Immunopharmacological properties of flavonoids
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 15, 2026

Biosynthesis of a Flavonol from a Flavanone by Establishing a One-pot Bienzymatic Cascade
Published on: August 14, 2019
M T Ielpo1, A Basile, R Miranda
1Istituto di Patologia Generale e Oncologia, Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Larghetto S., Aniello a Caponapoli, 2, Napoli, Italy.
Abstract:
The flavonoids are a heterogeneous group of ubiquitous plant polyphenols that abound in the human diet and are endowed with several biological activities, including immunomodulating and antioxidant activities. The bioactivity of flavonoids is tightly correlated with their chemical structure and action mechanisms, mostly inhibitory, on enzymatic systems involved in cellular activation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of acetonic extracts from Lunularia cruciata gametophytes and Feijoa sellowiana fruits on human phagocyte functions. A purified native flavonoid, a catechin, and two of its derivatives were also tested. The extract, and its flavonoid activity, was evaluated by analyzing luminol-dependent chemiluminescence emitted by human circulating phagocytes, at rest or activated by phorbol miristate acetate (PMA). The results demonstrate that both the raw extracts and flavonoids significantly inhibit CL emission by leukocytes, especially when these cells are activated by PMA. The antioxidant activity of flavonoids can be increased by changing the chemical structure of the native molecule.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
Immunofluorescence Microscopy
The...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Antimicrobial Proteins
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Cells of the Innate Immune Response
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...

