Abstract
The flavonoids are a large group of naturally occurring phenylchromones found in fruits, vegetables, grains, bark, roots, stems, flowers, tea, and wine. Up to several hundred milligrams are consumed daily in the average Western diet. Only limited information is available on the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of these compounds in man. Some compounds are absorbed, however, and measurable plasma concentrations are achieved which could have pharmacological relevance.
A variety of in vitro and in vivo experiments have shown that selected flavonoids possess antiallergic, antiinflammatory, antiviral and antioxidant activities. Moreover, acting by several different mechanisms, particular flavonoids can exert significant anticancer activity including anticarcinogenic properties and even a prodifferentiative activity, amongst other modes of action. Certain flavonoids possess potent inhibitory activity against a wide array of enzymes, but of particular note is their inhibitory effects on several enzyme systems intimately connected to cell activation processes such as protein kinase C, protein tyrosine kinases, phospholipase A2, and others. Evidence suggests that only activated cells are susceptible to the modulating effects of flavonoids, i.e. cells which are responding to a stimulus. The stimulated activities of numerous cell types, including mast cells, basophils, neutrophils, eosinophils, T & B lymphocytes, macrophages, platelets, smooth muscle, hepatocytes, and others, can be influenced by particular flavonoids. On balance, a considerable body of evidence suggests that plant flavonoids may be healthpromoting, disease-preventing dietary compounds.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Anné, S.; Agarwal, R.; Nair, M. P.; Schwartz, A.; Middleton, E. Inhibition of endotoxin-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and of leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells by the plant flavonol quercetin. J. Allergy and Clin. Immunol., 1994, 93, 276 (abstract).
Bochner, B. Cellular Adhesion in Inflammation. In Allergy: Principles and Practice; E. Middleton; C. E. Reed; E. F. Ellis; N. F. Adkinson; J. W. Yunginger; W. W. Busse, Eds., Mosby Yearbook: St. Louis, MO. 1998.
Brinkworth, R.; Stoermer, M. J.; Fairlie, D. P. Flavones are inhibitors of HIV-1 proteinase. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 1992, 188, 631.
Ferriola, P. C.; Cody, V.; Middleton, E. Protein kinase C inhibition by plant flavonoids, kinetic mechanisms and structure-activity relationships. Biochem. Pharmacol., 1989, 38, 1617.
Fesen, M. R.; Kohn, K. W.; Leteurtre, F.; Pommier, Y. Inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus integrase. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 1993, 90, 2399.
Gerritsen, M.E.; Carley, W. H.; Ranger, G. E. Flavonoids inhibit cytokine-induced endothelial cell adhesion protein gene expression. Am. J. Pathol., 1995, 147, 278–292.
Gryglewski, R. J.; Korbut, R.; Robak, J.; Swies, J. On the mechanism of antithrombotic action of flavonoids. Biochem. Pharmacol., 1987, 36, 317–322.
Imoto, M.; Yamashita, Y.; Sawa, T.; Kurasawa, S.; Naganawa, H.; Takeuchi, T.; Bao-quan, Z.; Umezawa, K. Inhibition of cellular phosphatidylinositol turnover by psi-tectorigenin. FEBS Letters 1988, 230, 43–46.
Kaul, T. N.; Middleton, E.; Ogra, P. L. Antiviral effect of flavonoids on human viruses. J. Med. Virol, 1985, 15, 71.
Kuhnau, J. The flavonoids: a class of semi essential food components: their role in human nutrition. World Rev. Nutr. Diet., 1976, 24, 117–191.
Lane, P. J. L.; Ledbetter, J. A.; McConnell, F. N.; Draves, K.; Deans, J.; Schieven, G. L.; Clark, E. A. The role of tyrosine phosphorylation in signal transduction through surface Ig in human B cells: inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation prevents intracellular calcium release. J. Immunol., 1991, 146, 715–722.
Lee, T.-P.; Matteliano, M. L.; Middleton, E. Effect of quercetin on human polymorphonuclear leukocyte lysosomal enzyme release and phospholipid metabolism. Life Sci., 1982, 31, 2765.
Maalej, N.; Demrow, H. S.; Slane, P. R.; Folts, J. D. Antithrombotic effects of flavonoids in red wine. In Wine: Nutritional and Therapeutic Benefits; T. R. Watkins, ed.; American Chemical Society, Symposium Series; Washington, 1997; pp. 247–260.
Maxwell, S. R. J. Wine Antioxidants and their Impact on Antioxidant Activity in vivo. In Wine: Nutritional and Therapeutic Benefits; T. R. Watkins, ed.; American Chemical Society, Symposium Series; Washington, 1997; pp. 150–165.
Middleton, E. The Flavonoids as Potential Therapeutic Agents. In ImmunoPharmaceuticals; E. S. Kimball, Ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. 1996, pp.227–257.
Middleton, E.; Drzewiecki, G. Flavonoid inhibition of human basophil histamine release stimulated by various agents. Biochem. Pharmacol, 1982, 31, 1449.
Middleton, E.; Drzewiecki, G.; Krishnarao, D. P. Quercetin: an inhibitor of antigen-induced human basophil histamine release. J. Immunol., 1981, 127, 546.
Middleton, E.,Jr.; Kandaswami, C. The impact of plant flavonoids on mammalian biology: implications for immunity, inflammation, and cancer. In Advances in Flavonoid Research; J. B. Harborne, ed.; Chapman and Hall, London, 1993; pp. 619–652.
Middleton, E.,Jr.; Kandaswami, C. Free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity of plant flavonoids. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol., 1994, 366, 251–366.
Mookerjee, B. K.; Lee, T.-P.; Lippes, H. A.; Middleton, E. Some effects of flavonoids on lymphocyte proliferative processes. J. Immunopharmacol., 1986, 8, 371.
Nishioka, H.; Imoto, M.; Sawa, T.; Hamada, M.; Naganawa, H.; Takeuchi, T.; Umezawa, K. Screening of phosphatidylinositol kinase inhibitors from streptomyces. Antibiot., 1989, 42, 823–825.
Schwartz, A.; Middleton, E. Comparison of the effects of quercetin with those of other flavonoids on the generation and effector function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Immunopharmacology 1984, 7, 115.
Sloan, R.; Boran-Rogotzky, R.; Ackerman, S. J.; Drzewiecki, G.; Middleton, E. The effect of plant flavanoids on eosinophil degranulation. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol., 1991, 87, 282 (abst.).
Spedding, G.; Ratty, A.; Middleton, E. Inhibition of reverse transcriptases by flavanoids. Antiviral Res., 1989, 12, 99.
Tauber, A. L; Fay, J. R.; Marietta, M. A. Flavonoid inhibition of human neutrophil NADPH-oxidase. Biochem. Pharmacol, 1984, 33, 1367–1369.
Verma, A. K.; Johnson, J. A.; Gould, M. N.; Tanner, M. A. Inhibition of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and N-nitroso methylurea-induced rat mammary cancer by dietary flavonol quercetin. Cancer Res., 1988, 48, 5754.
Yamada, H.; Nagai, T.; Takemoto, N.; Endoh, H.; Kiyohara, H.; Kawamura, H.; Otsuka, Y. Plantagoside, a novel alpha-mannosidase inhibitor isolated from the seeds of Plantago asiatica, suppresses immune response. Biochem. Biophys Res. Comm., 1989, 165, 1292.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Middleton, E. (1998). Effect of Plant Flavonoids on Immune and Inflammatory Cell Function. In: Manthey, J.A., Buslig, B.S. (eds) Flavonoids in the Living System. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 439. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5335-9_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5335-9_13
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-7434-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-5335-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive