title: Anti-inflammatory activity of natural dietary flavonoids.
abstract: Over the past few decades, inflammation has been recognized as a major risk factor for various human diseases. Acute inflammation is short-term, self-limiting and it's easy for host defenses to return the body to homeostasis. Chronic inflammatory responses are predispose to a pathological progression of chronic illnesses characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells, excessive production of cytokines, dysregulation of cellular signaling and loss of barrier function. Targeting reduction of chronic inflammation is a beneficial strategy to combat several human diseases. Flavonoids are widely present in the average diet in such foods as fruits and vegetables, and have been demonstrated to exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities for human health including an anti-inflammatory property. Numerous studies have proposed that flavonoids act through a variety mechanisms to prevent and attenuate inflammatory responses and serve as possible cardioprotective, neuroprotective and chemopreventive agents. In this review, we summarize current knowledge and underlying mechanisms on anti-inflammatory activities of flavonoids and their implicated effects in the development of various chronic inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Seafood Science, National Kaohsiung Marine University, No.142, Haijhuan Rd., Nanzih District, Kaohsiung, 81143, Taiwan. mhpan@mail.nkmu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Min-Hsiung
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Ching-Shu
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Chi-Tang
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet; D005419:Flavonoids; D005638:Fruit; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D005419:Flavonoids