Role of Nutrition and Diet Therapy in Boosting Immunity
Mehwish Iqbal in Complementary and Alternative Medicinal Approaches for Enhancing Immunity, 2023
Polyphenols can make the health of the cardiovascular system better by inhibiting vascular inflammation, restricting oxidation of LDL (low-density lipoprotein), reducing aggregation of platelets, regulating the processes of apoptosis and making the lipid profile better (Vuong, 2017). Many studies have proposed that dark chocolates, citrus fruits and products loaded with cocoa consist of high flavonoid concentrations associated with reduction of risk for cardiovascular disorders (Cicero & Colletti, 2017; Duthie et al., 2000). Similarly, Camellia sinensis and its extracts have great levels of EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) and flavan-3-ol molecules, which are among significant antioxidants for cardiovascular systems. Black tea has strong antioxidant properties but is lower than green tea extract. Extracts of both teas assist in inhibiting blood pressure, which can have a positive impact on the risk profile of the cardiovascular system (Cicero & Colletti, 2017).
Role of Antioxidant-Based Nutraceuticals in Translational Medicine: Review
Megh R. Goyal, Durgesh Nandini Chauhan in Assessment of Medicinal Plants for Human Health, 2020
The antioxidant-based nutraceuticals are supportive therapeutic means to promote human health and prevent pathological conditions. Polyphenols exert their positive effects on human health by negatively modulating disease-promoting molecules and enhancing health-promoting factors through their antioxidant properties. However, most of these promising results are derived either from in vitro, animal models, cohort, or small-sized human studies. Research data relating to long-term randomized human studies is lacking. Another major factor stalling their pharmaceutical application is the bioavailability of these natural compounds. Most of these natural products cannot be readily absorbed by the intestine in their native form. Despite these issues, the biological efficacy of nutraceuticals as antioxidants and health promoters has been recorded from ancient days with no known ill effects, and hence, offer great hope as dietary sources of good health.
Tribal and Indigenous Knowledge in West Africa: The Use of Food Plants in the Management of Diabetes
David R. Katerere, Wendy Applequist, Oluwaseyi M. Aboyade, Chamunorwa Togo in Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge for the Modern Era, 2019
Several phytochemical compounds isolated from these dietary food plants have also been shown to play a role in the treatment, prevention, and management of T2D. Food plants contain secondary metabolites such as phenolic acids, triterpenoids, polyphenols, and alkaloids, which are responsible for their antidiabetic potential (Daniel 2006, Vinayagam and Xu 2015). Dietary polyphenols, especially flavonoids, are known to improve insulin and glucose homeostasis (Vinayagam and Xu 2015). This homeostasis is achieved either through increasing glucose uptake in insulin-sensitive tissues, inhibiting glucose absorption in the intestine, modulating glucose release from the liver, stimulating insulin secretion in β-cells, inhibiting α-glucosidase and α-amylase, activating insulin receptors, or modulating intracellular signalling pathways (Kim et al. 2016). In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that subclasses of flavonoids, including anthocyanins, flavonols, and flavan-3-ols, improve glucose metabolism, reduce insulin resistance, and reduce β-cell dysfunction by regulating GLUT4 (Vinayagam and Xu 2015). However, the effectiveness of polyphenols as antidiabetic agents is inconsistent (Kim et al. 2016), possibly due to methodological flaws of clinical studies (small sample sizes, poor statistical analysis, and inconsistent data collection).
Effects of Dietary Phytochemicals on DNA Damage in Cancer Cells
Published in Nutrition and Cancer, 2023
Yang Ye, Ying Ma, Mei Kong, Zhihua Wang, Kang Sun, Fang Li
Carvacrol is a natural phenolic compound present in the essential oils of several plants (eg, thyme, oregano, pepper, and wild bergamot) that exerts various pharmacological effects such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant effects. Carvacrol is a regulator of nerve impulse and the immune response (104). It exerts its anticancer effects by inducing and enhancing ROS production, inducing DNA damage, blocking cell cycle progression, and participating in apoptosis (105). Polyphenols play a dual role against cancer: a low concentration of polyphenols exhibits antioxidant activities, whereas a higher concentration promotes DNA damage. Furthermore, a high concentration of polyphenols alters permeability of the mitochondrial membrane, oxidizes antioxidants, and causes DNA damage (106). Carvacrol enhances DNA damage and inhibits cell proliferation in human gastric adenocarcinoma cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which reveals a significant negative correlation between cell viability and ROS level (26).
Could polyphenols be used as a neuroprotector therapeutic agent in perinatal brain disorders?
Published in Nutritional Neuroscience, 2022
Diego Bulcão Visco, Raul Manhães de Castro, Omar Guzman-Quevedo, Ana Elisa Toscano
Polyphenols are a group of bioactive compounds, essential for a variety of functions in plants. These natural compounds are commonly found in the human diet mainly in fruits, vegetables, cereals, coffee, and beverages [1]. In the last decades, they have been studied due to their free radical scavenging and metal chelating properties [1]. Currently, there is growing attention to the potential of polyphenolic compounds under various health conditions. In a previous study, we highlighted and discussed the metabolic and neurologic benefits of polyphenols in models of non-communicable disease [2]. Other studies have shown the neuroprotective action of polyphenols in several neurologic disorders [3–7] with benefits in cognition and behavior [8,9]. In the scientific literature, however, there are few studies exploring the therapeutic potential of polyphenolic compounds after brain damage during a critical period of development.
Inhibition of Glutamine Cellular Uptake Contributes to the Cytotoxic Effect of Xanthohumol in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Published in Nutrition and Cancer, 2022
F. Carmo, C. Silva, F. Martel
Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds synthetized by plants (10). They are widely present in our diet in plant-based products such as fruits, vegetables, spices, cereals, wine, and tea, and are responsible for these products’ organoleptic properties like color, bitterness, flavor, odor, and astringency (11,12). The benefits of polyphenols in human health are extensively described, and these include a cancer preventive and anticancer property. Indeed, epidemiological studies show that long-term consumption of polyphenol-rich diets protects against the development and progression of several types of cancer, including breast cancer (12,13). Their breast anticarcinogenic effect involves several distinct mechanisms: interference with redox balance, pro-apoptotic effect, cell cycle arrest, activation of autophagy, inhibition of angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory effect, anti-estrogenic effect, changes in estrogen receptors expression, aromatase modulation, interference with HER2 signaling, and effect on microbiota (14–16).
Related Knowledge Centers
- Aromaticity
- Dye
- Ellagitannin
- Phenols
- Phenyl Group
- Flavonoid
- Benzenoid
- Hydroxy Group
- Catechin
- Hesperetin