Flavonoids in diet, food sources
The daily flavonoid intake in the human diet (mainly from onions, apples, grapes, wine, tea, berries, herbs, and spices) is highly variable, with estimations ranging from 25 mg to more than 500 mg.

Potential benefits of flavonoids
Epidemiological evidence suggests an inverse relationship between dietary intake of flavonoids and cardiovascular risk. In other words, the higher the amount of flavonoids in the diet, the lower the risk for heart disease. The biological activities of flavonoids are partly related to their antioxidative effects.
   Accumulated evidence from experimental and epidemiological studies indicates that there is a low risk of degenerative diseases, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cataract, stroke and, in particular, cancers in people with a high intake of fruit and vegetables. This protective effect is assumed to be associated mainly with the antioxidant activities of either individual or interacting bioactive components present in the fruits and vegetables, and with other biochemical and physical characteristics of the identified and unknown bioactive components. The implicated bioactive components present in citrus fruits include vitamin C, beta-carotene, flavonoids, limonoids, folic acid, and dietary fiber. A high intake of citrus fruits may reduce the risk of degenerative diseases.

Scientific World Journal. 2013. Chemistry and biological activities of flavonoids: an overview. There has been increasing interest in the research on flavonoids from plant sources because of their versatile health benefits reported in various epidemiological studies. Since flavonoids are directly associated with human dietary ingredients and health, there is need to evaluate structure and function relationship. The bioavailability, metabolism, and biological activity of flavonoids depend upon the configuration, total number of hydroxyl groups, and substitution of functional groups about their nuclear structure. Fruits and vegetables are the main dietary sources of flavonoids for humans, along with tea and wine. Most recent researches have focused on the health aspects for humans. Many flavonoids are shown to have antioxidative activity, free radical scavenging capacity, coronary heart disease prevention, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities, while some flavonoids exhibit potential antiviral activities. In plant systems, flavonoids help in combating oxidative stress and act as growth regulators.

Eyesight Rx

Unlike some vision products that provide nutrients and herbs for long term healthy vision support, and prevention of visual impairment, but don't seem to have much of an immediate effect on visual acuity, Eyesight Rx was formulated to provide a quick and noticeable vision improvement within hours or days of use.

Reports from Eyesight Rx users indicate enhanced clarity of vision, colors being brighter, better focus, and overall improvement in close and distance vision. We've had reports of some people noticing this effect within a half hour, while most people notice improved vision within hours. Still others will realize their vision is sharper the next morning when they take their second dose.

Supplement Facts:
Vitamin C
Citrus bioflavonoids (eriocitrin, hesperidin, flavonols, flavones, flavonoids, naringenin, and quercetin)
Mixed carotenoids (alpha carotene, astaxanthin, beta carotene, cryptoxanthin, Lutein, Lycopene, Zeaxanthin)
Bilberry extract (Vaccinium myrtillus).
Eyebright extract (Euphrasia officianales)
Jujube extract (Zizyphus jujube)
Ginkgo biloba helps with blood flow to the retina
Suma extract (Pfaffia paniculata)
Mucuna pruriens extract (Cowhage)
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
Lycium berry extract (Lycium Barbarum) - also known as Goji Berry.
Sarsaparila (Sarsaparilla Smilax)
Alpha lipoic acid free radical scavenger

Vitamin P was the early name for flavonoids
In the 1930s, Hungarian scientists Rusznyak and Szent-Gyorgi identified a substance from lemon peels that reduced capillary permeability. This substance was an effective treatment in purpura patients who were resistant to vitamin C therapy. They named this substance "vitamin P" (P for permeability). Years later it was discovered that this "vitamin P" (or citrin) was not a single substance but that it a mixture of the flavonoids hesperidin and eriodictyol glucoside.

