Flavonols are a class of flavonoids that have the 3-hydroxyflavone backbone (IUPAC name: 3-hydroxy-2-phenylchromen-4-one). Their diversity stems from the different positions of the phenolic –OH groups. They are distinct from flavanols (with "a") such as catechin, another class of flavonoids, and an unrelated group of metabolically important molecules, the flavins (with "i"), derived from the yellow B vitamin riboflavin.

Backbone of a flavonol, substituent numbers are indicated.

Flavonols are present in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. In Western populations, estimated daily intake is in the range of 20–50 mg per day for flavonols. Individual intake varies depending on the type of diet consumed.[1]

The phenomenon of dual fluorescence (due to excited state intramolecular proton transfer or ESIPT) is induced by tautomerism of flavonols (and glucosides) and could contribute to plant UV protection and flower colour.[2]

Besides being a subclass of flavonoids, flavonols are suggested by a study of cranberry juice to play a role along with proanthocyanidins, in the juice's ability to block bacterial adhesion, demonstrated by the compressing the fimbria of E. coli bacteria in the urinary tract so as to greatly reduce the ability of those bacteria to stay put and initiate an infection.[3] Flavonol aglycones in plants are potent antioxidants that serve to protect the plant from reactive oxygen species (ROS).[4]

Flavonols edit

Flavonols
Name IUPAC name 5 6 7 8 2′ 3′ 4′ 5′ 6′
3-Hydroxyflavone 3-hydroxy-2-phenylchromen-4-one H H H H H H H H H
Azaleatin 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroxy-5-methoxychromen-4-one OCH3 H OH H H H OH OH H
Fisetin 3,3′,4′,7-tetrahydroxy-2-phenylchromen-4-one H H OH H H OH OH H H
Galangin 3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-phenylchromen-4-one OH H OH H H H H H H
Gossypetin 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7,8-tetrahydroxychromen-4-one OH H OH OH H OH OH H H
Kaempferide 3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)chromen-4-one OH H OH H H H OCH3 H H
Kaempferol 3,4′,5,7-tetrahydroxy-2-phenylchromen-4-one OH H OH H H H OH H H
Isorhamnetin 3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)chromen-4-one OH H OH H H OCH3 OH H H
Morin 2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxychromen-4-one OH H OH H OH H OH H H
Myricetin 3,3′,4′,5′,5,7-hexahydroxy-2-phenylchromen-4-one OH H OH H H OH OH OH H
Natsudaidain 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-hydroxy-5,6,7,8-tetramethoxychromen-4-one OCH3 OCH3 OCH3 OCH3 H H OCH3 OCH3 H
Pachypodol 5-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dimethoxychromen-4-one OH H OCH3 H H OCH3 OH H H
Quercetin 3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxy-2-phenylchromen-4-one OH H OH H H OH OH H H
Rhamnazin 3,5-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-7-methoxychromen-4-one OH H OCH3 H H OCH3 OH H H
Rhamnetin 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5-dihydroxy-7-methoxychromen-4-one OH H OCH3 H H OH OH H H

Flavonol glycosides edit

Flavonols glycosides and acetylated glycosides
Name Aglycone 3 5 6 7 8 2′ 3′ 4′ 5′ 6′
Astragalin Kaempferol Glc
Azalein Azaleatin Rha
Hyperoside Quercetin Gal
Isoquercitin Quercetin Glc
Kaempferitrin Kaempferol Rha Rha
Myricitrin Myricetin Rha
Quercitrin Quercetin Rha
Robinin Kaempferol Robinose Rha
Rutin Quercetin Rutinose
Spiraeoside Quercetin Glc
Xanthorhamnin Rhamnetin trisaccharide
Amurensin Kaempferol Glc tert-amyl
Icariin Kaempferide Rha Glc tert-amyl
Troxerutin Quercetin Rutinose hydroxyethyl hydroxyethyl hydroxyethyl

Drug interactions edit

Flavonoids have effects on CYP (P450) activity. Flavonols are inhibitor of CYP2C9[5] and CYP3A4,[1] which are enzymes that metabolize most drugs in the body.

Technological uses edit

A 2013 study showed that it is possible by optical methods to quantify the flavonol accumulation in some fruit and thus to sort fruit according to fruit quality and storage durability.[6]

Effects on health edit

A 2022 study indicated an association between consumption of flavonols (found in food) and a lower rate of decline of cognitive ability, including memory.[7]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Cermak R, Wolffram S (October 2006). "The potential of flavonoids to influence drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics by local gastrointestinal mechanisms". Curr. Drug Metab. 7 (7): 729–44. doi:10.2174/138920006778520570. PMID 17073577. Archived from the original on 2012-07-20.
  2. ^ Smith, Gerald J.; Markham, Kenneth R. (1998). "Tautomerism of flavonol glucosides: relevance to plant UV protection and flower colour". Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry. 118 (2): 99–105. doi:10.1016/s1010-6030(98)00354-2.
  3. ^ "Juicy news about cranberries". medicalxpress.com. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  4. ^ Nakabayashi R, Yonekura-Sakakibara K, Urano K, Suzuki M, Yamada Y, Nishizawa T, Matsuda F, Kojima M, Sakakibara H, Shinozaki K, Michael AJ, Tohge T, Yamazaki M, Saito K. (2014). "Enhancement of oxidative and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis by overaccumulation of antioxidant flavonoids". Plant J. 77 (3): 367–79. doi:10.1111/tpj.12388. PMC 4282528. PMID 24274116.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Si D, Wang Y, Zhou YH, et al. (March 2009). "Mechanism of CYP2C9 inhibition by flavones and flavonols". Drug Metab. Dispos. 37 (3): 629–34. doi:10.1124/dmd.108.023416. PMID 19074529. S2CID 285706.
  6. ^ Pinelli, Patrizia; Romani, Annalisa; Fierini, Elisa; Remorini, Damiano; Agati, Giovanni (2013). "Characterisation of the Polyphenol Content in the Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) Exocarp for the Calibration of a Fruit-sorting Optical Sensor". Phytochemical Analysis. 24 (5): 460–466. doi:10.1002/pca.2443. hdl:2158/1013486. PMID 23716352. S2CID 33903704.
  7. ^ Holland, Thomas Monroe; Agarwal, Puja; Wang, Yamin; Dhana, Klodian; Leurgans, Sue E.; Shea, Kyla; Booth, Sarah L; Rajan, Kumar; Schneider, Julie A.; Barnes, Lisa L. (22 November 2022). "Association of Dietary Intake of Flavonols With Changes in Global Cognition and Several Cognitive Abilities". Neurology. 100 (7): e694–e702. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000201541. PMC 9969915. S2CID 253800625.

External links edit