An update of aurones: food resource, health benefit, biosynthesis and application

Abstract

Aurones are a subclass of active flavonoids characterized with a scaffold of 2-benzylidene-3(2H)-benzofuranone. This type of chemicals are widely distributed in fruit, vegetable and flower, and contribute to human health. In this review, we summarize the natural aurones isolated from dietary plants. Their positive effects on immunomodulation, antioxidation, cancer prevention as well as maintaining the health status of cardiovascular, nervous system and liver organs are highlighted. The biosynthesis strategies of plant-derived aurones are elaborated to provide solutions for their limited natural abundance. The potential application of natural aurones in food coloration are also discussed. This paper combines the up-to-date information and gives a full image of dietary aurones.

Graphical abstract

Keywords:

• Flavonoid
• bioactivity
• aurone
• nutraceutical
• food colorant

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 32260562, Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 223RC403, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hainan University under Grant XTCX2022NYC07, and Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Functional Food of Hainan Province under Grant KF202207.