The major subclasses:
Flavonoids are a subclass of polyphenols. Flavonoids are widely distributed in nature, albeit not uniformly. As a result, specific groups of foods are often rich sources of one or more subclasses of these polyphenols. The polyphenolic structure of flavonoids and tannins renders them quite sensitive to oxidative enzymes and cooking conditions.
     Anthocyanins  and anthocyanidins are a large water-soluble pigment group found in a large number of fruits, vegetables and flowers. particularly grapes, pomegranate, and berries. These pigments give plants their brilliant colors ranging from pink through scarlet, purple and blue. Bilberry and other berries have a high concentration of anthocyanins. Scientists have identified more than 500 different anthocyanins. Cyanidin, pelargonidin. Anthocyanidin + sugar = Anthycyanin.
      Catechins or Flavanols are found found in tea and grape seeds. Cocoa can be a rich source of antioxidants including the flavan-3-ols, epicatechin and catechin, and their oligomers (procyanidins).
      Flavones -- Apigenin, luteolin hispidulin. Luteolin is found in broccoli and greet chili. Apigenin is found in Chinese cabbage and bell pepper. Chrysin belongs to the flavone class of flavonoids.
      Flavonols --  are found at high concentrations in onions, apples, red wine, broccoli, tea, and Ginkgo biloba. The most common in the American diet are quercetin (70%), Kaempferol (16%), and Myricetin (6%); fisetin. These flavonols are found in high amounts in kale, onions, hot peppers, and rutabagos. Quercetin is also found in rose hips. Another flavonol, icariin, is found in horny goat weed.
      Flavanones -- Hesperidin and Naringen.
      Isoflavones include the popular nutrients that have been written about in magazines and newspapers such as genistein and daidzein, which are found in soy and in legumes. Kudzu also has isoflavones.

Anti-inflammatory
Most flavonoids have anti-inflammatory properties. Hence the use of flavonoids may be appropriate in some medical conditions involved in inflammation.

Anti-oxidants
Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants. Extracts from onion and various flavonoids induce the cellular antioxidant system. Onion extract and quercetin were able to increase the intracellular concentration of glutathione by approximately 50%.

Blood thinners
Flavonoids inhibit platelet function through binding to the thromboxane A2 receptor.
J Thromb Haemost. 2005.
Dietary flavonoids are known for their antiplatelet activity resulting in cardiovascular protection, although the specific mechanisms by which this inhibition occurs has not been fully established. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of nine flavonoids representative of various chemical classes, with platelet responses dependent on thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) generation and on receptor antagonism. The effect of several types of flavonoids on platelet aggregation, serotonin release, and TxA(2) generation was investigated. Flavones (apigenin and luteolin) and isoflavones (genistein) abrogated arachidonic acid and collagen-induced platelet responses, such as aggregation and secretion, with a less substantial effect on TxA(2) synthesis. Tight binding of flavonoids to the human TxA(2) receptor relies on structural features such as the presence of the double bond in C2-C3, and a keto group in C4. The inhibition by specific flavonoids of in vitro platelet responses induced by collagen or arachidonic acid seems to be related, to a great extent, to their ability to compete for binding to the TxA(2) receptor. Therefore, antagonism of this TxA(2) receptor may represent an additional mechanism for the inhibitory effect of flavonoids in platelet function.

Brain health, neurodegenerative diseases
During the past several years, there has been enormous progress in the understanding of the causative factors that initiate neuronal damage in various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington disease. Preventing neuronal damage and neuronal death will have a huge clinical benefit. Flavonoids are key compounds for the development of a new generation of therapeutic agents that are clinically effective in treating neurodegenerative diseases. Regular consumption of flavonoids has been associated with a reduced risk of neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to their antioxidant properties, these polyphenolic compounds exhibit neuroprotective properties by their interaction with cellular signaling pathways followed by transcription and translation that mediate cell function under both normal and pathologic conditions.

Flavonoids for brain health
If your diet has plenty of flavonoids, you are likely helping maintain a healthy brain in old age and lower your risk for heart disease. Flavonoids are potent antioxidants found in plant-based foods from red wine to tea to vegetables. Dr. Luc Letenneur of INSERM in Bordeaux, France, followed a group of 1,640 older, dementia-free individuals for 10 years, recording information on their diet at the beginning of the study. The men and women who took in the most flavonoids showed significantly better mental performance at the beginning of the study, even after the researchers adjusted the data for the influence of sex, level of education, and age. And those who ranked in the top half for flavonoid consumption showed more favorable progress in their cognitive function over time; for example, after 10 years, men and women in the lowest fourth for flavonoid consumption had lost 2.1 points on a test of cognitive function known as the Mini-Mental State Examination, compared to a 1.2-point loss for the people in the highest fourth for flavonoid intake. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2007.

