Natural polyphenols based new therapeutic avenues for advanced biomedical applications

Drug Metab Rev. 2015;47(4):420-30. doi: 10.3109/03602532.2015.1102933. Epub 2015 Nov 3.

Abstract

Polyphenols are naturally occurring, synthetic or semisynthetic organic compounds that offer a vast array of advanced biomedical applications. The mostly researched polyphenolic compounds are resveratrol and flavanols, notably (-)-epicatechin. The ongoing research on clinically important resveratrol and flavanols has revealed their potentials as extremely efficient drug agents that can be leveraged for new therapeutic designs for combating stroke related injuries, cancer and renal failures. Here, we have highlighted recent developments in this area with an emphasis on the biomedical applications of polyphenols. Also, a perspective on the future research directions has been discussed. We believe that this review would facilitate further research and development of polyphenols as a therapeutic avenue in medical science.

Keywords: Antioxidant; cancer; epicatechin; resveratrol; stroke.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use
  • Catechin / therapeutic use
  • Food Hypersensitivity / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Polyphenols / therapeutic use*
  • Renal Insufficiency / drug therapy*
  • Resveratrol
  • Stilbenes / therapeutic use*
  • Stroke / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Polyphenols
  • Stilbenes
  • Catechin
  • Resveratrol