Flavonoids and Saponins: What Have We Got or Missed?

The review paper "Flavonoids and saponins: What have we got or missed?" discusses the potential therapeutic effects of flavonoids and saponins, bioactive compounds found in various plants. Flavonoids have been linked to conditions like chronic venous insufficiency, diabetes, and male pattern hair loss, while saponins may impact conditions like venous oedema and erectile dysfunction. However, the paper highlights that in vivo and clinical data are often insufficient to support clinical recommendations, with only 10 meta-analyses and systematic reviews (involving 290 interventional and observational studies), and 36 clinical studies on flavonoids and saponins. The authors call for more research to fill these gaps and better understand the true value of these compounds. The document also discusses the potential overrated importance of antioxidants, as antioxidative therapies have not been as effective as expected. The anticancer mechanisms of flavonoids and saponins are complex and involve multiple targets. The document concludes that further high-quality studies are needed before recommending a clinical use for these natural products.