Flavonoids are polyphenol antioxidants that can be found in plants, herbs and other aliments. They have been documented as cancer preventive agents and are very useful active constituents of herbs and plants responsible for many of the beneficial properties exerted by those ones, as for example their anti-aging effect (Ginkgo biloba, Calendula...etc.) and their free radical scavenging action (antioxidant), preventing cancer occurrence...etc.

Flavonoids also exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties, being also able to decrease capillary fragility [3], but what is more important, a study by Susan Steck of the Arnol School of Public Health shows that they can have an even more important function as Flavonoids may lower the risk of highly aggressive prostate cancer occurrence. Image: Fruit at North Market in Columbus, OH. by Lisa Sinclair under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Oenothera biennis (Evening primrose) is a plant native to North America that blooms in early summer, between June and September.

Its name, Primerose originates from the Latin and means first flower [1]. The other part of the name, Evening, refers to one of the characteristics of its flowers, they bloom only in the evening, within a matter of a few minutes, and close back again at the beginning of next day (see video at the end of this article). This plant is native to North America and blooms in early summer, between June and September. Image: Evening primerose by J Brew under Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

OENOTHERA BIENNIS

Family: Onagraceae

Genus: Oenothera

Common names: Evening primrose.

Phytochemicals from herbs, fruits and vegetables have been the source of multiple active molecules used in medicines by the medical and pharmaceutical industry under fancy and very suggestive commercial names. The medical industry realized many years ago that what it would take them ages to find nature had already found it. Think for example about how long did nature took to discover propolis, a natural antibiotic and antibacterial product with which bees sealed the beehive to protect it from external bacterial infections managing to keep beehives sterile and clean.

Or how for example, some Ginkgo biloba trees managed to survive more than 2500 years!, or for example Apigenin, a natural flavonoid found in many herbs and fruits, as Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) used primarily in research as a protein kinase inhibitor that may suppress tumor promotion and that has anti-proliferating effects, or epigallocatechin gallate (from green tea leaves), delphinidin (a primary plant pigment responsible for the red grape color) and genistein (an isoflavone from soybeans) all associated with a lower incidence and risk of cancer [15], all that without even mention Resveratrol from red wine, able to stop breast cancer cell growth in mouse and has cardioprotective, neuroprotective and a natural anti-aging properties [16], and these are only a few examples.

THAPSIA GARGANICA

Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Thapsia
Common name: Deadly carrot.

Baicalein is a phenolic flavonoid compound [3,13], a flavone extracted from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis [13], Scutellaria paniples and from the flowers of Oroxylum indicum, this last herb used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine for its anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic and anti-hypersensitivity effects [19]. Phenolic compounds are the largest group of plants secondary metabolites [4]. They are known for their many beneficial properties and health-promoting characteristics, most of those mainly exerted by its antioxidant and free-radical scavenging distinctive properties. Polyphenolic compounds have also reported an anti-ulcerogenic activity and a good level of gastric protection [4].

Baicalein protects the cells against oxidative stress. Polyphenols are also known to contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, osteoporosis, neurodegenerative diseases as Alzheimer's disease and dementia, also as viral agent [8], and diabetes mellitus [4] among many others. Let's see how some of these properties.

SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS

Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Scutellaria
Common name: Baikal skullcalp.