Abstract
Flavonoids are a diverse group of secondary metabolites with a wide range of roles in mechanisms relating to UV protection, insect attraction, pathogen defense, symbiosis, variation of flower color, male fertility, pollination, allelopathy and auxin transport. Except bryophytes and pteridophytes, flavonoids are found only in higher plants. Flavonoids act as an antioxidative agent and scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are generated in plants during biotic and abiotic stresses. The ROS prevention by flavonoids is achieved through the inhibition of ROS-generating enzymes, the recycling of other antioxidants and the chelation of transition metal ions. Flavonoids are considered to be a secondary antioxidant system since they complement the function of other ROS scavenging systems when the reduction in the activities of antioxidant enzymes. This chapter describes the role of flavonoids in response to various stresses in higher plants.
Keywords
Venkidasamy Baskar and Rajendran Venkatesh are equally contributed to this chapter
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abdallah SB, Aung B, Amyot L, Lalin I, Lachaal M, Karray-Bouraoui N, Hannoufa A (2016) Salt stress (NaCl) affects plant growth and branch pathways of carotenoid and flavonoid biosyntheses in Solanum nigrum. Acta Physiol Plant 38:72–84
Agati G, Azzarello E, Pollastri S, Tattini M (2012) Flavonoids as antioxidants in plants: location and functional significance. Plant Sci 196:67–76
Agati G, Biricolti S, Guidi L, Ferrini F, Fini A, Tattini M (2011) The biosynthesis of flavonoids is enhanced similarly by UV radiation and root zone salinity in L. vulgare leaves. J Plant Physiol 168:204–212
Agrawal GK, Rakwal R, Tamogami S, Yonekura M, Kubo A, Saji H (2002) Chitosan activates defense/stress response(s) in the leaves of Oryza sativa seedlings. Plant Physiol Biochem 40:1061–1069
Aguilera J, Dummermuth A, Karsten U, Schriek R, Wiencke C (2002) Enzymatic defenses against photooxidative stress induced by ultraviolet radiation in Arctic marine macroalgae. Polar Biol 25:432–441
Ali RM, Singh N, Shohael AM, Hahn EJ, Paek KY (2006) Phenolics metabolism and lignin synthesis in root suspension cultures of Panax ginseng in response to copper stress. Plant Sci 17:147–154
Arcas MC, Botia JM, Ortuno AM, del Rio JA (2000) UV irradiation alters the levels of flavonoids involved in the defence mechanism of Citrus aurantium fruits against Peniillium digitatum. Eur J Plant Pathol 106:617–622
Babu TS, Akhtar TA, Lampi MA, Tripuranthakam S, Dixon DG, Greenberg BM (2003) Similar stress responses are elicited by copper and ultraviolet radiation in the aquatic plant Lemna gibba: Implication of reactive oxygen species as common signals. Plant Cell Physiol 44:1320–1329
Barry KM, Davies NW, Mohammed CL (2002) Effect of season and different fungi on phenolics in response to xylem wounding and inoculation in Eucalyptus nitens. Forest Pathol 32:163–178
Baskar V, Gururani M, Yu J, Park SW (2012) Engineering glucosinolates in plants: current knowledge and potential uses. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 168:1694–1717
Beckman CH (2000) Phenolic-storing cells: keys to programmed cell death and periderm formation in wilt disease resistance and in general defence responses in plants? Physiol Mol Plant Pathol 57:101–110
Berli FJ, Moreno D, Piccoli P, Hespanhol-Viana L, Silva MF, Bressan-Smith R, Cavagnaro JB, Bottini R (2010) Abscisic acid is involved in the response of grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cv. Malbec leaf tissues to ultraviolet-B radiation by enhancing ultraviolet-absorbing compounds, antioxidant enzymes and membrane sterols. Plant, Cell Environ 33:1–10
Betz GA, Gerstner E, Stich S, Winkler B, Welzl G, Kremmer E, Langebartels C, Heller W, Sandermann H, Ernst D (2009) Ozone affects shikimate pathway genes and secondary metabolites in saplings of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) grown under greenhouse conditions. Trees 23:539–555
Bilger W, Rolland M, Nybakken L (2007) UV screening in higher plants induced by low temperature in the absence of UV-B radiation. Photochem Photobiol Sci 6:190–195
Blount JW, Dixon RA, Paiva NL (1992) Stress responses in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) XVI. Antifungal activity of medicarpin and its biosynthetic precursors; implications for the genetic manipulation of stress metabolites. Physiol Mol Plant Pathol 41:333–349
