d.**Anthocyanidins**

Anthocyanidins are a group of phytochemicals, which are natural pigments responsible for blue, red, purple and orange colors present in many fruits and vegetables and many fruits- and vegetable-based food products. Over and above 500 different anthocyanidins are known and described in the literature [138, 139]. This flavonoid group dominates teas, honey, fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, cocoa and cereals. They can also be found in berries (e.g. black currant, blueberries, strawberries, elderberries), their juices, as well as red wine [140]. Cyanidin, pelargonidin, delphinidin, malvidin, petunidin and peonidin are the most common anthocyanidins present in fruits and vegetables.

The number and position of the hydroxyl and methoxyl moiety is the determinant of different types of anthocyanidins [141]. Anthocyanidins have been reported to have some essential pharmacological role in cardiovascular disease, cholesterol decomposition, visual acuity, as well as antioxidant efficacy, and cytotoxicity [142]. Anthocyanidins can be synthesized as shown below.

#### e.**Flavan-3-ol**

The most common flavonoids in the diet, flavan-3-ols are considered functional ingredients of beverages, fruits and vegetables, food grains, herbal remedies, dietary supplements, and dairy products. Flavan-3-ols have been reported to exhibit several pharmacological effects by acting as an antioxidant, anticarcinogen, cardio-preventive, antimicrobial, anti-viral, and neuroprotective agents [143]. Flavan-3-ol can be synthesized as shown below, from dihydroflavanol.

**131**

**Author details**

Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

provided the original work is properly cited.

*Flavonoids: Understanding Their Biosynthetic Pathways in Plants and Health Benefits*

InnocentMary IfedibaluChukwu Ejiofor\* and Maria-Goretti Chikodili Igbokwe

© 2021 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

Flavonoids are an essential group of secondary metabolites that play so much role for the benefit of plants in which they exist or in their surroundings and for the health benefit of humanity. Understanding the biosynthetic processes of flavonoids and their pharmacological effects will aid proper utilization of flavonoids for health benefits and also draw more attention to the development of a synthetic laboratory

Department of Pharmacognosy and Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University,

process for the synthesis of flavonoid classes.

\*Address all correspondence to: ii.ejiofor@unizik.edu.ng

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96715*

*Flavonoids: Understanding Their Biosynthetic Pathways in Plants and Health Benefits DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96715*

Flavonoids are an essential group of secondary metabolites that play so much role for the benefit of plants in which they exist or in their surroundings and for the health benefit of humanity. Understanding the biosynthetic processes of flavonoids and their pharmacological effects will aid proper utilization of flavonoids for health benefits and also draw more attention to the development of a synthetic laboratory process for the synthesis of flavonoid classes.
