Flavonoids are synthesized by the phenylpropanoid pathway in which the amino acid phenylalanine is used to produce 4-coumaryl-CoA. This can be combined with malonyl-CoA to yield the true backbone of flavonoids, a group of compounds called chalcones. Ring-closure of these compounds results in the familiar form of flavonoids, a three-ringed structure (polyphenols). The metabolic pathway continues through a series of enzymatic modifications to yield flavanones → dihydroflavonols → anthocyanins. Along this pathway many products can be formed, including the flavonols, flavan-3-ols, proanthocyanidins (tannins) and a host of other polyphenolics.

From – Wikipedia

Posted: 12|12|06 at 10:52 am. Filed under: News.