Biological properties of flavonoids pertaining to inflammation

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is accompanied by a marked inflammatory; response that is thought to contribute to the development and progression of the disorder. Wile compression therapy has long been considered the stan dard treatment for CVI, recent studies suggest that treatment with flavonoi ds ma); also be beneficial. The purpose of this review is to summarize hom plant flavonoids attenuate inflammation and the immune response through the ir inhibition of important regulatory enzymes. Certain flavonoids are poten t inhibitors of the production of prostaglandins, a group of powerful proin flammatory signaling molecules. Studies have shown that this effect is due to flavonoid inhibition of key enzymes involved in prostaglandin biosynthes is (i.e. lipoxygenase, phospholipase, and cyclooxygenase). Flavonoids also inhibit phosphodiesterases involved in cell activation. Much of this effect is upon the biosynthesis of protein cytokines that mediate adhesion of cir culating leukocytes to sites of injury. The protein kinases are another cla ss of regulatory enzymes affected by flavonoids. The inhibition of kinases is due to the competitive binding: of flavonoids with ATP at, catalytic sit es on the enzymes. These modes of inhibition provide the mechanisms by whic h flavonoids inhibit the inflammation response and suggest that this class of molecules may be effective in the treatment of CVI.