Brown JE, Khodr H, Hider RC, Rice-Evans CA (1998) Structural dependence of flavonoid interactions with Cu2+ ions: implication for their antioxidant properties. Biochem J 330:1173–1178
Castellarin S, Matthews MA, Gaspero GD, Gambetta GA (2007a) Water deficits accelerate ripening and induce changes in gene expression regulating flavonoid biosynthesis in grape berries. Planta 227:101–112
Castellarin S, Pfeiffer A, Sivilotti P, Degan M, Peterlunger E, di Gaspero G (2007b) Transcriptional regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in ripening fruits of grapevine under seasonal water deficit. Plant, Cell Environ 30:1381–1399
del Rio JA, Arcas MC, Botia JM, Baidez AG, Fuster MD, Ortuno A (2000) Involvement of phenolic compounds in the antifungal defense mechanisms of Olea europaea L. and Citrus sp. Recent Res Dev J Agric Food Chem 4:331–341
del Rio JA, Baidez AG, Botia JM, Ortuno A (2003) Enhancement of phenolic compounds in olive plants (Olea europaea L.) and their influence on resistance against Phytophthora sp. Food Chem 83:75–78
di Ferdinando M, Brunetti C, Fini A, Tattini M (2012) Flavonoids as antioxidants in plants under abiotic stresses. In: Ahmad P, Prasad MNV (eds) Abiotic stress responses in plants: metabolism, productivity and sustainability. Springer, pp 159–179
Dressel A, Hemleben V (2009) Transparent Testa Glabra 1 (TTG1) and TTG1-like genes in Matthiola incana R. Br. and related Brassicaceae and mutation in the WD-40 motif. Plant Biol 11:204–212
Fofana B, McNally DJ, Labbe C, Boulanger R, Benhamou N, Seguin A, Belanger RR (2002) Milsana-induced resistance in powdery mildew-infected cucumber plants correlates with the induction of chalcone synthase and chalcone isomerase. Physiol Mol Plant Pathol 61:121–132
Gallet C, Despres L, Tollenaere C (2004) Phenolic response of Trollius europaeus to Chiastocheta invasion. Polyph Comm 759–760
Goff SA, Klein TM, Roth BA, Fromm ME, Cone KC, Radicella JP, Chandler VP (1990) Transactivation of anthocyanin biosynthetic genes following transfer of B regulatory genes into maize tissues. EMBO J 9:2517–2522
Gondor OK, Janda T, Soos V, Pal M, Majlath I, Adak MK, Balazs E, Szalai G (2016) Salicylic acid induction of flavonoid biosynthesis pathways in wheat varies by treatment. Front Plant Sci 7:1447
Gonzalez A, Ortuno A, del Rio J, Botia JM, Fuster MD, Gomez P, Frias V (2001) Tylose formation and changes in phenolic compounds of grape roots infected with Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and Phaeoacremonium species. Phytopathol Mediterr 40:394–399
Grayer RJ, Harborne JB (1994) A survey of antifungal compounds from higher plants, 1982–1993. Phytochemistry 37:19–42
Greenberg BM, Wilson MI, Huang XD, Duxbury CL, Gerhardt KE, Gensemer RW (1997) The effects of ultraviolet-B radiation on higher plants. In: Wang W, Gorsuch JW, Hughes JS (eds) Plants for environmental studies. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 1–36
Hannah MA, Weise D, Freund S, Fiehn O, Heyer AG, Hincha DK (2006) Natural genetic variation of freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol 142:98–112
Haraguchi H, Tanimoto K, Tamura Y, Mizutani K, Kinoshita T (1998) Mode of antibacterial action of retrochalcones from Glycyrrhiza inflata. Phytochemistry 48:125–129
He X, Huang W, Chen W, Dong T, Liu C, Chen Z, Xu S, Ruan Y (2009) Changes of main secondary metabolites in leaves of Ginkgo biloba in response to ozone fumigation. J Environ Sci 21:199–203
Hernandez I, Alegre L, Munne-Bosch S (2004) Drought-induced changes in flavonoids and other low molecular weight antioxidants in Cistus clusii grown under Mediterranean filed conditions. Tree Physiol 24:1303–1311
Hernandez I, Alegre L, Breusegam FV, Munne-Bosch S (2009) How relevant are flavonoids as antioxidants in plants? Trend Plant Sci 14:125–312
Hichri I, Barrieu F, Boga J, Kappel C, Delrot S, Lauvergeat V (2010) Recent advances in the transcriptional regulation of the flavonoids biosynthetic pathway. J Exp Bot 62:2465–2483
Huang X, Yao J, Zhao Y, Xie D, Xu XZ (2016) Efficient rutin and quercetin biosynthesis through flavonoids related gene expression in Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn. Hairy root cultures with UV-B irradiation. Front Plant Sci 7:63
lzbianska K, Arasimowicz-Jelonek M, Deckert J (2014) Phenylpropanoid pathway metabolites promote tolerance response of lupine roots to lead stress. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 110:61–67
Jenkins GI (2013) Phtotmorphogenic responses of plants to UV-B radiation. American Society for Photobiology. http://photobiology.info/Jenkins.html. (Downloaded on 21.10.2017)
Kangasjarvi J, Talvinen J, Utriainen M, Karjalainen R (1994) Plant defence system induced by ozone. Plant, Cell Environ 17:783–794
Kangatharalingam N, Pierce ML, Bayles MB, Essenberg M (2002) Epidermal anthocyanin production as an indicator of bacterial blight resistance in cotton. Physiol Mol Plant Pathol 61:189–195
Korn M, Peterek S, Petermock H, Heyer AG, Hincha DK (2008) Heterosis in the freezing tolerance, and sugar and flavonoid contents of crosses between Arabidopsis thaliana accessions of widely varying freezing tolerance. Plant, Cell Environ 31:313–327
Kováĉik J, Klejdus B, Baĉkor M (2009) Phenolic metabolism of Matricaria chamomilla plants exposed to nickel. J Plant Physiol 166:1460–1464
Ku KM, Juvik JA (2013) Environmental stress and methyl jasmonate-mediated changes in flavonoid concentrations and antioxidant activity in broccoli florets and kale leaf tissues. Horticult Sci 48:996–1002
Kumar S, Pandey AK (2013) Chemistry and biological activities of flavonoids: an overview. Sci World J Article ID:162750
Kurepa J, Shull TE, Smalle JA (2016) Quercetin feeding protects plants against oxidative stress. F1000Res 5:2430
Lama AD, Kim J, Martiskainen O, Klemola T, Salminen JP, Tyystjarvi E, Niemeka P, Vuorisalo T (2016) Impacts of simulated drought stress and artificial damage on concentrations of flavonoids in Jatropha curcas (L.), a biofuel shrub. J Plant Res 129:1141–1150
Lattanzio V (2003) Bioactive polyphenols: their role in quality and storability of fruit and vegetables. J App Bot 77:128–146
Lattanzio V, Cardinali A, Palmieri S (1994) The role of phenolics in the postharvest physiology of fruits and vegetables: browning reactions and fungal diseases. Ital J Food Sci 1:3–22
Martinez V, Mestre TC, Rubio F, Girones-Vilaplana A, Moreno DA, Mittler R, Rivero RM (2016) Accumulation of flavonols over hydroxy cinnamic acids favors oxidative damage protection under abiotic stress. Front Plant Sci 7:838
McNally DJ, Wurms KV, Labbe C, Belanger RR (2003) Synthesis of C-glycosyl flavonoid phytoalexins as a site-specific response to fungal penetration in cucumber. Physiol Mol Plant Pathol 63:293–303
Melidou M, Riganakos K, Galaris D (2005) Protection against nuclear DNA damage offered by fl avonoids in cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide: the role of iron chelation. Free Radical Biol Med 39:1591–1600
Middleton EJ (1998) Effect of plant flavonoids on immune and inflammatory cell function. Adv Exp Med Biol 439:175–182
Mierziak J, Kostyn K, Kulma A (2014) Flavonoids as important molecules of plant interactions with the environment. Molecules 19:16240–16265
Miranda L, Maier CS, Stevens JF (2012) Flavonoids. In: eLS. Wiley, Chichester
Mishra AK, Mishra A, Kehri HK, Sharma B, Pandey AK (2009) Inhibitory activity of Indian spice plant Cinnamomum zeylanicum extracts against Alternaria solani and Curvularia lunata, the pathogenic dematiaceous moulds. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 8:9
Mustafa MG (1990) Biochemical basis of ozone toxicity. Free Radical Biol Med 9:245–265
Naoumkina MA, Zhao Q, Gallego-Giraldo L, Dai X, Zhao PX, Dixon RA (2010) Genome-wide analysis of phenylpropanoid defence pathways. Mol Plant Pathol 11:829–846
Olsen KM, Slimestad R, Lea US, Brede C, Løvdal T, Ruoff P, Verheul M, Lillo C (2009) Temperature and nitrogen effects on regulators and products of the flavonoid pathway: experimental and kinetic model studies. Plant, Cell Environ 32:286–299
Padmavati M, Sakthivel N, Thara KV, Reddy AR (1997) Differential sensitivity of rice pathogens to growth inhibition by flavonoids. Phytochemistry 46:499–502
Paolacci AR, D’ovidio R, Marabottini R, Nali Lorenzini G, Abanavoli MR, Badiani M (2001) Ozone induces a differential accumulation of phenylalanine ammonialyase, chalcone synthase and chalcone isomerase RNA transcripts in sensitive and resistant bean cultivars. Aust J Plant Physiol 28:425–428
Plaper A, Golob M, Hafner I, Oblak M, Solmajer T, Jerala R (2003) Characterization of quercetin binding site on DNA gyrase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 306:530–536