Cancer
Most flavonoids have anti-tumor properties. The intake of 400-600 g/d of fruits and vegetables is associated with reduced incidence of many common forms of cancer, and diets rich in plant foods are also associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and many chronic diseases of ageing. These foods contain phytochemicals that have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties which confer many health benefits. Many phytochemicals are colourful, and recommending a wide array of colourful fruits and vegetables is an easy way to communicate increased diversity of intake to the consumer. For example, red foods contain lycopene, the pigment in tomatoes, which is localized in the prostate gland and may be involved in maintaining prostate health, and which has also been linked with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Green foods, including broccoli, Brussels sprouts and kale, contain glucosinolates which have also been associated with a decreased risk of cancer. Garlic and other white-green foods in the onion family contain allyl sulphides which may inhibit cancer cell growth. Other bioactive substances in green tea and soybeans have health benefits as well.

Nutrients. 2013. Chemopreventive potential of flavonoids in oral squamous cell carcinoma in human studies.

Review: dietary flavonoids and cancer risk: evidence from human population studies.
Nutr Cancer. 2004.
High dietary intake of fruits and vegetables is consistently associated with a reduced risk of common human cancers, including cancers of the lung, breast, prostate, and colon. It is unknown which bioactive compound or compounds in plant foods provide the chemoprotective effects. One class of compounds currently under investigation is flavonoids, a large group of compounds with similar structure, consisting of two phenolic benzene rings linked to a heterocyclic pyran or pyrone. Although there are numerous in vitro and animal model data suggesting that flavonoids influence important cellular and molecular mechanisms related to carcinogenesis, such as cell cycle control and apoptosis, there are limited data from human population studies. This article reviews data from four cohort studies and six case-control studies, which have examined associations of flavonoid intake with cancer risk. There is consistent evidence from these studies that flavonoids, especially quercetin, may reduce the risk of lung cancer. Further research using new dietary databases for food flavonoid content is needed to confirm these findings before specific public health recommendations about flavonoids can be formulated.

Erectile dysfunction, impotence
Eating foods that are rich in certain flavonoids may reduced the risk of erectile dysfunction in men, especially those under 70, according to research from Harvard University and the University of East Anglia published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2016. Of the different flavonoids, anthocyanins (found in blueberries, cherries, blackberries, radishes and blackcurrant), and flavanones and flavones (found in citrus fruits) were found to offer the greatest benefits in preventing the condition.

Immune system
Most flavonoids have anti-germ activity, including the ability to fight bacteria and viruses.

Infection prevention, Herpes Virus
Antiherpetic activities of flavonoids against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) in vitro.
Arch Pharm Res. 2005.
We carried out anti-herpetic assays on 18 flavonoids in five classes and a virus -induced cytopathic effect (CPE) inhibitory assay, plaque reduction assay, and yield reduction assay were performed. When flavonoids were applied at various concentrations to Vero cells infected by herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, most of the flavonoids showed inhibitory effects on virus-induced CPE. Among the flavonoids, EC, ECG (flavanols), genistein (isoflavone), naringenin (flavanone), and quercetin (flavonol) showed a high level of CPE inhibitory activity. The antiviral activity of flavonoids were also examined by a plaque reduction assay. EC, ECG, galangin, and kaempferol showed a strong antiviral activity, and catechin, EGC, EGCG, naringenin, chrysin, baicalin, fisetin, myricetin, quercetin, and genistein showed moderate inhibitory effects against HSV-1. In these experiments, flavanols and flavonols appeared to be more active than flavones.

Lung health, respiratory infections
Adv Nutr 2016. Effect of Flavonoids on Upper Respiratory Tract Infections and Immune Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy of dietary flavonoids on upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and immune function in healthy adults. Of the included studies, flavonoid supplementation ranged from 0.2 to 1.2 g/d. Overall, flavonoid supplementation decreased URTI incidence by 33% compared with control, with no apparent adverse effects. Sick-day count was decreased by 40% with flavonoid supplementation, although unclear. Differences in bio-immune markers (e.g., interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, neutrophils) were trivial between the intervention and control groups during the intervention and after exercise when a postintervention exercise bout was included. These findings suggest that flavonoids are a viable supplement to decrease URTI incidence in an otherwise healthy population.

