What is it about?
This review gathers the latest research on natural compounds found in everyday plants and foods, from artichokes and raspberries to olive oil and grapevine waste. These compounds, known as phenolics, have powerful effects on human health. Studies show they can protect brain cells from damage, support memory, help control blood sugar, improve liver function, and fight chronic inflammation. The review also highlights how by-products usually discarded by the food industry, such as grape canes and artichoke leaves, may hold untapped potential for health promotion. By pulling together evidence from laboratory, animal, and clinical studies, the article outlines how these natural molecules act at the cellular and molecular level to prevent or ease conditions such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and liver injury.
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Why is it important?
Non-communicable diseases like dementia, diabetes, and liver disorders are growing worldwide, yet many treatments remain limited or costly. At the same time, agriculture produces huge amounts of plant waste that harms the environment. This review shows how compounds already present in foods, and even in discarded by-products, could become sustainable, affordable allies in preventing disease and improving health. The work pushes the field toward a future where nutrition, sustainability, and medicine come together.
Perspectives
What excites me about this review is how it connects the dots between health, diet, and sustainability. It shows that the solution to major health challenges may be hidden in foods and plants we already know well. For me, the most inspiring aspect is how waste materials, often overlooked, can become valuable resources for both health and the planet. This perspective encourages us to rethink not only medicine but also how we use natural resources.
Dr. Rosa Direito
Universidade de Lisboa
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds: Exploring Neuroprotective, Metabolic, and Hepatoprotective Effects for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Pharmaceutics, April 2024, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16050577.
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