What are total flavonoids?

Our human body needs a variety of trace elements, such as iron for blood production, calcium, zinc, etc. Total flavonoids are also a trace element that is beneficial to the human body. This substance is a natural product and is contained in many Chinese medicines. It can protect the human hematopoietic system, the immune system, etc. Let’s introduce in detail what total flavonoids are.

Biototal flavonoids refer to flavonoid compounds, which are a large class of natural products that are widely present in the plant kingdom and are the active ingredients of many Chinese herbal medicines. The most common flavonoids and flavonols in nature include dihydroflavonoids, isoflavones, biflavonoids, flavanols, chalcones, aurone, anthocyanins and neoflavonoids.

effect

1. Protective effect on the hematopoietic system

Hematopoietic tissue is a highly radiation-sensitive tissue. The main target cells of radiation attack are hematopoietic stem cells, granulocyte progenitor cells, and erythroid progenitor cells. The damage of radiation to the hematopoietic system is mainly to inhibit or destroy the proliferation ability of hematopoietic stem cells and proliferative pool cells. Radiation often causes damage such as bone marrow suppression, microcirculation disorders, leukopenia, and destruction of the hematopoietic microenvironment. Bioactive substances may promote the recovery of the hematopoietic system by regulating the secretion of hematopoietic-related cytokines by the body; at the same time, they increase the body's ability to clear ROS and reduce damage to hematopoietic tissue, thereby achieving an anti-radiation effect.

2. Protective effect on the immune system

The body's immune system is a sensitive system to radiation damage, among which T lymphocytes are the most sensitive. The body develops a state of immune dysfunction due to radiation damage, which is manifested by a decrease in the number of immune active cells, inhibition or disorder of antibody formation, and abnormal regulation of cytokine networks. Long-term immune dysfunction makes patients highly sensitive to pathogens such as bacteria and viruses and other factors, aggravating the condition and leading to premature aging and death. Therefore, the treatment of radiation damage to the immune system is a key part of the treatment of radiation sickness. Many researchers have studied the protective effects of natural medicines against radiation damage to the immune system from the aspects of induction and regulation of cell networks.

3. Eliminate free radicals and have anti-oxidation effects

In radiation damage, the body produces a large number of free radicals, which are atoms or atomic groups containing unpaired electrons. The vast majority of free radicals in living organisms are derived from oxygen molecules and water molecules, including superoxide anions (O2.-), hydroxyl radicals (-OH), hydrogen peroxide (H202:), etc. Drugs can reduce and eliminate the damage caused by radiation by removing these free radicals.

4. Protect DNA

DNA is an important target molecule of radiation damage, and many radiobiological effects are manifested through DNA damage. DNA is not only the direct target of radiation, but also one of the indirect targets of free radicals produced by radiation, which ultimately causes DNA breakage, gene mutation, chromosome recombination, cell transformation and cell death. Therefore, reducing the damage of radiation to DNA is one of the important contents of radiation protection research.