Production of flavonoids in plants: biotechnological applications

RIUS, S.P.; FALCONE FERREYRA, M.L.; CASATI, P.

Plant Biotechnology and Transgenic Research

Bentham Science Publishers

Año: 2010;

Abstract Flavonoids are widely distributed plant secondary metabolites and they are characterized by a 15-carbon backbone consisting of one oxygenated and two aromatic rings; and they are classified according to the oxidation degree of the carbon rings. Flavonoid compounds are modified by glycosylations, hydroxylations, acylations, methylations, or prenylations; generating a wide spectrum of products with different metabolic functions in plants. The elucidation of the biosynthetic pathways, as well as their regulation by MYB, bHLH and WD40-type transcription factors, has allowed metabolic engineering of plants, permitting the manipulation of the different final products with valuable applications. The present review illustrates different aspects of flavonoid biology. Here, we describe the basic aspects of the biosynthetic pathways and their regulation, together with their biological effects in plants. In addition, flavonoid implication in the flower, food and pharmaceutical industry, including medical applications are described.