Isovitexin: A Promising Active Compound Found in Nature's Bounty

Isovitexin, a natural flavone C-glycosylated derivative, displays a wide range of biological activities and holds significant application potential. However, a comprehensive review summarizing the existing knowledge on isovitexin is currently lacking. This review aims to provide an extensive synthesis of current research on isovitexin to enhance scientific understanding and support future investigations. Relevant literature on isovitexin was collected and analyzed from several databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. The current knowledge on isovitexin is summarized below, focusing on key aspects. First, isovitexin is widely distributed and can be separated from numerous plants, such as Colocasia esculenta, mung bean, and Lespedeza cuneata G. Don. Second, pharmacokinetic studies indicate that following oral administration, only a small portion of isovitexin is directly absorbed, while the majority is transferred to the intestine and metabolized by gut microbiota. Isovitexin demonstrates diverse biological activities, including immunomodulatory, antioxidant properties, anticancer activity, neuroprotection, regulation of bone homeostasis, and hepatoprotective effects. These activities are mediated through multiple mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of the Nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, antioxidant effects by suppression of myeloperoxidase activity and the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and anticancer activity by promoting autophagy and apoptosis. In conclusion, isovitexin is a promising natural plant-derived compound with abundant sources and a broad spectrum of physiological activities.