Flavonoid Polyphenols

Plants and plant-derived products have been part of herbal medicine for thousands of years. Today, herbalists and scientists recognize a group of compounds called flavonoids in plants that are responsible for many of the health benefits of traditional herbal medicine. Chemically, these compounds are called polyphenols because they contain many phenol groups, which help make flavonoids particularly beneficial in maintaining your health and preventing many disorders. Discuss these herbal preparations with your doctor to determine if one or more of them may be appropriate for you.

Flavonoid Polyphenols

Flavonoid polyphenols are a type of natural chemical found in fruits, vegetables and plant-based beverages such as tea, coffee and wine. Because they are polyphenols, these compounds are powerful antioxidants that protect you from free radicals, also called reactive oxygen species, removing them from your body. Free radicals are byproducts of metabolism or potentially toxic elements in the environment that may injure your cells by damaging membranes or DNA, raising your risk for cancer, immune problems and other disorders. Free radicals also promote oxidation and contribute to disorders such as high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke.

Quercetin

Quercetin is a potent antioxidant that belongs to the group of flavonoid polyphenols. Found in citrus fruits, apples, onions, olives and olive oil, and berries, quercetin is a potent antioxidant that also acts as a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory. It suppresses histamine release by immune cells, lowering your risk for asthma and allergies. It also reduces oxidation of cholesterol in your blood, reducing deposition of fatty deposits in your arteries and decreasing your risk for cardiovascular disease. Quercetin may also have anticancer properties, according to laboratory research noted by the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is a flavonoid polyphenol found in the skins of red grapes and several other foods including peanuts and mulberries. In addition to its antioxidant activity, resveratrol is also anti-inflammatory and may help improve symptoms of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis by suppressing enzymes that initiate inflammation. Resveratrol also inhibits clot formation and helps reduce blood levels of low-density lipoprotein, or bad cholesterol, reducing your risk for coronary artery disease. According to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, resveratrol may also protect your cells from carcinogenic compounds that may change normal cells into cancer cells.

Catechins

Catechins are a type of flavonoid polyphenol particularly concentrated in green tea, which has been part of Asian herbal medicine for thousands of years. The UMMC notes that green tea can help prevent high cholesterol, lowering your risk for atherosclerosis, as well as protect against many types of cancer, according to clinical research into bladder, breast, ovarian, colon, pancreatic and prostate cancer. In a clinical study published in "International Journal of Cancer" in January 2004, investigators found that risk of prostate cancer declined as consumption of green tea increased among human subjects.

Recommendations

Supplements containing quercetin, resveratrol or catechins are available from health food stores in capsules or tablets. These supplements are generally considered safe and without significant side effects. Choose products standardized for their content of polyphenolic compounds and discuss their use with your doctor before adding one or more of them to your routine.