Research advances in cardiovascular protective effects of flavonoids / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

ABSTRACT

Flavonoids are a large family of bioactive compounds widely found in foods and plants. Mang studies have proven the preventive and therapeutic effects of flavonoids in cardiovascular disease.Flavonoids has a wide range of pharmacological effects,including antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,vaso-dilation,avoiding the thrombus formation,improving endothelial function,modifying lipid levels and regulating blood lipids through different mechanisms of action.The cardiovascular protective mechanism of flavo-noids are the enzymes that inhibit the production of oxygen derived free radicals,inhibition of lipid peroxida-tion and inflammatory factor, down-regulation of epoxy synthase activity and the activation of AMPK and nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway. In this review article we review and summarize the so far acquired knowledge of the most important mechanisms of action of flavonoids,to provide theoretical basis for the research and development of the active monomers in flavonoid and compound preparations.