Active compounds of medicinal plants, mechanism for antioxidant and beneficial effects

Orozco Montes F,B Fenton-Navarro,A V醶Quez-Hern醤Dez

doi:10.32604/phyton.2019.04525

Abstract

An increased interest in the antioxidant effects of medicinal plants has developed in recent years. Identifying antioxidant compounds present in medicinal plants and elucidating the mechanism by which they prevent oxidation have been the focus of the research community. We performed a systematic and exhaustive review aimed at analyzing the available data regarding the beneficial effects of secondary metabolites in plants. The result of this review is presented as a description of free radicals, as well as cellular and physiological oxidative stress, is provided. The origin and source of antioxidant compounds, and the cellular and molecular mechanism by which they exert antioxidant effects, have been reported. The absorption, distribution and, elimination of antioxidants are mentioned. The beneficial effects of secondary metabolites of medicinal plants in various high incidence disease conditions were also reviewed. Finally, disease states that benefit from antioxidant compounds includes diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and liver, brain and, intestinal diseases.

Highlights

Cells produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in moderate concentrations as part of their normal physiological function
A single plant may have a diversity of phytochemicals with different beneficial effects, ranging from bitter compounds that stimulate digestion system, phenolic compounds for antioxidant and many other pharmacological properties, antibacterial, and antifungal, tannins that work as natural antibiotics, diuretic substances, alkaloids, among others (Miguel 2010)
In this review (Fig. 1), we focus on the following aspects: the effects of free radicals, mainly cellular and physiological oxidative stress; the origin of plant-derived antioxidant, as well as their reported cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in free-radical scavenging

Summary

Introduction

Cells produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in moderate concentrations as part of their normal physiological function. When the concentration of free radicals increases, damage to amino acids, proteins, lipids, and DNA can occur, affecting homeostasis and cellular function (Betteridge, 2000; Lobo et al, 2010; Seifried et al, 2007).

Results

Conclusion