Recent Advances in Flavonoids and Chronic Disease: Mechanisms, Therapeutic Applications, and Future Directions

Flavonoids are a diverse class of polyphenolic secondary metabolites found in fruits, vegetables, tea, and medicinal plants, known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anticancer properties. This review summarizes recent advances in flavonoid research, focusing on their roles in aging, neuroprotection, cardiovascular health, metabolic regulation, inflammation, and cancer therapy. Flavonoids exert their effects by modulating key signaling pathways, such as NF-κB, Nrf2, PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and Wnt/β-catenin. They mitigate oxidative stress, enhance mitochondrial function, regulate autophagy, and modulate immune responses, offering potential therapeutic benefits against chronic diseases. Additionally, flavonoids improve chemotherapy sensitivity, inhibit tumor metastasis, and suppress angiogenesis. However, their poor bioavailability and individual metabolic variability present challenges for clinical translation. Future research should focus on nanotechnology-based delivery systems, personalized medicine strategies, and large-scale clinical trials to optimize flavonoid efficacy and facilitate their application in functional foods and pharmaceuticals.