Currently, natural bioactive ingredients and/or raw materials are of significant interest to scientists around the world. Flavonoids and other polyphenols are a major group of phytochemicals that have been researched and noted as bioactive molecules. They offer several pharmacological and medical benefits. This current review aims to (1) illustrate their benefits for human health, such as antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and UV-protective effects, and also (2) to perform a quality evaluation of traditional medicines for future application. Consequently, keywords were searched on Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed so as to search for related publications. Then, those publications were carefully checked in order to find current and non-redundant studies that matched the objective of this review. According to this review, researchers worldwide are very interested in discovering the potential of flavonoids and other polyphenols, used in traditional medicines and taken from medicinal plants, in relation to medical and pharmaceutical applications. Many studies focus on the health benefits of flavonoids and other polyphenols have been tested using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo models. However, few studies have been carried out using clinical trials that have trustworthy subject sizes and are in accordance with clinical practice guidelines. Additionally, interesting research directions and perspectives for future studies are highlighted in this work.
Pueraria montana var. lobata is widely known as kudzu especially in Japan, China, Korea, and other Asian countries. This plant is an ingredient for traditional food and an herbal ingredient for traditional medicines, particular in Japan and China. There are a few reports on its cosmetic uses. Interestingly, many phytochemical compounds from this plant have been continuously reported, particularly flavonoid compounds, which are well-known as potential bioactive ingredients for cosmetics. This work aims to illustrate promising views of kudzu plant, focusing on the diversity of flavonoid phytochemical compounds, taxonomic data, traditional uses, and potential biological activities for future cosmetic applications, i.e., antioxidant, antiglycation, skin regeneration, and melanogenesis inhibitory activities.