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Molecular structure of apigenin, a polyphenol antioxidant

A polyphenol antioxidant is a type of antioxidant containing a polyphenolic substructure. In human health these compounds, numbering over 4000 distinct species, are thought to be instrumental in combating oxidative stress, a syndrome causative of some neurodegenerative diseases and some cardiovascular diseases. Image File history File links Merge-arrow. ... Polyphenols are a group of chemical substances found in plants, characterized by the presence of more than one phenol unit or building block per molecule. ... Apigenin is a flavone that is the aglycone of apiin, isolated from parsley and celery, and apigetrin. ... Space-filling model of the antioxidant metabolite glutathione. ... Polyphenols are a group of chemical substances found in plants, characterized by the presence of more than one phenol unit or building block per molecule. ... Health can be defined negatively, as the absence of illness, functionally as the ability to cope with everyday activities, or positively, as fitness and well-being (Blaxter 1990). ... Oxidative stress is a medical term for damage to animal or plant cells (and thereby the organs and tissues composed of those cells) caused by reactive oxygen species, which include (but are not limited to) superoxide, singlet oxygen, peroxynitrite or hydrogen peroxide. ... Neurodegenerative disease (Greek νέυρο-, néuro-, nerval and Latin dēgenerāre, to decline or to worsen) is a condition in which cells of the brain and spinal cord are lost. ... Cardiovascular disease refers to the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels (arteries and veins). ...

The main source of polyphenol antioxidants is nutritional, since they are found in a wide array of phytonutrient-bearing foods. For example, most legumes; fruits such as apples, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, grapes, pears, plums, raspberries, and strawberries; and vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, celery, onion and parsley are rich in polyphenol antioxidants. Red wine, chocolate, green tea, olive oil, bee pollen and many grains are alternative sources. The principal benefit of ingestion of antioxidants seems to stem from the consumption of a wide array of phytonutrients; correspondingly, the role of dietary supplements as a method of realizing these health benefits is the subject of considerable discussion. Phytochemicals are sometimes referred to as phytonutrients and these terms are often used interchangeably. ... This article is about the fruit of the plants also called legumes. For the plants themselves, see Fabaceae . ... This article is about the fruit. ... This article is about the fruit. ... For other uses, see Blueberry (disambiguation). ... Trinomial name Cucumis melo cantalupensis Cucumis melo reticulatus Naudin. ... For other uses, see Cherry (disambiguation). ... “Cranberries” redirects here. ... This article is about the fruits of the genus Vitis. ... Species About 30 species; see text For other uses, see Pear (disambiguation). ... Species See text. ... Cultivated raspberries The raspberry (plural, raspberries) is the edible fruit of a number of species of the genus Rubus. ... For other uses, see Strawberry (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Vegetable (disambiguation). ... Broccoli is a plant of the Cabbage family, Brassicaceae (formerly Cruciferae). ... Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. ... Binomial name L. Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. ... For other uses, see Onion (disambiguation). ... This article is about the herb. ... This article is about the beverage. ... For other uses, see Chocolate (disambiguation). ... Green tea (绿茶) is tea that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. ... For the Popeye character, see Olive Oyl. ... SEM image of pollen grains from a variety of common plants: sunflower (Helianthus annuus), morning glory (Ipomea purpurea),hollyhock (Sildalcea malviflora), lily (Lilium auratum), primrose(Oenothera fruticosa), and castor bean (Ricinus communis). ... The word grain has several meanings, most being descriptive of a small piece or particle. ...

Blackberries are a source of polyphenol antioxidants

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x841, 267 KB)Blackberry fruits Taken by User:Fir0002 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x841, 267 KB)Blackberry fruits Taken by User:Fir0002 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article is about the fruit. ...

Biochemical regulation

The regulation chemistry consists of a polyphenol antioxidant’s ability to scavenge free radicals and up-regulate certain metal chelation reactions. That is to say various reactive oxygen species must be continually removed from cells to maintain healthy metabolic function. Some specific free radicals affected are the reactive oxygen species singlet oxygen, peroxynitrite and hydrogen peroxide. Diminishing the concentrations of reactive oxygen species can have several benefits. Since reactive oxygen species are linked to mobilization of ion transport systems, they are known to have roles in oxidative signalling. In particular, platelets involved in wound repair and blood homeostasis can release reactive oxygen species to recruit platelets to sites of injury. These also provide a link to the adaptive immune system via the recruitment of leukocytes. When polyphenols down-regulate reactive oxygen species formation, they also contribute to improved endothelial health through anti-inflammatory action. In chemistry free radicals are uncharged atomic or molecular species with unpaired electrons or an otherwise open shell configuration. ... Chelation (from Greek χηλή, chelè, meaning claw; pronounced ) is the binding or complexation of a bi- or multidentate ligand. ... Reactive oxygen species (ROS) include oxygen ions, free radicals and peroxides both inorganic and organic. ... Molecular orbital diagram for singlet oxygen. ... Peroxynitrite (ONOO-) is a strong oxidant and nitrating agent,which damages DNA, proteins and other cellular structures. ... Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a very pale blue liquid which appears colorless in a dilute solution, slightly more viscous than water. ... A 250 ml bag of newly collected platelets. ... Superficial bullet wounds In medicine, a wound is a type of physical trauma wherein the skin is torn, cut or punctured (an open wound), or where blunt force trauma causes a contusion (a closed wound). ... For other uses, see Blood (disambiguation). ... Homeostasis (from Greek: ὅμος, homos, equal; and ιστημι, histemi, to stand lit. ... Injury is damage or harm caused to the structure or function of the body caused by an outside agent or force, which may be physical or chemical. ... A scanning electron microscope image of a single neutrophil (yellow), engulfing anthrax bacteria (orange). ... White Blood Cells is also the name of a White Stripes album. ... The endothelium is the layer of thin, flat cells that lines the interior surface of blood vessels, forming an interface between circulating blood in the lumen and the rest of the vessel wall. ... Anti-inflammatory refers to the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation. ...

