A brief review on biological and chemical activities of flavonoids in plants

Abstract

Flavonoids are a group of plant pigments, the combination of which determines one or another color of flowers and fruits. In plants, flavonoid dyes play the role of light filters that protect tissues from negative influences. Flavonoids are widely distributed secondary metabolites with different metabolic functions in plants. Flavonoids - a group of polyphenolic compounds C6-C3-C6 -series that are synthesized exclusively in higher plants. This review considers four main functions of flavonoids in the plant body. These compounds take an active part in redox processes, in plant reproduction they play the role of bright attractants for insects and animals. An important function of flavonoids is to protect plants from external adverse abiotic and biotic factors. They are signal molecules in auxin metabolism, as well as at various stages of the plant symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria.