Theinflammatoryprocessplaysacentralroleinthedevelopmentandprogressionofnumerouspathologicalsituations,suchasinflammatoryboweldisease(IBD),autoimmuneandneurodegenerativediseases,metabolicsyndrome,andcardiovasculardisorders.IBDsinvolveinflammationofthegastrointestinalareaandmainlycompriseCrohn’sdisease(CD)andulcerativecolitis(UC).Bothpathologicalsituationsusuallyinvolverecurringorbloodydiarrhea,pain,fatigueandweightloss.ThereisatpresentnopharmacologicalcureforCDorUC.However,surgerymaybecurativeforUCpatients.Theprescribedtreatmentaimstoamelioratethesymptomsandpreventand/ordelaynewpainfulepisodes.Flavonoidcompoundsarealargefamilyofhydroxylatedpolyphenolicmoleculesabundantinplants,includingvegetablesandfruitswhicharethemajordietarysourcesofthesecompoundsforhumans,togetherwithwineandtea.Flavonoidsarebecomingverypopularbecausetheyhavemanyhealth-promotinganddisease-preventiveeffects.Mostinteresthasbeendirectedtowardstheantioxidantactivityofflavonoids,evidencingaremarkablefree-radicalscavengingcapacity.However,accumulatingevidencesuggeststhatflavonoidshavemanyotherbiologicalproperties,includinganti-inflammatory,antiviral,anticancer,andneuroprotectiveactivitiesthroughdifferentmechanismsofaction.ThepresentreviewanalyzestheavailabledataaboutthedifferenttypesofflavonoidsandtheirpotentialeffectivenessasadjuvanttherapyofIBDs.