Vasodilation and nitric oxide production
Diets rich in either flavonoids including red wine, quercetin or catechin induce endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. This means that blood vessels are more dilated and this may be beneficial in vascular diseases such as claudication or coronary or heart disease. Eating dark chocolate, or taking a cocoa supplement, which have plenty of flavonoids, improves healthy blood flow. Chocolate improves the function of blood vessels, allowing them to dilate, thereby preventing the formation of potentially damaging clots.

Chemistry
Flavonoids generally consist of two aromatic rings, each containing at least one hydroxyl, which are connected through a three-carbon "bridge" and become part of a six-member heterocyclic ring. The flavonoids are further divided into subclasses based on the connection of an aromatic ring to the heterocyclic ring, as well as the oxidation state and functional groups of the heterocyclic ring. Within each subclass, individual compounds are characterized by specific hydroxylation and conjugation patterns. Many flavonoids in foods also occur as large molecules (tannins). These include condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins), derived tannins and hydrolysable tannins. For proanthocyanidins, three subclasses (15 characterized) have been identified in foods. Monomers are connected through specific carbon-carbon and ether linkages to form polymers. Derived tannins are formed during food handling and processing, and found primarily in black and oolong teas. The polyphenolic structure of flavonoids and tannins renders them quite sensitive to oxidative enzymes and cooking conditions. Scientists in several countries have estimated intakes of a few subclasses of flavonoids from limited food composition databases. These observations suggest large differences in consumption, due in part to cultural and food preferences among populations of each country.

Food Content of Flavonoids
Studies were conducted on myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, and apigenin contents of 62 edible tropical plants. The highest total flavonoids content was in onion leaves (1497 mg/kg quercetin, 391 mg/kg luteolin, and 832 mg/kg kaempferol), followed by Semambu leaves (2041 mg/kg), bird chili (1663 mg/kg), black tea (1491 mg/kg), papaya shoots (1264 mg/kg), and guava (1128 mg/kg). The major flavonoid in these plant extracts is quercetin, followed by myricetin and kaempferol. Luteolin could be detected only in broccoli (74 mg/kg dry weight), green chili (33 mg/kg), bird chili (1035 mg/kg), onion leaves (391 mg/kg), belimbi fruit (202 mg/kg), belimbi leaves (464 mg/kg), French bean (11.0 mg/kg), carrot (37 mg/kg), white radish (9 mg/kg), local celery (80 mg/kg), limau purut leaves (30 mg/kg), and dried asam gelugur (107 mg/kg). Apigenin was found only in Chinese cabbage (187 mg/kg), bell pepper (272 mg/kg), garlic (217 mg/kg), belimbi fruit (458 mg/kg), French peas (176 mg/kg), snake gourd (42 mg/kg), guava (579 mg/kg), wolfberry leaves (547 mg/kg), local celery (338 mg/kg), daun turi (39 mg/kg), and kadok (34 mg/kg). In vegetables, quercetin glycosides predominate, but glycosides of kaempferol, luteolin, and apigenin are also present. Fruits contain almost exclusively quercetin glycosides, whereas kaempferol and myricetin glycosides are found only in trace quantities.

Review
At this time I believe enough research has been accumulated to begin taking advantage of these fascinating compounds in clinical use. A number of medical conditions could be prevented or improved with their use. These include circulatory disorders such as hypertension and coronary artery disease,, lung disorders such as asthma, cancers of various types, inflammatory conditions, certain liver conditions, diabetes, mood disorders, eye disorders such as cataracts, weak eyesight due to aging, and macular degeneration. We should consider flavonoids as compounds necessary for the various organs and tissues, and part of the countless substances necessary for proper functioning of this amazing organism we call the human body.

