title: Polyphenols in disease: from diet to supplements.
abstract: Polyphenols are a structural class of natural and synthetic, organic chemicals characterized mainly by the presence of phenol structural units. Numerous epidemiological and experimental studies have strongly suggested their beneficial effects for human health. This view is supported by their biological activities, which are associated with chemical and biochemical properties, including the ability to act as antioxidants, their antineoplastic effect and the regulation of gene expression in chronic degenerative diseases. These mechanisms of action could account for their preventive and therapeutic uses in human subjects. Moreover, in some therapeutic uses, such as antineoplastic effect, a prooxidant therapeutic action has been suggested. In the diet, numerous compounds could participate in the beneficial properties, and this likely could result in synergistic effects because the whole effect is better than the separately action of each compound. However, the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of these bioactive micronutrients are yet to be further characterized. More research is required to fully establish the therapeutic use of polyphenols against human disease. Based on biological and pharmacological properties of polyphenols both as diet components and supplements, the objective of this work is to show an updated version about the role that polyphenols could play in several chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodrigo
authors.forename: Matias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Libuy
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feliu
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Independencia 1027, Casilla 70058, Santiago 7, Chile. rrodrigo@med.uchile.cl.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hasson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004032:Diet; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D059808:Polyphenols