From Fighting Critters to Saving Lives: Polyphenols in Plant Defense and Human Health

Polyphenols, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, are a group of specialized metabolites in plants that largely aid in plant defense by deterring biotic stressors and alleviating abiotic stress. Polyphenols offer a wide range of medical applications, acting as preventative and active treatments fo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of molecular sciences 2021-08, Vol.22 (16), p.8995
Main Authors: Stiller, Amber, Garrison, Kendall, Gurdyumov, Karina, Kenner, Jacob, Yasmin, Farida, Yates, Ping, Song, Bao-Hua
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
anti-virals
Chemical defense
Climate change
COVID-19
crop improvement
Defense mechanisms
Diabetes mellitus
disease prevention
Drought
Flavonoids
Herbivores
immune system
Metabolites
Phenolic acids
Phytochemicals
Polyphenols
Review
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Summary:Polyphenols, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids, are a group of specialized metabolites in plants that largely aid in plant defense by deterring biotic stressors and alleviating abiotic stress. Polyphenols offer a wide range of medical applications, acting as preventative and active treatments for diseases such as cancers and diabetes. Recently, researchers have proposed that polyphenols may contribute to certain applications aimed at tackling challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the beneficial impacts of phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, could potentially help prepare society for future pandemics. Thus far, most reviews have focused on polyphenols in cancer prevention and treatment. This review aims to provide a comprehensive discussion on the critical roles that polyphenols play in both plant chemical defense and human health based on the most recent studies while highlighting prospective avenues for future research, as well as the implications for phytochemical-based applications in both agricultural and medical fields.
ISSN:1422-0067
1661-6596
1422-0067
DOI:10.3390/ijms22168995