Next Article in Journal
Proteolytic Tenderization of Pork Loin with Papain and Bromelain and Its Physicochemical and Sensory Effects
Previous Article in Journal
Development of a Sensory Lexicon and Predictive ANN Modeling for Black Queen Wine: A Novel Workflow Incorporating Bridge-Linked QDA and Consumer Hedonic Analysis
Previous Article in Special Issue
Acute Effects of Hom Pathum and Tubtim Chumphae Rice Jellies on Glycemic Response, Endurance Performance, and Oxidative Stress in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Crossover Study
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Foods
Volume 15
Issue 12
10.3390/foods15122159
foods-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

Flavonoids as Nutraceuticals to Treat Inflammatory Diseases: Focusing on Quercetin, Kaempferol, Luteolin, Apigenin, Epicatechin and Their Effects on Hepatic, Nervous, and Pulmonary Systems

by
Maiara Piva
1,†,
Geovana Martelossi-Cebinelli
1,†,
Soraia Mendes-Pierotti
2,
Willian H. Chinen
2,
Pedro H. F. Cardines
3,
Renata M. Martinez
2,
Sandra R. Georgetti
2,
Marcela M. Baracat
2,
Fabiana T. M. C. Vicentini
4,
Waldiceu A. Verri
1,* and
Rubia Casagrande
2,*
1
Laboratory of Pain, Inflammation, Neuropathy and Cancer, Department of Immunology, Parasitology, and General Pathology, Center of Biological Sciences, Londrina State University, Londrina 86057-970, PR, Brazil
2
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center of Health Science, Londrina State University, Londrina 86038-440, PR, Brazil
3
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Center of Exact Sciences, Londrina State University, Londrina 86057-970, PR, Brazil
4
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14048-900, SP, Brazil
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Foods 2026, 15(12), 2159; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15122159 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 25 April 2026 / Revised: 6 June 2026 / Accepted: 9 June 2026 / Published: 15 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Foods for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention)
Versions Notes

Abstract

The immune response is essential in the protection of our body against pathogens; however, the inflammatory response caused by the immune system can become a disease itself. In fact, anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressive drugs are applied to limit the immune response to treat inflammatory diseases. Flavonoids are plant-derived polyphenols extensively investigated for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in inflammatory diseases. Studies applying isolated compounds as well as using supplements as nutraceuticals based on flavonoids have been conducted. Our review systematically analyzed the top five studied flavonoids between 2020 and 2025: quercetin (1742 articles), kaempferol (642), luteolin (589), apigenin (419), and epicatechin (354), highlighting their major therapeutic applications in diseases affecting the liver (12%), nervous system (11%), and lungs (10%). Mechanistically, these compounds act as multi-target agents mainly by inhibiting NF-κB and inducing Nrf2-dependent antioxidant programs. Application of advanced delivery systems, which increase oral bioavailability by up to 20-fold, overcomes pharmacokinetic bottlenecks. Clinical highlights demonstrated promising therapeutic effects, including reduced intrahepatic lipid accumulation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients following quercetin supplementation (11.5% to 9.6%) and accelerated SARS-CoV-2 clearance after quercetin phytosome administration. The translation of flavonoids into standardized clinical therapies remains limited by the lack of large-scale, well-controlled clinical trials.
Keywords: flavonoids; inflammation; inflammatory diseases; nutraceutical flavonoids; inflammation; inflammatory diseases; nutraceutical

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Piva, M.; Martelossi-Cebinelli, G.; Mendes-Pierotti, S.; Chinen, W.H.; Cardines, P.H.F.; Martinez, R.M.; Georgetti, S.R.; Baracat, M.M.; Vicentini, F.T.M.C.; Verri, W.A.; et al. Flavonoids as Nutraceuticals to Treat Inflammatory Diseases: Focusing on Quercetin, Kaempferol, Luteolin, Apigenin, Epicatechin and Their Effects on Hepatic, Nervous, and Pulmonary Systems. Foods 2026, 15, 2159. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15122159

AMA Style

Piva M, Martelossi-Cebinelli G, Mendes-Pierotti S, Chinen WH, Cardines PHF, Martinez RM, Georgetti SR, Baracat MM, Vicentini FTMC, Verri WA, et al. Flavonoids as Nutraceuticals to Treat Inflammatory Diseases: Focusing on Quercetin, Kaempferol, Luteolin, Apigenin, Epicatechin and Their Effects on Hepatic, Nervous, and Pulmonary Systems. Foods. 2026; 15(12):2159. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15122159

Chicago/Turabian Style

Piva, Maiara, Geovana Martelossi-Cebinelli, Soraia Mendes-Pierotti, Willian H. Chinen, Pedro H. F. Cardines, Renata M. Martinez, Sandra R. Georgetti, Marcela M. Baracat, Fabiana T. M. C. Vicentini, Waldiceu A. Verri, and et al. 2026. "Flavonoids as Nutraceuticals to Treat Inflammatory Diseases: Focusing on Quercetin, Kaempferol, Luteolin, Apigenin, Epicatechin and Their Effects on Hepatic, Nervous, and Pulmonary Systems" Foods 15, no. 12: 2159. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15122159

APA Style

Piva, M., Martelossi-Cebinelli, G., Mendes-Pierotti, S., Chinen, W. H., Cardines, P. H. F., Martinez, R. M., Georgetti, S. R., Baracat, M. M., Vicentini, F. T. M. C., Verri, W. A., & Casagrande, R. (2026). Flavonoids as Nutraceuticals to Treat Inflammatory Diseases: Focusing on Quercetin, Kaempferol, Luteolin, Apigenin, Epicatechin and Their Effects on Hepatic, Nervous, and Pulmonary Systems. Foods, 15(12), 2159. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15122159

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop