title: Immunomodulatory properties of vitamins, flavonoids and plant oils and their potential as vaccine adjuvants and delivery systems.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During the past century, vaccinologists have attempted to mimic pathogens in their immune-enhancing capacity. This led to the development of life-saving vaccines based on live attenuated viruses, bacteria and toxoids. Hence, intense research in vaccine adjuvant discovery has focused on toll like receptors, mutant toxins and viral and bacterial vectors. Nutritive components such as vitamins and select polyphenols also possess immunomodulating properties without the potential toxic and adverse side effects of agents that mimic danger signals.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review pertains to immunomodulatory properties of nutritive components, that is vitamins A, C, D, E, flavonoids and plant oils, as potential vaccine adjuvants and delivery systems, covering Pubmed publication searches from 1980 through 2011.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This relatively unexplored field of the potential of nutritive components as vaccine adjuvants holds great promise to promote the development of effective and above all safe vaccines. Hence the future focus should be placed on enhancing their efficacy, mainly through novel approaches in designing structural derivatives, formulations, delivery systems and routes of administration. As safety has been the major issue in development of novel vaccines, this new approach will probably result in new discoveries in designing safe and effective vaccines.
authors.affiliation: EpitoGenesis, Inc., 1810 North Broadway, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, USA. Vajdy@epitogenesis.com
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vajdy
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000187:drug effects; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D005419:Flavonoids; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010938:Plant Oils; D014612:Vaccines; D014815:Vitamins