peel and 141.16 mg hesperidin/g dry citrus peel at PEF pre-treatment condition of 3 kV/cm and 2 min. The total flavonoids contents of the extracts increased 105.2% and 123.1% for citrus peel PEF treated at 1 and 2 min, respectively. In addition, compared to the untreated sample, PEF pre-treatments of 1 and 2 min increased the antioxidant capacity of the extracts 109.2% and 160.8%, respectively. Therefore, the results demonstrate the potential of PEF pre-treatment to improve the SWE of flavonoids from citrus unshiu peel.

A cultivar (Malus domestica cv. Fuji) of apple was selected to make apple peel (AP) powder by three different powdering methods. Frozen AP was thawed and subsequently was dried or ground without drying. After AP was dried by hot-air drying at 60°C or freeze-drying, the dried AP was ground using a conventional blender. Separately, the thawed AP was powered by using a cryogenic micro grinding technology (CMGT). The ground AP and three types of AP powder were extracted using deionized water, 20, 40, 60, 80, or 100% methanol, followed by vacuum evaporation. The total phenolics contents (TPC), total flavonoids contents (TFC), DPPH, and ABTS radical scavenging capacities of each extract were compared to determine an efficient powdering method. Lyophilized AP powder extract using 60% methanol showed the highest TPC and DPPH radical scavenging capacity. In contrast, 60% methanol extract of the powder by CMGT, resulting in the smallest particle, exhibited the highest TFC and ABTS radical scavenging capacity. This study suggests that the extraction yield of bioactive compounds from AP may be varied according to different powdering methods and that a new powdering process such as CMGT may be applicable to develop functional foods efficiently.

Diets rich in flavonoid-containing foods are sometimes associated with cancer, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disease prevention. β-glucan, one of the most important bioactive compounds in medicinal mushrooms, is used to boost the immune system, diabetes and cancer. In this study, we aimed to determine the content of two flavonoid compounds (naringenin and naringin) and β-glucan in Flammulina velutipes and Flammulina velutipe-gold strain. The naringenin, naringin, and β-glucan components from the Flammulina velutipes and Flammulina velutipe-gold strain were measured by the HPLC analysis. As a result, the contents of naringenin, naringin, and β-glucan were found to be much higher in Flammulina velutipe-gold strain than Flammulina velutipe. From the above results, we may suggest that Flammulina velutipe-gold strain might have useful as a material for functional food and pharmaceutics fir the pathological process of various human diseases.

Programmed cell death (PCD) is decisive in eliminating affected cells in human cancers, whereas there are increasing cases of cancer-related death due to side effects of modern treatment methods. There is an urge for new methods of growth inhibition and elimination of cancer cells with a lower cytotoxicity to normal cells. Irregularity along PCD pathways plays a crucial role in cancer cell carcinogenesis. Apoptosis is a distinct cell death mechanism occurring in multicellular organisms and also called type one programmed cell death. Autophagy and paraptosis are non-apoptotic PCD occurring in multicellular organisms. Natural compounds are the fundament of pharmacological treatments, and flavonoids are natural polyphenolic compounds which are unique due to their diverse chemical structures and various biological active mechanisms like anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and much more. This gives an increasing number of studies indicating that some flavonoids from medicinal plants could be promising candidates for new natural anticancer drugs, which attract high interests of academic researchers and advanced users. An understanding of the underlying mechanism of PCD induced by flavonoids in cancer cells is important as it plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of many diseases. This systematic review is to report flavonoids and their derivatives as new anticancer candidates to stimulate PCD with a different mechanism based on the pharmacological evidence.

식물에서 흔히 존재하는 isoquercetin의 유전독성을 평가하기 위하여 최종평가항목인 DNA 절단 및 염색체 손상을 quercetin과 비교 평가하였다. 7주령의 수컷 ICR 마우스를 사용하였고 3일 동안 시험물질을 경구로 투여하였다. 부형제로 0.5% carboxymethylcellulose를 사용하였고 isoquercetin과 quercetin은 각각 250, 500 mg/kg/day로 투여하였으며, 양성대조물질로 ethyl methanesulfonate 200mg/kg/day를 사용하였다. 일차 투여 후 48시간에 그리고 마지막 투여 후 3시간 내에 부검하였고 조직을 적출하였다. DNA 손상은 Comet assay를 사용하여 위와 간세포에서 관찰하였고, 소핵시험은 골수세포에서 소핵 분석방법을 사용하여 평가하였다. 두 가지 유전독성 시험을 동일마우스를 사용하여 수행하였다. 그 결과, isoquercetin과 quercetin의 경구 투여는 500 mg/kg/day에서도 위와 간에서 DNA 손상을 초래하지 않았으며 골수세포에서 소핵을 유발하지 않았다. 따라서 본 연구에서 사용한 플라보노이드는 본 실험 조건하에서 유전독성을 유발하지 않는 것으로 사료된다.

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens pallens mosquitoes transmit dengue fever and West Nile virus diseases, respectively. This study was conducted to determine the toxicity and mechanism of action of four flavonoids and seven fatty acids from Millettia pinnata (Fabaceae) seed as well as four fatty acid esters toward third instar larvae from insecticide-susceptible C. p. pallens and A. aegypti as well as wild A. albopictus. Potent toxicity was produced by karanjin, oleic acid, karanjachromene, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, pongamol, pongarotene, and elaidic acid toward C. p. pallens larvae (24 h LC50, 14.61–28.22 mg/L) and A. aegypti larvae (16.13–37.61 mg/L). Against wild A. albopictus larvae, oleic acid (LC50, 18.79 mg/L) and karanjin (35.26 mg/L) exhibited potent toxicity. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is the main site of action of the flavonoids, oleic acid, and palmitic acid.,Linoleic acid and linolenic acid might act on both AChE and octopaminergic receptor. Further studies will warrant possible applications of M. pinnata seed-derived products as potential larvicides for the control of mosquito populations.