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Review
. 2024 Feb 15;13(4):523.
doi: 10.3390/plants13040523.

Phytochemicals and Their Usefulness in the Maintenance of Health

Elda Victoria Rodríguez-Negrete  1   2 , Ángel Morales-González  3 , Eduardo Osiris Madrigal-Santillán  2 , Karina Sánchez-Reyes  4 , Isela Álvarez-González  5 , Eduardo Madrigal-Bujaidar  5 , Carmen Valadez-Vega  6 , German Chamorro-Cevallos  7 , Luis Fernando Garcia-Melo  8 , José A Morales-González  2
Affiliations
Review

Phytochemicals and Their Usefulness in the Maintenance of Health

Elda Victoria Rodríguez-Negrete et al. Plants (Basel). .

Abstract

Inflammation is the immune system's first biological response to infection, injury, or irritation. Evidence suggests that the anti-inflammatory effect is mediated by the regulation of various inflammatory cytokines, such as nitric oxide, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor alpha-α, interferon gamma-γ, as well as the non-cytokine mediator, prostaglandin E2. Currently, the mechanism of action and clinical usefulness of phytochemicals is known; their action on the activity of cytokines, free radicals, and oxidative stress. The latter are of great relevance in the development of diseases, such that the evidence collected demonstrates the beneficial effects of phytochemicals in maintaining health. Epidemiological evidence indicates that regular consumption of fruits and vegetables is related to a low risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases.

Keywords: disease; health; oxidative stress; phytochemicals.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The difference between primary and secondary metabolites. Created with BioRender.com.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Normal intestinal microbiota. Created with BioRender.com.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effects of phytochemicals on the intestinal microbiota. Created with BioRender.com.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Role of the intestinal microbiota in intestine–liver and intestine–brain axis. Created with BioRender.com.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Complication associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. Created with BioRender.com.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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