title: Phytochemicals suppress nuclear factor-κB signaling:  impact on health span and the aging process.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We will briefly review the current knowledge on the major molecular targets of plant-derived phytochemicals, particularly their connections to nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling, and accordingly link these observations to their anti-inflammatory properties and beneficial effects on the aging process and age-related degenerative diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Many of the major phytochemicals, for example, flavonoids and terpenoids, possess significant therapeutic properties including anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. Although phytochemicals have multiple molecular targets, recent studies have indicated that many of them can activate signaling pathways driven by AMP-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2. These pathways are potent inhibitors of NF-κB signaling, a crucial inducer of inflammatory responses and cancer formation. Current opinion suggests that inflammation has a critical role in the aging process and in the pathogenesis of age-related degenerative diseases and, thus, anti-inflammatory properties of phytochemicals could explain their beneficial effects on health span and lifespan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plant-derived phytochemicals are promising lead compounds helping modern drug discovery to develop potent and safe inhibitors for age-related inflammatory disorders driven by NF-κB signaling.
authors: Department of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. antero.salminen@uef.fi
authors: Antero
authors: A
authors: Salminen
authors: Anu
authors: A
authors: Kauppinen
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Kaarniranta
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases