REVIEW doi: 10.12032/TMR20190824131 Traditional Chinese Medicine Plant distribution and pharmacological activity of flavonoids Shao-Hui Wang1, 2, 3, 4, Yan-Lan Hu3, 4, Tong-Xiang Liu3, 4* 1Medical College, Qingdao Binhai University, Qingdao 266555, China. 2Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao Binhai University, Qingdao 266555, China. 3 Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine (Minzu University of China), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100081, China. 4School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, China. *Corresponding to: Tong-Xiang Liu, Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine (Minzu University of China), Ministry of Education, No. 27 Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China. E-mail:
[email protected]. Highlights This review covers the plant distribution and pharmacological activities of flavonoids, stressing the importance of identifying such valuable flavonoids in another genus or family while providing a basis for fully exploiting the therapeutic potential of flavonoids. Traditionality Flavonoids are found in some traditional Chinese medicines that function to clear heat and dampness, some pathological products resulted from diseases. The most representative drugs among them are Huangqin (Scutellaria baicalensis), Chuanhuangbai (Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex), and Kushen (Sophora flavescens). As early as the Donghan dynasty of China, these three herbs were recorded in an ancient book of Chinese medicine called Shennong Bencao Jing. Submit a manuscript: https://www.tmrjournals.com/tmr TMR | September 2019 | vol. 4 | no. 5 | 269 REVIEW doi: 10.12032/TMR20190824131 Abstract Flavonoids are natural organic compounds that are widely found in nature, their structural types are complex, and they mainly include flavonoids, flavonols, dihydroflavonols, isoflavones, dihydroisoflavones, chalcones, orange ketones, flavanoids, anthocyanidins, and biflavonoids. This review covers the plant distribution and pharmacological activities of flavonoids.