Biological consequences

A macrophage stretching its arms to engulf two particles. Reactive oxygen species promote oxidized LDL and polyphenol antioxidants combat this inflammatory response.

Occurrence of an abundance of polyphenol antioxidants is associated with several salutary effects in higher animal species: Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x1024, 279 KB) Summary A macrophage of a mouse stretching itself to eat two smaller particles, possibly pathogens. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1280x1024, 279 KB) Summary A macrophage of a mouse stretching itself to eat two smaller particles, possibly pathogens. ... A macrophage of a mouse stretching its arms to engulf two particles, possibly pathogens Macrophages (Greek: big eaters, from makros large + phagein eat) are cells within the tissues that originate from specific white blood cells called monocytes. ... Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) refers to a class and range of lipoprotein particles, varying somewhat in their size and contents, which carry cholesterol in the blood and around the body, for use by various cells. ... woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot! - Howard Dean ...

• Reduction in inflammatory effects such as coronary artery disease^[1][2] including specific medical research into the pathways of improved endothelial health via downregulation of oxidative LDL.^[3]

• More generally the tea polyphenol (medically known as TP) antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate, has been shown to reduce reactive oxygen species levels in vivo.^[4] Reactive oxygen species are important markers for inflammatory diseases.

• Some polyphenol antioxidants, such as resveratrol, inhibit occurrence and/or growth of mammalian tumors.^[5]

• A variety of other beneficial health effects have been attributed to consumption of foods rich in polyphenolic antioxidants. Among these salutary effects discussed are anti-aging consequences such as slowing the process of skin wrinkling.^[6] For some of the side-benefits (such as prevention of peripheral artery disease), further research is continuing to clarify the role polyphenol antioxidants may have.^[7][8]

Inflammation is the first response of the immune system to infection or irritation and may be referred to as the innate cascade. ... Coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease (CAD) and atherosclerotic heart disease, is the end result of the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the arteries that supply the myocardium (the muscle of the heart). ... The endothelium is the layer of thin, flat cells that lines the interior surface of blood vessels, forming an interface between circulating blood in the lumen and the rest of the vessel wall. ... Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) refers to a class and range of lipoprotein particles, varying somewhat in their size and contents, which carry cholesterol in the blood and around the body, for use by various cells. ... Chemical structure of gallic acid Gallic acid is an organic acid, also known as 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid, found in gallnuts, sumac, witch hazel, tea leaves, oak bark, and other plants. ... In medicine, a biomarker is an indicator of a particular disease state or a particular state of an organism. ... The cis-isomer of resveratrol Resveratrol is a phytoalexin produced naturally by several plants when under attack by bacteria or fungi. ... For malignant tumors specifically, see cancer. ... In medicine (vascular surgery), Peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD) is a collator for all disease caused by the obstruction of large peripheral arteries, which can result from atherosclerosis, inflammatory processes leading to stenosis, an embolism or thrombus formation. ...

Difficulty in analyzing effects of specific chemicals

Grapes contain certain polyphenol antioxidant compounds.

It is difficult to evaluate the medical effects of specific polyphenolic antioxidants, since such a large number of individual compounds may occur even in a single food. For example, over sixty different chemically distinct flavonoids are known to occur in a given red wine. Numerous scientific studies have been conducted to attempt to arrive at one consistent index for food antioxidant power. Since it has been proved that the dietary intake of compounds having antioxidant activity is medically important, various chemical, biological, and electrochemical methods have been proposed to evaluate the antioxidant power of compounds such as polyphenols. Wine, although nonessential, has a high polyphenol content up to two to three grams per liter in red wines obtained by traditional maceration. The polyphenol content of wines is usually evaluated by the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, which provides an appropriate response to the requirements of wine manufacturers. Statistical least squares analysis has been conducted to demonstrate the Folin method correlates well with alternative chemical and biological procedures for determining antioxidant potential.^[9] Therefore, there is some reason to believe more universally accepted protocols may be forthcoming to permit quantitative evaluation of antioxidant strength of polyphenol antioxidant compounds. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1067, 260 KB) Close up of grapes File links The following pages link to this file: Grape User:Fir0002/FPCandidates User:Fir0002/Fir0002 gallery User:Fir0002/Fir0002 gallery/20D/Plants ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1067, 260 KB) Close up of grapes File links The following pages link to this file: Grape User:Fir0002/FPCandidates User:Fir0002/Fir0002 gallery User:Fir0002/Fir0002 gallery/20D/Plants ... This article is about the fruits of the genus Vitis. ... This article is about the beverage. ... An essential nutrient is a nutrient required for normal body functioning that cannot be synthesized by the body. ... Cabernet Sauvignon must interacting with the skins during fermentation to add color, tannins and flavor to the wine. ... The Folin-Ciocalteu reagent is a mixture of phosphomolybdate and phosphotungstate used for the colorimetric assay of phenolic antioxidants and polyphenol antioxidants. ... For Wikipedia statistics, see m:Statistics Statistics is the science and practice of developing human knowledge through the use of empirical data expressed in quantitative form. ... In regression analysis, least squares, also known as ordinary least squares analysis, is a method for linear regression that determines the values of unknown quantities in a statistical model by minimizing the sum of the residuals (the difference between the predicted and observed values) squared. ...

