Volume 46, Issue 10 e14264
REVIEW

Health benefits of polyphenols: A concise review

Ananya Rana

Ananya Rana

Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli, India

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Mrinal Samtiya

Mrinal Samtiya

Department of Nutrition Biology, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, India

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Tejpal Dhewa

Corresponding Author

Tejpal Dhewa

Department of Nutrition Biology, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, India

Correspondence

Tejpal Dhewa, Department of Nutrition Biology, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh 123031, India.

Email: [email protected]

Vijendra Mishra, Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli, Haryana, 131028, India.

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Rotimi E. Aluko, Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.

Email: [email protected]

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Vijendra Mishra

Corresponding Author

Vijendra Mishra

Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli, India

Correspondence

Tejpal Dhewa, Department of Nutrition Biology, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh 123031, India.

Email: [email protected]

Vijendra Mishra, Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli, Haryana, 131028, India.

Email: [email protected]

Rotimi E. Aluko, Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.

Email: [email protected]

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Rotimi E. Aluko

Corresponding Author

Rotimi E. Aluko

Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Correspondence

Tejpal Dhewa, Department of Nutrition Biology, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh 123031, India.

Email: [email protected]

Vijendra Mishra, Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli, Haryana, 131028, India.

Email: [email protected]

Rotimi E. Aluko, Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.

Email: [email protected]

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First published: 13 June 2022
Citations: 468

Abstract

Plants produce polyphenols, which are considered highly essential functional foods in our diet. They are classified into several groups according to their diverse chemical structures. Flavanoids, lignans, stilbenes, and phenolic acids are the four main families of polyphenols. Several in vivo and in vitro research have been conducted so far to evaluate their health consequences. Polyphenols serve a vital function in the protection of the organism from external stimuli and in eliminating reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are instigators of several illnesses. Polyphenols are present in tea, chocolate, fruits, and vegetables with the potential to positively influence human health. For instance, cocoa flavan-3-ols have been associated with a decreased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and diabetes. Polyphenols in the diet also help to improve lipid profiles, blood pressure, insulin resistance, and systemic inflammation. Quercetin, a flavonoid, and resveratrol, a stilbene, have been linked to improved cardiovascular health. Dietary polyphenols potential to elicit therapeutic effects might be attributed, at least in part, to a bidirectional association with the gut microbiome. This is because polyphenols are known to affect the gut microbiome composition in ways that lead to better human health. Specifically, the gut microbiome converts polyphenols into bioactive compounds that have therapeutic effects. In this review, the antioxidant, cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, and anti-diabetic actions of polyphenols are described based on findings from in vivo and in vitro experimental trials.

Practical applications

The non-communicable diseases (NCDs) burden has been increasing worldwide due to the sedentary lifestyle and several other factors such as smoking, junk food, etc. Scientific literature evidence supports the use of plant-based food polyphenols as therapeutic agents that could help to alleviate NCD's burden. Thus, consuming polyphenolic compounds from natural sources could be an effective solution to mitigate NCDs concerns. It is also discussed how natural antioxidants from medicinal plants might help prevent or repair damage caused by free radicals, such as oxidative stress.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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