Tapping into Nature's Arsenal: Harnessing the Potential of Natural Antioxidants for Human Health and Disease Prevention

• Published in: Foods 2024-06, Vol.13 (13), p.1999
• Main Authors: Pinilla-González, Víctor, Rojas-Solé, Catalina, Gómez-Hevia, Francisca, González-Fernández, Tommy, Cereceda-Cornejo, Antonia, Chichiarelli, Silvia, Saso, Luciano, Rodrigo, Ramón
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Antihypertensives; Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Biological properties; Cardiovascular disease; Carotenoids; Cell death; Cerebral infarction; Chemical properties; Cocoa; Defense mechanisms; Diet; Disease prevention; Enzymes; Fatty liver; Flavonoids; Free radicals; Fruits; Homeostasis; Inflammation; Ischemia; ischemia–reperfusion injury; Liver diseases; Myocardial infarction; natural antioxidants; Natural products; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Oxidative stress; Pharmacokinetics; Phosphorylation; Plant-based foods; Polyphenols; Prevention; protective mechanisms; Reactive nitrogen species; Reactive oxygen species; Reperfusion; Synergistic effect; Vegetables
• ISSN: 2304-8158; 2304-8158
• DOI: 10.3390/foods13131999

Numerous natural antioxidants commonly found in our daily diet have demonstrated significant benefits for human health and various diseases by counteracting the impact of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Their chemical properties enable a range of biological actions, including antihypertensive, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, and anticancer effects. Despite promising outcomes from preclinical studies, ongoing debate persists regarding their reproducibility in human clinical models. This controversy largely stems from a lack of understanding of the pharmacokinetic properties of these compounds, coupled with the predominant focus on monotherapies in research, neglecting potential synergistic effects arising from combining different antioxidants. This study aims to provide an updated overview of natural antioxidants, operating under the hypothesis that a multitherapeutic approach surpasses monotherapy in efficacy. Additionally, this study underscores the importance of integrating these antioxidants into the daily diet, as they have the potential to prevent the onset and progression of various diseases. To reinforce this perspective, clinical findings pertaining to the treatment and prevention of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and conditions associated with ischemia and reperfusion phenomena, including myocardial infarction, postoperative atrial fibrillation, and stroke, are presented as key references.