Flavones belong to the class of flavonoids.
Flavones are yellow or light yellow plant pigments, which are found, for example, in umbelliferous plants and herbs. The simultaneous yellow and red coloration of the flowers results from the interaction with anthocyanins.
All flavones consist of a flavone backbone (2 benzene rings and 1 heterocycle) and hydroxyl radicals. These may have methyl and methoxy groups or are linked to sugars. The various flavone representatives differ on the basis of the hydroxyl residues, the number of which and their position on the flavone ring system are different. These chemical compounds enable the absorption of blue light, so that yellow light is transmitted.
Approximately 300 representatives of flavones occur in nature. These include:
The most common flavones include:
- Acacetin
- Apigenin
- Chrysetin
- Chrysin
- Chrysoeriol
- Diosmetin
- Eupatorin
- Genkwanin
- Luteolin
- Tectochrysin
- Tricetin
- Tricin
- Scutellarein
- Sinensetin
The flavone apigenin is found in dahlias, chamomile and celery. Luteolin causes the yellow coloration in yellow peppers and yellow foxglove.
