engleski

Dietary polyphenols as neuroprotective food ingredients

Dietary polyphenols are natural substances that are present in fruits and vegetables and plant derived beverages such as tea, coffee and red wine and many other edible plants. Polyphenols can broadly be divided into two categories, i.e. flavonoids and non-flavonoids polyphenols. The non- flavonoids phenolics include phenolic acids while flavonoids can be divided in various subclasses according to the degree of oxidation of the heterocyclic ring: flavones, flavonols, flavanols, flavanones, isoflavones and anthocyanins. These compounds have health promoting effects through prevention of coronary diseas and cancer, antiinflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Polyphenols also have been reported to exhibit antioxidant properties and protect neurons against oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is associated with an excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species in cells ; a process previously implicated in the development of many neurodegenerative diseases.

polyphenols; oxidative stress; cherry juice; green tea

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