The Flavonoids

Flavonoids are a group of natural products isolated from a wide variety of plants, and are responsible for much of the colouring found in vascular plants. A single plant may contain dozens of different flavonoids, and the distribution of flavonoids within a plant family can yield useful classifying information about that family. Flavonoids exhibit a wide range of biological activities, and currently are of particular interest as potential anticancer agents, as insect antifeedants, and as natural insecticides. This volume follows on from the very successful The Flavonoids: Advances in research since 1980 which appeared in 1988. This volume reviews the primary literature during the period 1986 to 1991. Although it supplements the earlier volume, the book can be used as an entirely self-contained, up-to-date account of this important group of plant products. Each class of flavonoid is reviewed systematically in terms of isolation, identification, synthesis, biosynthesis and bioactivity. Reports of newly identified flavonoids are discussed in relation to existing compounds. Extensive use is made of tabulated data and accurately drawn formulae, and all chapters are fully referenced. Recent developments in flavonoid pharmacology, biosynthesis and genetics are also covered. No other book contains such a wealth of information on this significant area of natural product chemistry, and as such it will be invaluable to botanists, taxonomists, plant biochemists and medicinal chemists.