Research
Vasorelaxing effects of flavonoids: investigation on the possible involvement of potassium channels.
Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2004.
A flavonoid-rich diet has been associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases, probably because of the antioxidant and vasoactive properties of flavonoids. Indeed, many flavonoids show vasorelaxing properties, due to different and often not yet completely clarified mechanisms of action. Among them, the activation of vascular potassium channels has been indicated as a possible pathway, accounting, at least in part, for the vasodilatory action of some flavonoid derivatives, such as apigenin and dioclein. Therefore, this work aims at evaluating, on in vitro isolated rat aortic rings, the endothelium-independent vasorelaxing effects of a number of flavonoid derivatives, to identify a possible activation of calcium-activated and/or ATP-sensitive potassium channels and to indicate some possible structure-activity relationships. Among the several flavonoids submitted to the pharmacological assay, only baicalein and quercetagetin were almost completely ineffective, while quercetin, hesperidin, quercitrin and rhoifolin exhibited only a partial vasorelaxing effect. On the contrary, acacetin, apigenin, chrysin, hesperetin, luteolin, pinocembrin, 4'-hydroxyflavanone, 5-hydroxyflavone, 5-methoxyflavone, 6-hydroxyflavanone and 7-hydroxyflavone, belonging to the chemical classes of flavones and flavanones, showed full vasorelaxing effects. The vasodilatory activity of hesperetin, luteolin, 5-hydroxyflavone and 7-hydroxyflavone were antagonised by tetraethylammonium chloride, indicating the possible involvement of calcium-activated potassium channels. Moreover, iberiotoxin clearly antagonised the effects of 5-hydroxyflavone, indicating the probable importance of a structural requirement (the hydroxy group in position 5) for a possible interaction with large-conductance, calcium-activated potassium channels. Finally, glibenclamide inhibited the vasorelaxing action of luteolin and 5-hydroxyflavone, suggesting that ATP-sensitive potassium channels may also be involved in their mechanism of action.

Licorice Flavonoids Suppress Abdominal Fat Accumulation and Increase in Blood Glucose Level in Obese Diabetic KK-A(y) Mice.
Biol Pharm Bull. 2004.
Licorice, the root of the Glycyrrhiza species, is one of the most frequently employed botanicals in traditional medicines. In this study, we investigated the effects of hydrophobic flavonoids from Glycyrrhiza glabra LINNE on abdominal fat accumulation and blood glucose level in obese diabetic mice. These results indicate that licorice hydrophobic flavonoids have abdominal fat-lowering and hypoglycemic effects, possibly mediated via activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma).

Flavonoids: risks or therapeutic opportunities?
Recenti Prog Med. 2004.
Over 4,000 different flavonoids have been described, and they are categorized into flavonols, flavones, catechins, flavanones, anthocyanidins and isoflavonoids. Flavonoids have many different biological effects in numerous mammalian cell systems, showed both in vitro and in vivo. Recently, much attention has been paid to their antioxidant properties and to their inhibitory role in various stages of tumour development in animal studies. In epidemiological studies the intake of flavonoids was inversely associated with subsequent coronary heart disease and cancer. Soy, St. John's Wort, Silybum marianum, Ginkgo biloba, Citrus species, Vaccinum mirtillus, Hawthorn and tea are medicinal plants containing flavonoids whose efficacy in the treatment of a variety of diseases has been demonstrated in numerous clinical studies. The main question that has not been answered satisfactorily deal with the triad absorption/metabolism/efficacy of flavonoids and is actually an important unsolved problem in judging their many alleged health effects. The aim of this review is based on providing by means of experimental and clinical studies information about efficacy and toxicity of flavonoids, especially focusing on infantile leukaemia for which there has been an international warning without sufficient and affordable scientific data.

