title: Mechanisms and therapeutic prospects of polyphenols as modulators of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor.
abstract: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a pleiotropic nuclear factor that was originally recognized as a "master" of xenobiotic metabolism but demonstrated recently to be a vital regulator of many normal physiological events. Understanding of the mechanism of action of AhR-targeted compounds, as represented by polyphenols (the greatest source of xenobiotic AhR modulators in the human diet) is of critical importance for the development of polyphenol-based nutraceutical strategies or the prevention of AHR-mediated toxicity associated with polyphenol intake. In this review, based on studies conducted over the past decade, we summarized the modes of function of polyphenolic AhR modulators. Furthermore, we made a brief mechanistic synopsis of the pharmacological/therapeutic use of polyphenols as AhR antagonists, selective AhR regulators and dual AhR/ER modulators, and underscored their potential in the prevention/treatment of common human diseases/disorders. Additionally, interesting subjects for further mechanistic investigations on polyphenolic AhR modulators have been provided.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China. kouxiaohong@tju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhaohui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wancong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiaonan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Yulong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004358:Drug Therapy; D006801:Humans; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D059808:Polyphenols; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D015262:Xenobiotics