Flavonoides

Procyanidin B2 (PB2) is a naturally occurring flavonoid widely found in cocoa, red wine and grape juice, PB2 could protect against oxidative stress- and chemical-induced injury in colonic cells by modulating the endogenous cellular defence, PB2 protects against oxidative injury in colonic cells and up-regulate the expression of GSTP1 via a mechanism that involves ERK and p38 MAPK activation and Nrf2 translocation.

Brazilin, isolated from Caesalpinia sappan has been known as a natural red pigment, exhibits the inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated NO production in a dose-dependent manner (IC50=24.3 microM), might be associated with the regulation of transcription factors NF-kappaB and AP-1; inducible isoform of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) plays an important role in inflammation and carcinogenesis, suggests that the suppressive effect of iNOS gene expression by brazilin might provide one possible mechanism for its anti-inflammatory and cancer chemopreventive activity.

Tectorigenin (Tg) and tectoridin (Td) are the major compounds isolated from the rhizomes of iridaceous plant Belamcanda chinensis which is well known as a chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases; Tectorigenin inhibits IFN-γ/LPS-induced inflammatory responses in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, it appears to have the potential to prevent inflammation.

Luteolin-6-C-glucoside has antioxidant activity.

Epitheaflagallin 3-O-gallate: potential antiobesity, antiperiodontal agent; inhibits tumor growth by blocking angiogenesis.

Procyanidin B1, one of the major components of Flavangenol, also suppresses fat accumulation and induced mRNA expression of the fatty acid oxidative enzymes.

Marein shows neuroprotective effect on PC12 cell damage induced by methylglyoxal, which is due to a reduction of damage to mitochondria function and activation of the AMPK signal pathway, it may be a potent compound for preventing/counteracting diabetic encephalopathy. Marein can improve insulin resistance induced by high glucose in HepG2 cells through CaMKK/AMPK/GLUT1 to promote glucose uptake, through IRS/Akt/GSK-3β to increase glycogen synthesis, and through Akt/FoxO1 to decrease gluconeogenesis. Marein shows antioxidant activity, it shows Histone deacetylase enzymes (HDACs) inhibitory activity and it also can inhibit TNFα-induced NF-κB activation.