Phenolic Compounds and their Biological and Pharmaceutical Activities

Abstract

<div>Phenolic compounds play an essential role in plants and foods. These</div><div>compounds are well known for their biological and pharmaceutical activities. These</div><div>compounds act as colorants and antioxidants. Research on phenolic compounds is</div><div>mainly focused on their antioxidant properties. These compounds showed significant</div><div>effects on chronic degenerative diseases, such as central neurodegenerative disorders,</div><div>cataracts, macular degeneration (age-related), diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular</div><div>complication, and cancer. These compounds also showed implications on human health</div><div>since increased exposure to free radicals might lead to an increased risk of degenerative</div><div>diseases. Fruits and vegetables are rich in phenolic compounds. The phenolic</div><div>compound consists of one (phenolic acids) or more polyphenols aromatic structures</div><div>attached to a hydroxyl group. The phenolic compound is found in combination with</div><div>mono or polysaccharides, and they can occur in the group as an ester or methyl ester.</div><div>Their biological and pharmaceutical activities are based on their phenolic ring and a</div><div>hydroxyl group. Apart from antioxidant activity, they have many other therapeutic</div><div>effects on human health. Among the several classes of phenolic compounds, flavonoids,</div><div>tannins, and phenolic acids are considered as main dietary phenolic compounds. In this</div><div>chapter, we have summarized the biological and pharmaceutical activities related to</div><div>different classes of phenolic compounds.</div>