Other more detailed chemical research has been conducted elucidating the difficulty of isolating individual polyphenolic antioxidants. Fajardo-Lirai et al. have demonstrated that significant variation in polyphenol content among various brands of tea can explain^[10] the inconsistency in previous epidemiological studies that have tried to correlate beneficial health effects of polyphenol antioxidants using specific green tea blends. The Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) test is a possible emerging standard by which science measures antioxidant power in foods and dietary supplements Green tea (绿茶) is tea that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. ... Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) is a method of measuring antioxidant capacities of different foods. ... A dietary supplement is intended to supply nutrients, (vitamins, minerals, fatty acids or amino acids) that are missing or not consumed in sufficient quantity in a persons diet. ...

Practical aspects of dietary polyphenol antioxidants

Cocoa is the prime ingredient of chocolate, a source of polyphenol antioxidants.

There is debate regarding the total body absorption of dietary intake of polyphenolic compounds. While individual studies seem to demonstrate the favourable health effects of certain specific polyphenols, more research is needed to understand the interactions between a variety of these chemicals acting in concert within the human body. In particular there is evidence that some combinations of foods may inhibit efficient intestinal transfer of certain polyphenol antioxidants; refined sugars, for example, have been shown to impede this uptake under certain circumstances.^[11] Furthermore caution should be exercised in attempting diets depending largely on dietary supplements as opposed to a broad array of food sources, since the quality and concentrations of beneficial chemicals in some commercial products is subject to question, given lack of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation. Description: Cocoa beans in a cacao pod. ... Description: Cocoa beans in a cacao pod. ... For other uses, see Cocoa (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Chocolate (disambiguation). ... “FDA” redirects here. ...

Topical application of polyphenol antioxidants

There is some data that reactive oxygen species play a role in the process of aging. The skin is exposed to various exogenous sources of oxidative stress, including ultraviolet radiation. These spectral components are generally viewed as responsible for the extrinsic type of skin aging, sometimes termed photo-aging. It has been shown not only that increased levels of protective low molecular weight antioxidants through a diet rich in phytochemicals, but also by direct topical dermal application^[12] have proved that a few low molecular weight antioxidants, notably vitamins C and E, ascorbate and tocopherol, as well as lipoic acid, exert protective effects against oxidative stress. However, controlled long-term studies on the efficacy of low molecular weight antioxidants in the prevention or treatment of skin aging in humans are lacking. The effects of ageing on a human face Elderly woman Ageing or aging is the process of systems deterioration with time. ... Exogenous (or exogeneous) (from the Greek words exo and gen, meaning outside and production) refers to an action or object coming from outside a system. ... Oxidative stress is a medical term for damage to animal or plant cells (and thereby the organs and tissues composed of those cells) caused by reactive oxygen species, which include (but are not limited to) superoxide, singlet oxygen, peroxynitrite or hydrogen peroxide. ... For other uses, see Ultraviolet (disambiguation). ... Intrinsic describes a characteristic or property of some thing or action which is essential and specific to that thing or action, and which is wholly independent of any other object, action or consequence. ... The molecular mass of a substance (less accurately called molecular weight and abbreviated as MW) is the mass of one molecule of that substance, relative to the unified atomic mass unit u (equal to 1/12 the mass of one atom of carbon-12). ... This article is about the nutrient. ... Ascorbic acid is an organic acid with antioxidant properties. ... Lipoic acid, also known as α-lipoic acid (alpha lipoic acid) or thioctic acid, has formula C8H14S2O2 and systematic name 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl)pentanoic acid. ... For other uses, see Skin (disambiguation). ...

References

Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood, in which the blood cells are suspended. ... Space-filling model of the antioxidant metabolite glutathione. ... Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) refers to a class and range of lipoprotein particles, varying somewhat in their size and contents, which carry cholesterol in the blood and around the body, for use by various cells. ... Polyphenols are a group of chemical substances found in plants, characterized by the presence of more than one phenol unit or building block per molecule. ...

See also

• Asymmetric dimethylarginine
• Coronary artery disease
• Low density lipoprotein
• Nitric oxide