Unearthing the Modulatory Operations of Phytochemicals: A Reliable Framework for Therapeutic Approaches

Abstract

Phytochemicals in no small measure confer active roles in human survival as well as in the prevention of various diseases by their effortless ability to combat oxidative stress known to shorten life expectancy in humans. A number of these factors are well known to predispose an individual to ageing, senescence, microvascular and macrovascular diabetic complications, cardiovascular and neurological disorders. The incidence of cancer amelioration in this regard cannot be discountenanced. A vast array of identified factors that are deep rooted in the cause of diseases implicated in oxidative stress are but not limited to chemical and environmental contaminants in air, food and water while several lifestyle modifications including lack of exercise, smoking and dietary preferences are key factors implicated in disease developments. While we review the extant roles of fruits, vegetables, grains and seed oils as safe for consumption, owing to their astonishing medicinal attributes to counteract the menace of free oxidants in cells, the emphasis on plant-based diets especially the ones that contains phenolic acids and flavonoids with strong antioxidant capabilities cannot be more emphasized. Many of these therapeutic roles are possible by the excess mopping of reactive oxygen in the body thereby protecting cells from damage. The wondrous effects of these antioxidants in cells can be implied to reduce the risk of cardiovascular and neurological diseases such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, arterosclerosis, Alzheimer’s and long-term cancer.

Keywords: Cardiovascular; Flavonoids; Neurological disorders; Oxidative stress; Phenolic acids; Phytochemicals