Flavonoids commonly induce hormetic responses

The present paper provides a new perspective of previously published findings by Siwak (Food Chem 141:1227–1241, 2013) which showed that 15 structurally diverse flavonoids reduced toxicity (i.e., enhanced cell viability) from hypochlorite using the MTT assay within a pre-conditioning experimental protocol, with each agent showing a similar biphasic concentration response relationship. We use this Commentary to point out that each of the concentration response relationships are consistent with the hormetic dose response. The paper of Siwak (Food Chem 141:1227–1241, 2013) is unique in that it provides a comparison of a relatively large number of agents using the identical experimental protocol.