Flavonoids are a class of naturally occurring compounds found in plants and fungi, characterized by a 15-carbon skeleton with two phenyl rings connected by a heterocyclic ring. They have various biological functions, including producing pigmentation, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and UV protection. Flavonoids also exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anticancer properties, making them valuable in food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries.
The biosynthetic pathway of flavonoids in plants involves the shikimate pathway, where phenylalanine and tyrosine are converted to p-coumaroyl-CoA, which is then converted to naringenin chalcone and other flavonids. Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology have enabled the production of flavonids in microorganisms, such as Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Recent advances in modular co-culture engineering, pH-shift control, and CRISPR interference have improved the efficiency and yield of flavonoid production.
Flavonoids have been used to treat various diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. The global market for flavonoids is expected to reach $1.05 billion in 2021. However, traditional extraction methods are limited by raw material availability and low product yield, making metabolic engineering and synthetic biology a promising approach for flavonoid production.