Dietary Polyphenols—Natural Bioactive Compounds with Potential for Preventing and Treating Some Allergic Conditions

Abstract

In light of the constantly increasing prevalence of allergic diseases, changes in dietary patterns have been suggested as a plausible environmental explanation for the development and progression of these diseases. Nowadays, much attention has been paid to the development of dietary interventions using natural substances with anti-allergy activities. In this respect, dietary polyphenols have been studied extensively as one of the most prominent natural bioactive compounds with well-documented anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. This review aims to discuss the mechanisms underlying the potential anti-allergic actions of polyphenols related to their ability to reduce protein allergenicity, regulate immune response, and gut microbiome modification; however, these issues need to be elucidated in detail. This paper reviews the current evidence from experimental and clinical studies confirming that various polyphenols such as quercetin, curcumin, resveratrol, catechins, and many others could attenuate allergic inflammation, alleviate the symptoms of food allergy, asthma, and allergic rhinitis, and prevent the development of allergic immune response. Conclusively, dietary polyphenols are endowed with great anti-allergic potential and therefore could be used either for preventive approaches or therapeutic interventions in relation to allergic diseases. Limitations in studying and widespread use of polyphenols as well as future research directions are also discussed.

The Promising Role of Polyphenols in Skin Disorders

“…Polyphenols can serve as a substitute for conventional corticosteroid and antihistamine treatments. They possess anti-allergic characteristics, including the capacity to inhibit the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and leukocytes, as well as the secretion of histamine [ 69 ]. Polyphenols have shown the capacity to regulate the balance between T helper (Th)1/Th2 and impede the generation of antigen-specific IgE antibodies.…”

Dietary Polyphenols, Plant Metabolites, and Allergic Disorders: A Comprehensive Review

“…Polyphenols are a diverse category of more than ten thousand chemical compounds that are naturally found in plants. They are produced as secondary metabolic products in response to free radicals or environmental stress factors [ 20 , 27 ]. Phenolic chemicals serve multiple functions in plants, including defense against pathogens, protection against oxidative damage, acting as light sensors, influencing sensory qualities, and regulating growth and reproduction [ 28 ].…”

“…These compounds are found in significant quantities in kale, onion, tomato, apples, berries, herbal tea, and red wine [ 32 ]. Additional significant flavonoids in the diet include isoflavones, which can be found in soybeans; anthocyanidins, which are present in colored vegetables and fruits such as red cabbage, eggplant, berries, and cherries; catechins, which are found in high concentrations in green tea, red wine, and dark chocolate [ 20 ]; flavones such as apigenin, luteolin, and baicalin, which are abundant in green and black tea, cereals, and aromatic herbs like celery and parsley [ 20 ]; and naringenin and hesperidin, which are phenolic acids, such as gallic, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid, make up almost 30% of the overall polyphenols in our diet [ 20 ]. These acids can be found in red fruits, onions, and black radishes [ 27 ].…”

“…Recommended foods include those that are high in dietary fiber, fermented foods, and foods that naturally contain beneficial microbes. Additionally, foods rich in flavonoids and polyphenols derived from tea, herbs, and spices are highly regarded as effective anti-inflammatory components, as determined by the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) [ 19 , 20 ]. Due to their safety, wide presence in plants, a frequent occurrence in the daily diet, and diverse range of bioactivity, including anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, polyphenols are considered a valuable and promising dietary intervention for preventing and treating allergic diseases [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

Hyperspectral and Microtomographic Analyses to Evaluate the Stability of Quercetin and Calcium Effervescent Tablets Exposed to Heat and Ultraviolet Radiation

“…In light of the increasing prevalence of allergic diseases, researchers' attention has focused on the role of diet in their prevention. The literature data indicate that quercetin has high anti-allergic potential and can be used in the prevention or treatment of allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, and atopic dermatitis [12][13][14]. In a clinical study on patients with allergic rhinitis in the sensitization phase, it was observed that the use of oral quercetin (200 mg/day) for 4 weeks relieved symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, nasal discharge, and sleep disturbances, compared with the placebo group [15].…”