Anyone with a passing interest in their health will be able to rattle off a few of the major vitamins, and possibly take an educated guess at what they do. Vitamin C, found in oranges and other fruit and veg, is important for wound repair. And the much-talked-about ‘sunshine’ Vitamin D, produced by the skin in response to UV light, is essential for strong bones.

　　任何对自己健康感兴趣的人都能一口气说出几种主要的维生素，同时也可能对各种维生素的作用说出一二。维生素C存在于橙子和其他水果和蔬菜中，对伤口的修复很重要。而人们常说的“阳光”维生素D是由皮肤在紫外线照射下产生的，对于强健的骨骼必不可少。

　　But Vitamin P? It might well have you scratching your head. And that’s not surprising: the term was first coined in the 1930s to describe a clutch of compounds that provide pigment to plants, and were believed to have health benefits. Fast-forward almost a century and these compounds are now better known as flavonoids.

　　但是维生素P呢 ?估计这个你就不知道了。但是不知道并不奇怪，因为这个词在20世纪30年代首次出现，是用来描述一种为植物提供色素化合物，并且对健康有益。近一个世纪过去了，现在这类化合物我们称之为类黄酮。

　　Today, scientists have identified between 4,000 and 6,000 different kinds and we now know they are responsible for many of the flavours and smells of fruit and vegetables ? and also that they protect them from invaders such as fungi, pests and bacteria.

　　现在科学家已经确定了4000到6000种不同的类黄酮种类，并且我们也知道了它们影响许多水果和蔬菜的味道和气味，使得它们免受入侵者如真菌、虫害和细菌的侵害。

　　They are equally important nutrients for the body, helping maintain bones and teeth, and for the production of the protein collagen, which provides structure to blood vessels, muscles and skin.

　　它们对于身体同样重要，可以为身体提供营养价值，有助于维持骨骼和牙齿，也有助于产生为血管、肌肉和皮肤提供结构的胶原蛋白。

　　They are also said to help the body deal with some of the key drivers of illness, including inflammation and oxidation, a natural process by which the body’s cells ‘age’ and can become damaged and defective. That means they could help to protect against chronic disease including cancer and heart disease.

　　据说它们还能帮助我们身体抑制那些促使疾病发生的驱动源头，比如炎症和氧化。炎症和氧化是人体细胞老化的自然过程，会导致细胞受损和缺陷。这样看来维生素P还可以帮助预防包括癌症和心脏病在内的慢性疾病。