Chapter 25 – Flavones and Flavonols in Brain and Disease: Facts and Pitfalls

Flavones and flavonols are molecules present in most plants that are an important component of some human diets. Epidemiological evidence shows the beneficial effects of these molecules in cardiovascular and neuropathological diseases. Experimental evidence in vitro and in vivo has confirmed the neuroprotective effects in neurons in culture against oxidative insults and in models of focal ischemia and experimental parkinsonism. Nevertheless, the active concentration range in vitro is very narrow, and effects on brain pathology have been shown mostly after chronic administration. Although the preventive effects of flavones and flavonols in brain pathology could be considered mostly substantiated, the positive neuroprotective activity after acute administration still deserves more research.