Cited by 2,016Phytochemicals and Antioxidant ActivitiesFlavonoids in Medical ResearchSynthesis of Organic Compounds

Flavonoids: antioxidants or signalling molecules?

Williams, Robert J, Spencer, Jeremy P.E, Rice-Evans, Catherine·2004·Free Radical Biology and Medicine

Abstract

Many studies are accumulating that report the neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and chemopreventive actions of dietary flavonoids. While there has been a major focus on the antioxidant properties, there is an emerging view that flavonoids, and their in vivo metabolites, do not act as conventional hydrogen-donating antioxidants but may exert modulatory actions in cells through actions at protein kinase and lipid kinase signalling pathways. Flavonoids, and more recently their metabolites, have been reported to act at phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase), Akt/protein kinase B (Akt/PKB), tyrosine kinases, protein kinase C (PKC), and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) signalling cascades. Inhibitory or stimulatory actions at these pathways are likely to affect cellular function profoundly by altering the phosphorylation state of target molecules and by modulating gene expression. A clear understanding of the mechanisms of action of flavonoids, either as antioxidants or modulators of cell signalling, and the influence of their metabolism on these properties are key to the evaluation of these potent biomolecules as anticancer agents, cardioprotectants, and inhibitors of neurodegeneration

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2004.01.001

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126 of 126 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Evidence and research to date supports the role of polyphenols in the prevention of cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.

    “Evidence and research to date supports the role of polyphenols in the prevention of cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases [13].”

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Authors
Williams, R. J., Spencer, J. P. E., & Rice-Evans, C.
Affiliations
King's College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Williams, Robert J
Venue
Free Radical Biology and Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2004-04
Volume
36
Issue
7
Pages
838-849
ISSN
0891-5849 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2078166953
Cited by
2,016
References
133
Citations by year
2026: 39 · 2025: 87 · 2024: 67 · 2023: 97 · 2022: 104 · 2021: 97 · 2020: 103 · 2019: 99 · 2018: 94 · 2017: 85 · 2016: 83 · 2015: 107 · 2014: 118 · 2013: 103 · 2012: 110
FWCI
7.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Free Radical Biology and Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Flavonoids in Medical Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Synthesis of Organic Compounds
Keywords
flavonoids, flavonoid metabolites, antioxidant defense, signal transduction, protein kinase signalling, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Akt/protein kinase B, tyrosine kinase, protein kinase C, mitogen-activated protein kinase, gene expression regulation, neuroprotection, cardioprotection, chemoprevention, anticancer agents, neurodegeneration
MeSH terms
Antioxidants, Flavonoids, Humans, Quercetin, Molecular Structure, Signal Transduction, Receptors, Neurotransmitter, Oxidative Stress, Protective Agents

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