Antioxidant properties of raw and processed cabbages.
Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2004.
To study the effect of polyphenolics on antioxidant activities of cabbages, the amounts of total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant capacity and individual phenolic compounds in raw and processed cabbages were determined. Fresh and pickled red cabbages exhibited the highest total phenolic contents (393.1+/-10.8 mg and 366.3+/-3.6 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g fresh sample, respectively). Fresh and pickled red cabbages were also highest in flavonoids (108.1+/-9.3 mg and 72.4+/-4.4 mg catechin equivalents/100 g fresh sample, respectively). The antioxidant capacity (expressed as vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity) ranged from 57.1 to 695.6 mg vitamin C equivalents/100 g fresh sample, where raw and pickled red cabbages exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity. There was a good linear relationship between the total phenolics and antioxidant capacity (r2=0.9743), and between the total flavonoids and antioxidant capacity (r2=0.9557); however, the relationship between the ascorbic acid content and antioxidant capacity was very low. The antioxidant capacity of raw and processed cabbages was highly correlated with their contents of polyphenolics. Kaempferol, quercetin, and apigenin were the major flavonoids existing in cabbages except for raw and pickled red cabbages, where cyanidin was the predominant flavonoid. In the red cabbages, cyanidin was the major contributor to the antioxidant capacity as well as the content of total phenolics and flavonoids.

Vasorelaxing effects of flavonoids: investigation on the possible involvement of potassium channels.
Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2004.
Many flavonoids show vasorelaxing properties, due to different and often not yet completely clarified mechanisms of action. Among them, the activation of vascular potassium channels has been indicated as a possible pathway, accounting, at least in part, for the vasodilatory action of some flavonoid derivatives, such as apigenin and dioclein. Therefore, this work aims at evaluating, on in vitro isolated rat aortic rings, the endothelium-independent vasorelaxing effects of a number of flavonoid derivatives, to identify a possible activation of calcium-activated and/or ATP-sensitive potassium channels and to indicate some possible structure-activity relationships. Among the several flavonoids submitted to the pharmacological assay, only baicalein and quercetagetin were almost completely ineffective, while quercetin, hesperidin, quercitrin and rhoifolin exhibited only a partial vasorelaxing effect. On the contrary, acacetin, apigenin, chrysin, hesperetin, luteolin, pinocembrin, 4'-hydroxyflavanone, 5-hydroxyflavone, 5-methoxyflavone, 6-hydroxyflavanone and 7-hydroxyflavone, belonging to the chemical classes of flavones and flavanones, showed full vasorelaxing effects. The vasodilatory activity of hesperetin, luteolin, 5-hydroxyflavone and 7-hydroxyflavone were antagonised by tetraethylammonium chloride, indicating the possible involvement of calcium-activated potassium channels. Moreover, iberiotoxin clearly antagonised the effects of 5-hydroxyflavone, indicating the probable importance of a structural requirement (the hydroxy group in position 5) for a possible interaction with large-conductance, calcium-activated potassium channels. Finally, glibenclamide inhibited the vasorelaxing action of luteolin and 5-hydroxyflavone, suggesting that ATP-sensitive potassium channels may also be involved in their mechanism of action.

Flavonoids such as luteolin, fisetin and apigenin are inhibitors of interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 production by activated human basophils.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2004.

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of dietary flavonoids in humans.
Free Radic Res. 2004.
Flavonoids are components of fruit and vegetables that may be beneficial in the prevention of disease such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Their beneficial effects will be dependent upon their uptake and disposition in tissues and cells. The metabolism and pharmacokinetics of flavonoids has been an area of active research in the last decade. To date, approximately 100 studies have reported the pharmacokinetics of individual flavonoids in healthy volunteers. The data indicate considerable differences among the different types of dietary flavonoids so that the most abundant flavonoids in the diet do not necessarily produce the highest concentration of flavonoids or their metabolites in vivo. Small intestinal absorption ranges from 0 to 60% of the dose and elimination half-lives (T1/2) range from 2 to 28h. Absorbed flavonoids undergo extensive first-pass Phase II metabolism in the small intestine epithelial cells and in the liver. Metabolites conjugated with methyl, glucuronate and sulfate groups are the predominant forms present in plasma. This review summarizes the key differences in absorption, metabolism and pharmacokinetics between the major flavonoids present in the diet. For each flavonoid, the specific metabolites that have been identified so far in vivo are indicated. These data should be considered in the design and interpretation of studies investigating the mechanisms and potential health effects of flavonoids.

