Antioxidant-rich phenolic compounds: A key to disease prevention, gut health, and brain homeostasis

Dietary phenols are phytochemicals that include flavones, flavonols, flavanones, flavanonols, isoflavones, anthocyanidins, stilbenoids, lignans, tannins, and curcuminoids. These compounds are derived from a variety of natural sources and can be used in combination with the gut microbiome to prevent and manage disease.

In a recent review published in the journal Antioxidantresearchers report the cardioprotective, neuroprotective, immunoprotective, ulcer-protective, hormonal, and metabolic benefits of consuming dietary phenols and their relationship with the gut microbiome.

study: Dietary phenolic compounds: their health benefits and their association with the gut microbiota. Image Credit: Danijela Maksimovic / Shutterstock.com

Health Benefits of Phenolic Compounds

Polyphenols may ameliorate rheumatoid arthritis through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibition. Additionally, plant-derived polyphenols can reduce depression, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

Quercetin and epicatechin (EC) reduce atherosclerosis by enhancing nitric oxide (NO) activity and decreasing serological endothelin-1 levels. Quercetin obtained from red onion or grape powder may reduce obesity and adipocyte macrophage-mediated insulin resistance through adipose tissue remodeling.

Cocoa/EC benefits cardiovascular patients by improving microcirculation, vasodilation and increasing NO levels. ECs regulate protein and gene expression in brain endothelial cells and, as a result, can be used to manage neurodegenerative diseases.

Green tea extract reduces serological triacylglyceride (TG) levels, reduces hepatic aminotransferase activity, prevents hepatic steatosis, reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, and modulates gut microbiota. may benefit patients with alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD). Among individuals with non-AFLD (NAFLD), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) restored gut microbiota balance, prevented her TG assimilation in the liver, and improved sirtuin gene activity.

Among patients with colitis, EGCG reduced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) levels, increased cell proliferation, promoted epidermal growth factor (EGF)-mediated epithelial repair, reduced colonic injury, and Reduces dialdehyde levels and increases antioxidant enzyme activity.

In Alzheimer’s disease, epigallocatechin (EGC) and epicatechin gallate (ECG) reduce amyloid-β accumulation, microglial inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and neurotoxicity. Cocoa extract reduces amyloid-β oligomerization. Furthermore, EGCG protects microglia by inhibiting the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway and activating the nuclear factor-like 2/heme oxygenase 1 (NRF-2/HO-1) pathway.

Cocoa flavanols help maintain normal endothelium-dependent vasodilation, thereby reducing the risk of coronary artery disease. Inhibits transport and lowers serological low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels.

Rutin in buckwheat and asparagus, in addition to binding to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein, modulates molecular pathways in tumor cells to reduce postprandial hyperglycemia and cholesterol. can lower blood pressure. Soy protein reduces serological LDL cholesterol, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, urinary creatinine and deoxypyridinoline levels.

Sesamin obtained from sesame is phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT), extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK-1/2), p38, interleukin-6 (IL-6 ), p53, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and NF-κB signaling.

Red wine-derived resveratrol reduces amyloid-β1-42 peptide-associated cytotoxicity, modulates α-synuclein expression, and inhibits platelet reactivity. Grapeseed oil has wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties and can lower blood TG content.

Curcumin regulates NF-κB, signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF-2), ROS, COX-2, Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR -4) Reversal of pathways and epigenetic changes. Other compounds such as genistein, protocatechuic acid, ellagic acid, and chlorogenic acid also promote health and well-being.

Association between dietary polyphenols and gut microbiota

Green tea extract modulates the intestinal flora by activating Akkermansia muciniphilaConcord grape polyphenols help manage obesity. Akkermansia muciniphila abundance and change Firmicutes To bacteroides ratio.

Flavonoid-Rich Cocoa Powder Boosts Mood bifidobacteria and Lactic acid bacteria counts and thereby modulates the expression of gut-level immune markers. Cocoa consumption enhances gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) function and alters the abundance of immunoglobulin A (IgA)-coated bacterial organisms in the gut microbiota.

Cocoa benefits diabetics by restoring the integrity of the intestinal barrier and reducing intestinal inflammation. mycobacterium avium It reduces colonic inflammation by improving complex (MAC) activity and modulating the immune response through changes in gut microbiome composition.

Quercetin restores the balance of the gut microbiota after antibiotic use. Chlorogenic acid can improve the integrity of the gut barrier and reverse microbiome dysbiosis.

Coffee disturbs the intestinal flora, bifidobacteria seeds and Clostridium coccoides–rectal eubacteria group and can selectively promote the growth of probiotic microorganisms.

Sesamin disrupts the gut microbiota by increasing the probiotic adhesion index and upregulates the expression of β-cadherin and E-cadherin. By comparison, sesamol exerts neuroprotective effects by mediating the gut microbiota-short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-brain axis.

Resveratrol activates metabolism by gut microbes, inhibits colonic CB2 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression, and restores intestinal barrier function, thereby enhancing insulin sensitivity.Curcumin may cause symptom improvement Helicobacter pyloriInfected gastritis may prevent gallstone formation and enhance the response to cytarabine through modulation of the gut microbiota.

Conclusion

The results of the review highlight the health contribution of dietary phenolic compounds and their association with the gut microbiota. These findings may aid policymaking and strategy development to improve population health through dietary interventions.