Research Progress on Absorption and Metabolism of Flavonoids and Their Effects on the Gastrointestinal Tract Function

Flavonoids are a major class of plant secondary metabolites with effective pharmacological activity as well as important nutrient factors. Its absorption,metabolism and excretion complete in the gastrointestinal tract,and have important functional activities in the gastrointestinal tract,including anti-oxidation,anti-inflammatory,anti-cancer,and regulation of gut microbiota and other functional activities. Therefore,a large number of studies had reported on the digestion and absorption of flavonoids in the gastrointestinal tract. Various new foods,medicines,and health products for gastrointestinal diseases have been developed based on these activities using flavonoids. In this paper,recent studies on the metabolism of flavonoids in the gastrointestinal tract and their effects on human health are reviewed. The paper aims to provide reference for the application of flavonoids in the prevention of intestinal diseases and for novel functional foods.