Flavone

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈfleɪvəʊn/

Definitions

1. A class of natural compounds with a specific molecular framework, often found in plants and linked to various biological activities and health-promoting effects
2. A member of a group of phytochemicals that contribute to the pigmentation of flowers and fruits, having potential antioxidant benefits for human health
3. A type of organic compound typically occurring in plants, known for its role in plant color and its potential health benefits due to antioxidant properties

Etymology: Flavone is a chemical coinage built from a Latin colour word and a chemist's suffix. The first part comes from Latin "flavus", meaning "yellow", which also gave English words like "flavescent" and, through a different route, "flaxen" and "flavin". The second part, "-one", is the suffix chemists attach to ketones, the family of compounds that includes acetone. Put together, the name reflects the fact that many compounds in this group are yellow in nature, so a chemist naming the family was essentially labelling it "yellow ketone." The word is a deliberate scientific invention rather than an old term that drifted into chemistry. Its pieces were assembled by chemists, using a classical root for the colour and the standard ketone ending, so the name tells you what the compounds look like before you know anything about their structure. Flavones are the plant pigments behind many pale yellow flower colours and cream-tinted petals.

Synonyms: flavonoid