flavanoids

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The consumption of food products containing high amounts of flavonoids has been reported to lower the risk of various cancers.

With the rapid advances in biomedical research, there has been a growing interest in screening natural products for their potential use in disease prevention and treatment. Polyphenols are important compounds of the human diet found in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, tea and wine (Di Carlo et al., 1999). They possess a remarkable spectrum of biochemical and phar-macological actions. Polyphenols affect cell functions such as growth, differentiation and apoptosis.

Many of the biological properties of flavonoid may be related, partially at least, to their antioxidant and free-radical scavenging ability (Noroozi et al., 1998). Flavonoids are reported to have also anti-viral, anti-parasitic and anti-carcinogenic properties (Ko et al., 2002). In past years, considerable attention has also been paid to their ability to inhibit the cell cycle and to induce apoptosis and thus to their potential in cancer therapy (Birt et al., 2001).

A Roselle Plant ready to bloom

Overview of Fas signalling in apoptosis.

Grapefruit Schnitt rose Zypern

For their alleged beneficial effects on human health they are consumed at relatively high doses as food supplements. macological actions. Polyphenols affect cell functions such as growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Many of the biological properties of flavonoids may be related, partially at least, to their antioxidant and free-radical scavenging ability (Noroozi et al., 1998). Flavonoids are reported to have also anti-viral, anti-parasitic and anti-carcinogenic properties (Ko et al., 2002). In past years, considerable attention has also been paid to their ability to inhibit the cell cycle and to induce apoptosis and thus to their potential in cancer therapy (Birt et al., 2001). For their alleged beneficial effects on human health they are consumed at relatively high doses as food supplements.

Both epidemiologic and experimental evidences revealed that modifications in lifestyle including diet, can have...