The Role of Polyphenolic Antioxidants in Health, Disease, and Aging

Abstract

Polyphenolic antioxidants from dietary sources are frequently a topic of interest due to widespread scientific agreement that they may help lower the incidence of certain cancers, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and DNA damage and even may have antiaging properties. On the other hand, questions still remain as to whether some antioxidants could be potentially harmful to health, because an increase in glycation-mediated protein damage (carbonyl stress) has been reported in some cases. Nevertheless, the quest for healthy aging has led to the extensive use of phytochemically derived antioxidants to disrupt age-associated deterioration in physiological function and to prevent many age-related diseases. Although a diet rich in the polyphenolic forms of antioxidants does seem to offer hope in delaying the onset of age-related disorders, it is still too early to define their exact clinical benefit for treating age-related disease. This review critically examines polyphenolic antioxidants, such as flavonoids, curcumene, and resveratrol in health, disease, and aging with the hope that a better understanding of the many mechanisms involved with these diverse compounds may lead to better health and novel treatment approaches for age-related diseases.

The effect of resveratrol on lifespan depends on both gender and dietary nutrient composition in Drosophila melanogaster

“…The context-dependent effect of resveratrol on lifespan apparently is not a unique feature of resveratrol. Phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables have been shown to be beneficial to health, promote healthy aging, and possibly longevity (Lithgow et al 2005;Obrenovich et al 2010). Emerging evidence indicates that prolongevity effects of phytochemicals depend on dietary conditions of the organism.…”

“…Other research on the potential for nutritional modulation of lifespan has suggested the possibility that polyphenolic compounds from fruits and vegetables added to diets modulates healthy aging and lifespan (Lithgow et al 2005;Obrenovich et al 2010). For example, resveratrol, a phytoallexin that is a member of the stilbene family, has been shown to extend lifespan in yeast, worms, flies, and a shortlived fish (Howitz et al 2003;Wood et al 2004;Valenzano et al 2006).…”

In vitro anti oxidant activity total phenolic content of Dillenia indica Garcinia penducalata, commonly used fruits in Assamese cuisine

“…Poly phenols which are organic compounds present in regular human diet have an antioxidant property. [8][9][10] Early men lived in forests and his food habits provided him dietary antioxidants to cope up with ROS but after the initiation of organized farming his food habits changed and now the food habits are completely different with very little dietary derived antioxidants. Moreover human beings are con stantly facing environmental toxins.…”

Assessment of the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of crude extracts and fractions of Schwartzia brasiliensis (Choisy) Bedell ex Giraldo-Caas

“…Flavonoids are described as having antioxidant (Brunetti et al, 2013;Procházková et al, 2011;Romano et al, 2013) and antigenotoxic activities (Boubaker et al, 2013;Chaabane et al, 2012). In addition, flavonoids have antineoplastic effects and can also protect against cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases (Obrenovich et al, 2010;Obrenovich et al, 2011;Simões et al, 2006).…”