Quarter-Century Explorations of Bioactive Polyphenols: Diverse Health Benefits

Abstract

Polyphenols, members of phytochemical superfamily rich in vegetables and fruits, include flavonoids, non-flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Their biological effects includes classical antioxidation (e.g., radical-scavenging, metal chelating, NOX inhibition, attenuation on mitochondrial respiration, inhibition on xanthine oxidase, and upregulations on endogenous antioxidant enzymes), multiple regulations on cell signaling (e.g.

Apricot Kernel: Bioactivity, Characterization, Applications, and Health Attributes

“…The antioxidant potential of apricot has been repeatedly investigated through different in vitro systems by measuring its ability to reduce free radicals and comparing it with standard reference compounds [ 77 ]. Apricot kernel contains caffeic acid (2.5 μg/g) and gallic acid (4.1 μg/g), which are used in the preparation of various medicines and treatment of various diseases such as cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, anti-asthmatic, antiseptic, sedative, emetic, laxative, etc.…”

Allergic Inflammation: Effect of Propolis and Its Flavonoids

“…Foods rich in fiber and antioxidants, such as polyphenolic constituents of plants and bee products including propolis, stimulate the activity and formation of “good bacteria”, reducing and acting as a bactericidal on pathogenic bacteria; and can reduce and prevent numerous allergic reactions. The bifidogenic effect of bee products has been known for a long time and can be useful in treating allergic reactions [ 17 , 18 ]. The main effects of probiotics are presented in Table 3 .…”

“…In addition to their antitumor properties, flavonoids present in propolis are powerful antioxidants and anti-allergic nutrients that inhibit mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils regulate allergic inflammation, inhibit the synthesis and release of Th2 type cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, the release of chemical mediators, histamine, and CD40 ligand expression by high-affinity immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor-expressing cells, such as mast cells and basophils [ 18 , 69 ]. Flavonoids inhibit the release of histamine, leukotrienes, prostaglandin D2, and GM-CSF from mast cells in a concentration-dependent manner [ 69 , 70 , 71 ].…”

“…EEP-treated skin samples exhibited slight hyperkeratosis, absence of parakeratosis, mild acanthosis, absence of elongated rete ridges, and mild dermal inflammation. In addition, flavonoids present in propolis can inhibit the degranulation of mast cells basophils, reduce histamine, tryptase, IL-4, IL-5 IL-6, IL-8, IL13 and other inflammatory mediators released from cultured mast cells and macrophages [ 18 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 100 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 , 113 ]. Several flavonoids were found to inhibit the release of histamine, leukotrienes, prostaglandin D2, and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) from mast cells in a concentration-dependent manner [ 70 , 97 ].…”

Twenty-five Years at the Frontiers of Knowledge: A Quarter-century of “Frontiers in Bioscience”

“…Of the 22 papers, half are original research on highly diverse topics including a detailed analysis of signaling pathways in insect heart development [1], stress management in breast cancer patients [2], regulation of myelopoiesis in zebrafish [3], an analysis of heat shock protein expression in human glioblastomas [4], a new method for screening for human topoisomerase inhibitors using genetically-modified yeast [5], genetic influences on systemic iron levels in humans [6], transcriptomics studies on frog development [7], clinical studies on malnourished children with diarrhoea [8], a theoretical investigation of approaches to characterizing logic operations in model neurons, synapses, and neural circuits [9], the effects of methionine-restricted diets on the growth of pigs [10], and the effects of iron on kidney disease in rats [11]. The other half of the papers are reviews on an equally diverse range of topics, including drugs for Alzheimer's Disease [12], spheroid cell cultures [13], bioactive polyphenols [14], ribosome evolution [15], purinergic signaling in bone cancer [16], spontaneous regressions in cancer [17], genetic analyses of pituitary cancers [18], pharmacological chaperones [19], drug targeting for SARS-CoV-2 infection [20], calcium signaling in mesenchymal stem cells [21], and relationships between the control of circadian rhythm and neurodegeneration [22]. We sincerely thank all authors and readers for their interest in the Journal and look forward to the next 25 years of exciting advances in the biological sciences and an expanded role for the Journal in the OA publishing landscape.…”