Covering: the literature from the first reported isolation of isoflavonoids from non-leguminous families up to April 2005

This review provides a listing of isoflavonoids reported in non-leguminous families. Reviews published to date have principally focused on plants with the richest isoflavonoid contents, the family Leguminosae. After a brief recall of the structure of isoflavonoids, we present all isoflavonoid structures encountered in non-leguminous families which may, thereby, become new plant sources for these compounds. Articles reporting on their different functions in plants are presented, as well as a brief summary discussing their potential benefits for human health. A list of 135 references is given.