Secondary Metabolites of Plants and Their Impact on Health: Case of Polyphenols (A Review)

Abstract

An inverse correlation was noticed between the consumption of plant based food and incidence of cancer and chronic diseases. These virtues are partly attributed to secondary metabolites which are divided into four classes according to their chemical structures. Among them, polyphenols occupy a prominent place. Polyphenols are plant metabolites characterized by the presence of several phenol groups, which derive from L-phenylalanine. They are endowed with multiple biological and pharmacological properties explaining their benefits on human health. Some of them are active due to their antioxidant power; others are involved in the enzymatic detoxification carcinogens in the body. Owing to their diverse biological and pharmacological properties, polyphenols are interesting in cancer prevention and different diseases, including cardiovascular, ophthalmic and inflammatory diseases. Furthermore, phenolic compounds are generally regarded nowadays as desirable components of human food, because of their antioxidant activity. Therefore, they are considered to be of nutraceutical importance