Antiplasmodial properties of plants isolated flavonoids and their derivatives

Abstract

Flavonoids are one of the major groups of plant secondary metabolites and have long been used as traditional medicines with scientifically proven pharmacological profits. They are commonly found in fruit, vegetables, nuts, tea, wine, propolis, seeds, stems, flowers and honey. Among the multiple roles of flavonoids in plants, we can cite the important roles in transport of auxin, root and shoot development, pollination, modulation of reactive oxygen species. Flavonoids have received considerable attention because of their anti-infective and many groups have isolated and identified the structures of flavonoids possessing antifungal, antiviral, antiplasmodial and antibacterial activity. The antioxidant effects of that group of natural product in the prevention of human diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases have also been proven. This review enlightens the prospective antiplasmodial role of flavonoids.