The pharmacological effects and therapeutic potential of flavonoids in digestive diseases

Background Digestive system diseases remain highly prevalent globally and constitute a major cause of mortality and disability. They not only severely compromise individual health but also result in massive consumption of medical resources, exacerbating socioeconomic burdens, thus emerging as a critical global public health challenge requiring resolution. In the prevention and treatment of digestive system diseases, flavonoids exhibit therapeutic potential through multiple targets and pathways. Methods This review retrieved and summarized relevant literature on flavonoids for the treatment of digestive diseases published between 2000 and 2025 in databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Excerpta Medica Database, Wiley Online Library, SpringerLink, Nature Publishing Group, American Chemical Society, Elsevier, and Royal Society of Chemistry. Keywords (flavonoids, digestive diseases, pharmacological effects, anti-inflammation, antioxidation) were used for searching. During screening, priority was given to flavonoids directly related to the pathogenesis or intervention effects of digestive diseases, with study types covering reviews, clinical trials, randomized controlled trials, etc. Exclusion criteria included literature without clear association with digestive diseases and flavonoids, duplicate components and mechanisms, and lack of timeliness. Finally, 211 literature were screened and included from 13,000, providing references for subsequent research. Results Flavonoids can prevent and treat digestive system diseases via multiple biological activities including anti-inflammation, antioxidation, anti-virus, anti-bacteria, anti-cancer, metabolic regulation and immune regulation. Conclusion Although flavonoids exhibit significant pharmacological effects and favorable safety profiles in the prevention and treatment of digestive diseases, laying a foundation for the development of new drugs, they still face numerous challenges in clinical application. In the future, it is necessary to further conduct high-quality clinical studies, deepen research on the molecular mechanisms of their actions, and promote their translation from basic research to clinical practice.