Postepy Biochem. 2025 Nov 13;71(4):339-348. doi: 10.18388/pb.2021_625.
ABSTRACT
There is growing interest in flavonoids as bioactive components of functional foods. Flavonoids are a broad group of natural polyphenolic compounds that perform many important biological functions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, and cardioprotective effects. Given the rising incidence of cardiovascular disease, consuming foods containing flavonoids as a preventive factor is particularly important. These compounds are primarily sourced from fruits such as chokeberry, blackcurrant, apples, hawthorn, lemons, and red grapes. Flavonoids with documented cardioprotective effects have been identified in these foods, including catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, rutin, apigenin, luteolin, naringenin, and hesperetin. Precise identification and characterization of flavonoids requires the use of appropriate analytical methods. High-performance liquid chromatography remains one of the most commonly used techniques in qualitative and quantitative analysis. The selection of extraction conditions and chromatographic parameters, such as column type, mobile phase, elution method, and detector, are crucial for ensuring selectivity and repeatability of determinations. The aim of this paper is to review the methodological aspects of flavonoid determination in selected food products used in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Flavonoid extraction methods and liquid chromatography conditions are summarized. The analyzed studies included plant materials in both fresh, freeze-dried, and frozen forms. Extracts were derived from whole plants, as well as from their flesh, peels, and leaves. This paper provides an overview of practical solutions and can be used to support planning quantitative flavonoid analyses.
PMID:41504733 | DOI:10.18388/pb.2021_625