Title: Mechanism of Action of Flavonoids as Anti-inflammatory Agents: A Review
Volume: 8
Issue: 3
Author(s): Permender Rathee, Hema Chaudhary, Sushila Rathee, Dharmender Rathee, Vikash Kumar and Kanchan Kohli
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Flavonoids, inflammation, anti-inflammatory, lipoxygenases, cyclooxygenase activity
Abstract: Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds that occur ubiquitously in plants having a variety of biological effects both in vitro and in vivo. They have been found to have antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-ulcerogenic, cytotoxic, antineoplastic, mutagenic, antioxidant, antihepatotoxic, antihypertensive, hypolipidemic, antiplatelet and anti-inflammatory activities. Flavonoids also have biochemical effects, which inhibit a number of enzymes such as aldose reductase, xanthine oxidase, phosphodiesterase, Ca+2-ATPase, lipoxygenase, cycloxygenase, etc. They also have a regulatory role on different hormones like estrogens, androgens and thyroid hormone. They have been found to have anti-inflammatory activity in both proliferative and exudative phases of inflammation. Several mechanisms of action have been proposed to explain anti-inflammatory action of flavonoids. The aim of the present review is to give an overview of the mechanism of action of potential anti-inflammatory flavonoids.
