Abstract: Many studies confirm that many diseases are closely related to oxidative damage,such as cancer,diabetes,cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. Due to flavonoids with strong antioxidant activity,they are highly concerned by people. Its antioxidant activity and structure have a great relationship,such as hydroxyl number and location,degree of polymerization,glycoside bond structure. Therefore,based different antioxidant mechanisms,the structure of this flavonoid compounds were reviewed in order to provide a reference for the future to fully understand flavonoids and to develop functional foods or drugs.