Flavonoids: Potential therapeutic agents for the inflammatory process

Abstract

The inflammatory process, involved in several pathologies, is the natural response of the organism to an infection or to tissue injury. It comprises basically two defense mechanisms: an unspecific response (innate response), responsible for common characteristics of inflammation (redness, edema, a sense of heat, pain and loss of function) and an immunological response that involves the production of specific antibodies against an aggressor agent. The inflammatory response is not always sufficient and the process can progress to a state of chronic inflammation.