Understanding the Composition, Biosynthesis, Accumulation and Transport of Flavonoids in Crops for the Promotion of Crops as Healthy Sources of Flavonoids for Human Consumption
Flavonoids are a class of polyphenolic compounds that naturally occur in plants. Sub-groups of flavonoids include flavone, flavonol, flavanone, flavanonol, anthocyanidin, flavanol and isoflavone. The various modifications on flavonoid molecules further increase the diversity of flavonoids. Certain c...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/6/1717 |
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| author | Yee-Shan Ku Ming-Sin Ng Sau-Shan Cheng Annie Wing-Yi Lo Zhixia Xiao Tai-Sun Shin Gyuhwa Chung Hon-Ming Lam |
| author_facet | Yee-Shan Ku Ming-Sin Ng Sau-Shan Cheng Annie Wing-Yi Lo Zhixia Xiao Tai-Sun Shin Gyuhwa Chung Hon-Ming Lam |
| author_sort | Yee-Shan Ku |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Flavonoids are a class of polyphenolic compounds that naturally occur in plants. Sub-groups of flavonoids include flavone, flavonol, flavanone, flavanonol, anthocyanidin, flavanol and isoflavone. The various modifications on flavonoid molecules further increase the diversity of flavonoids. Certain crops are famous for being enriched in specific flavonoids. For example, anthocyanins, which give rise to a purplish color, are the characteristic compounds in berries; flavanols are enriched in teas; and isoflavones are uniquely found in several legumes. It is widely accepted that the antioxidative properties of flavonoids are beneficial for human health. In this review, we summarize the classification of the different sub-groups of flavonoids based on their molecular structures. The health benefits of flavonoids are addressed from the perspective of their molecular structures. The flavonoid biosynthesis pathways are compared among different crops to highlight the mechanisms that lead to the differential accumulation of different sub-groups of flavonoids. In addition, the mechanisms and genes involved in the transport and accumulation of flavonoids in crops are discussed. We hope the understanding of flavonoid accumulation in crops will guide the proper balance in their consumption to improve human health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:18:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7ae736d81b184921a0ce919a33ea5dc7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:18:58Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-7ae736d81b184921a0ce919a33ea5dc72023-11-20T03:09:43ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432020-06-01126171710.3390/nu12061717Understanding the Composition, Biosynthesis, Accumulation and Transport of Flavonoids in Crops for the Promotion of Crops as Healthy Sources of Flavonoids for Human ConsumptionYee-Shan Ku0Ming-Sin Ng1Sau-Shan Cheng2Annie Wing-Yi Lo3Zhixia Xiao4Tai-Sun Shin5Gyuhwa Chung6Hon-Ming Lam7Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaCentre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaCentre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaCentre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaCentre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaDivision of Food and Nutrition, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, KoreaDepartment of Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, KoreaCentre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaFlavonoids are a class of polyphenolic compounds that naturally occur in plants. Sub-groups of flavonoids include flavone, flavonol, flavanone, flavanonol, anthocyanidin, flavanol and isoflavone. The various modifications on flavonoid molecules further increase the diversity of flavonoids. Certain crops are famous for being enriched in specific flavonoids. For example, anthocyanins, which give rise to a purplish color, are the characteristic compounds in berries; flavanols are enriched in teas; and isoflavones are uniquely found in several legumes. It is widely accepted that the antioxidative properties of flavonoids are beneficial for human health. In this review, we summarize the classification of the different sub-groups of flavonoids based on their molecular structures. The health benefits of flavonoids are addressed from the perspective of their molecular structures. The flavonoid biosynthesis pathways are compared among different crops to highlight the mechanisms that lead to the differential accumulation of different sub-groups of flavonoids. In addition, the mechanisms and genes involved in the transport and accumulation of flavonoids in crops are discussed. We hope the understanding of flavonoid accumulation in crops will guide the proper balance in their consumption to improve human health.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/6/1717cropsphenolic compoundsflavonoidsbiosynthesis pathwayABC transportersMATE transporters |
| spellingShingle | Yee-Shan Ku Ming-Sin Ng Sau-Shan Cheng Annie Wing-Yi Lo Zhixia Xiao Tai-Sun Shin Gyuhwa Chung Hon-Ming Lam Understanding the Composition, Biosynthesis, Accumulation and Transport of Flavonoids in Crops for the Promotion of Crops as Healthy Sources of Flavonoids for Human Consumption Nutrients crops phenolic compounds flavonoids biosynthesis pathway ABC transporters MATE transporters |
| title | Understanding the Composition, Biosynthesis, Accumulation and Transport of Flavonoids in Crops for the Promotion of Crops as Healthy Sources of Flavonoids for Human Consumption |
| title_full | Understanding the Composition, Biosynthesis, Accumulation and Transport of Flavonoids in Crops for the Promotion of Crops as Healthy Sources of Flavonoids for Human Consumption |
| title_fullStr | Understanding the Composition, Biosynthesis, Accumulation and Transport of Flavonoids in Crops for the Promotion of Crops as Healthy Sources of Flavonoids for Human Consumption |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding the Composition, Biosynthesis, Accumulation and Transport of Flavonoids in Crops for the Promotion of Crops as Healthy Sources of Flavonoids for Human Consumption |
| title_short | Understanding the Composition, Biosynthesis, Accumulation and Transport of Flavonoids in Crops for the Promotion of Crops as Healthy Sources of Flavonoids for Human Consumption |
| title_sort | understanding the composition biosynthesis accumulation and transport of flavonoids in crops for the promotion of crops as healthy sources of flavonoids for human consumption |
| topic | crops phenolic compounds flavonoids biosynthesis pathway ABC transporters MATE transporters |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/6/1717 |
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