Flavonoids are known as biologically active compounds. Although this has been shown by several in vivo studies, it is still elusive whether their metabolites exert similar activities.
These flavonoids were chosen because they are active components of many plants, e. All flavonoids showed rather complex metabolite patterns dominated by phase II metabolites, mainly sulfates, methyl sulfates and methyl glucuronides, but also of combined glucuronide and sulfate conjugates. Phase I metabolism by hydroxylation was rendered likely only for apigenin to form luteolin. Thus, during metabolism of inactive apigenin a strong increase in the antioxidative effect was observed while that of the other three flavonoids decreased with time.
Determination of EGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity likewise revealed strong inhibition in the presence of a catechol group at ring B. These results show that the biotransformation of flavonoids is very complex and may result not only in a loss but also in a gain of biological activity depending on the individual structural features.
Antioxidants - flavonoids - Fourier transformation ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry - phase II metabolites - protein tyrosine kinase - rat hepatocytes.
Gebhardt medizin. Planta Medica , Table of Contents. Recommend Article. Full Text. References 1 Clifford M N. Diet-derived phenols in plasma and tissues and their implications for health. Planta Med. Flavonoid antioxidants. Curr Med Chem. Cancer preventive effects of flavonoids - a review.