Comprehensive study on vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC) of various polyphenolics in scavenging a free radical and its structural relationship.
Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2004.
Antioxidant capacity for a wide range of natural or synthetic polyphenolics was comprehensively evaluated by vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC) assay using free blue/green ABTS radicals. The polyphenolics tested are grouped into the following categories: vitamins (beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, vitamin A, and vitamin C), phenolic acids (benzoic acid, phenylacetic acid, cinnamic acid, and their derivatives), flavonoids (anthocyanidin, flavanol, chalcone, flavanone, flavone, flavonol, isoflavone, and their derivatives), synthetic food additives (BHA, BHT, TBHQ, and PG), and other miscellaneous polyphenolics (ellagic acid, sesamol, eugenol, thymol, etc.). A positive linear relationship between VCEAC and the number of free OH groups around the flavonoid framework was found, whereas, for phenolic acids, the linear relationship was not as good as with the flavonoid aglycones. Groups of chemicals having comparable structures generally showed similar trends. Polyphenolics commonly showed a higher VCEAC compared to monophenolics. Compounds like gallic acid with 3 vicinal hydroxy substitutions on the aromatic ring in phenolic acids or like epigallocatechin with 3 vicinal hydroxy substitutions on the B ring in flavonoids showed the highest antioxidant capcity among the groups. In the flavonoids, 2 characteristic chemical structures were very important, the catechol moiety in the B ring and the 3-OH functional group in a chroman ring. Glycosylated flavonoids showed less potent antioxidant capacity than their aglycone alone. Synthetic antioxidant food additives (BHA, TBHQ, and BHT) conventionally used in the food industry were less effective antioxidants than ascorbic acid. Other naturally occurring polyphenolics tested followed the expected general trends of phenolic acids and flavonoids.

Flavonoids of St. John's wort Reduce HPA Axis Function in the Rat.
Planta Med. 2004.
A common biological alteration in patients with major depression is the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, manifested as hypersecretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol. The hyperactivity of the HPA axis in depressed patients can be corrected during clinically effective therapy with standard antidepressant drugs such as imipramine, indicating that the HPA axis may be an important target for antidepressant action. We previously showed that a methanolic extract of St. John's wort (St. John's wort) and hypericin, one of its active constituents, both have delayed effects on the expression of genes that are involved in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis , whereas the phloroglucinol derivative hyperforin was inactive in the same model . Since flavonoids of St. John's wort are also discussed as active constituents it was of interest to determine whether these compounds can modulate HPA axis function. Imipramine (15 mg/kg), hypericin (0.2 mg/kg), hyperoside (0.6 mg/kg), isoquercitrin (0.6 mg/kg) and miquelianin (0.6 mg/kg) given daily by gavage for two weeks significantly down-regulated circulating plasma levels of ACTH and corticosterone by 40 - 70 %. However, none of the compounds tested had an effect on plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels after chronic treatment for 8 weeks. Our data suggest that besides hypericin, flavonoids of St. John's wort play an important role in the modulation of HPA axis function.

Several flavonoids (e.g. chrysin, apigenin) and other phytoconstituents possess aromatase-inhibiting properties.

Additional herbs with high content of flavonoids
Oroxylum Indicum

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Can flavonoid supplements help with Raynauds phenomenon?
   I am not sure, but it is worth a try since flavonoids help dilate blood vessels.

Can you comment on the product Limbrel? My wife and I have started taking it. Limbrel contains flavocoxid, a proprietary blend comprised primarily of the flavonoids such as baicalin and catechin. Each capsule of Limbrel provides 250 mg or 500 mg of flavocoxid and each capsule also contains 50 mg of citrated zinc bisglycinate.
   Perhaps low dose use with frequent breaks could be of benefit but there seems to be a concern in the medical literature. Ann Intern Med. 2012. Acute liver injury due to flavocoxid (Limbrel), a medical food for osteoarthritis: a case series.

Sometimes people make the mistake of spelling it as flavanoids.

Source Naturals
Activated Quercetin is a unique bioflavonoid derived from plant sources. In human cell culture studies, Quercetin has been shown to inhibit histamine release. Additional research needs to be conducted to confirm the effects of Quercetin, if any, in humans. Bromelain is a pineapple enzyme that may assist the body in times of stress. Magnesium ascorbate is a buffered (non-acidic) form of vitamin C that helps support the immune system. You will also find genistein and chrysin pills.