Potters G, Pasternak TP, Guisez Y, Palme KJ, Jansen MA (2007) Stress-induced morphogenic responses: growing out of trouble? Trend Plant Sci 12:98–105
Ramsay NA, Walker AR, Mooney M, Gray JC (2003) Two basichelix–loop–helix genes (MYC-146 and GL3) from Arabidopsis can activate anthocyanin biosynthesis in a white-flowered Matthiola incana mutant. Plant Mol Biol 52:679–688
Rausher MD (2006) The evolution of flavonoids and their genes. In: Grotewold E (ed) The science of flavonoids, Springer, pp 175–211
Saviranta NMM, Julkunen-Tiitto R, Oksanen E, Karjalainen RO (2010) Leaf phenolic compounds in red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) induced by exposure to moderately elevated ozone. Environ Pollut 158:440–446
Sharma YK, Davis KR (1994) Ozone-induced expression of stress related genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Physiol 105:1089–1096
Shiu CT, Lee TM (2005) Ultraviolet-B-induced oxidative stress and responses of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle in a marine macroalga Ulva fasciata. J Exp Bot 56:2851–2865
Shojaie B, Mostajerani A, Mustafa Ghannadian M (2016) Flavonoid dynamic responses to different drought conditions: amount, type, and localization of flavonols in roots and shoots of Arabidopsis thaliana L. Turk J Biol 40:612–622
Skadhauge B, Thomsen K, vonWettstein D (1997) The role of barley testa layer and its flavonoid content in resistance to Fusarium infections. Hereditas 126:147–160
Soitamo A, Piippo M, Allahverdiyeva Y, Battchikova N, Aro EM (2008) Light has a specific role in modulating Arabidopsis gene expression at low temperature. BMC Plant Biol 8:13
Tattini M, Remorini D, Pinelli P, Agati G, Saracini E, Traversi ML, Massai R (2006) Morpho-anatomical, physiological and biochemical adjustments in response to root zone salinity stress and high solar radiation in two Mediterranean evergreen shrubs, Myrtus communis and Pistacia lentiscus. New Phytol 170:779–794
Vasquez-Robinet C, Mane SP, Ulanov AV, Watkinson JI, Stromberg VK, Koeyer DD, Schafleitner R, Willot DB, Bonierbale M, Bohnert HJ, Grene R (2008) Physiological and molecular adaptations to drought in Andean potato genotypes. J Exp Bot 59:2109–2123
Walia H, Wilson C, Condamine P, Liu X, Ismail AM, Zeng L, Wamaker SI, Mandal J, Xu J, Cui X, Close TM (2005) Comparative transcriptional profiling of two contrasting rice genotypes under salinity stress during the vegetative growth stage. Plant Physiol 139:822–835
Wang CY, Chen CT, Wang SY (2009) Changes of flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity in blueberries after illumination with UV-C. Food Chem 117:426–431
Winkel-Shirley B (2001) It takes a garden. How work on diverse plant species has contributed to an understanding of flavonoid metabolism. Plant Physiol 127:1399–1404
Yamasaki H, Sakihama Y, Ikehara N (1997) Flavonoid-peroxidase reaction as a detoxification mechanism of plant cells against H2O2. Plant Physiol 115:1405–1412
Yogendra NK, Kushalappa AC, Sarmiento F, Rodriguez E, Mosquera T (2015) Metabolomics deciphers quantitative resistance mechanisms in diploid potato clones against late blight. Funct Plant Biol 42:284–298
Zechmann B, Stumpe M, Mauch F (2011) Immunocytochemical determination of the subcellular distribution of ascorbate in plants. Planta 233:1–12
Zhang D, Quantick PC (1997) Effects of chitosan coating on enzymatic browning and decay during postharvest storage of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) fruit. Postharvest Biol Technol 12:195–202
Zhao J, Dixon RA (2009) The ‘ins’ and ‘outs’ of flavonoid transport. Trend Plant Sci 14:72–80
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by a grant (Sanction No. PDF/2016/000750) from the Department of Science and Technology—Science and Engineering Research Board, Government of India. This study was also supported by Bharathiar University, UGC-SAP and DST-FIST.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Baskar, V., Venkatesh, R., Ramalingam, S. (2018). Flavonoids (Antioxidants Systems) in Higher Plants and Their Response to Stresses. In: Gupta, D., Palma, J., Corpas, F. (eds) Antioxidants and Antioxidant Enzymes in Higher Plants. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75088-0_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75088-0_12
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-75087-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-75088-0
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)