Flavonoids: Classification, Biosynthesis and Chemical Ecology

Flavonoids are natural products widely distributed in the plant kingdom and form one of the main classes of secondary metabolites. They display a large range of structures and ecological significance (e.g., such as the colored pigments in many flower petals), serve as chemotaxonomic marker compounds and have a variety of biological activities. Therefore, they have been extensively investigated but the interest in them is still increasing. The topics that will be discussed in this chapter describe the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis, the roles of flavonoids in flowers, fruits and roots and mechanisms involved in pollination and their specific functions in the plant