Polyphenols and apoptosis

Abstract

The Mediterranean diet, with a high intake of fruits and vegetables, is particularly rich in antioxidants, polyphenols being the most abundant ones. Evidence supports that polyphenols contribute to the prevention of several chronic degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes and cancer, as well as aging. Besides their strong antioxidant power, polyphenols exert multiple biological activities such as interactions with receptors or enzymes involved in signal transduction. As a consequence they are able to modulate basic cell activities and functions, including cell proliferation and apoptosis. Polyphenols can act as pro-apoptotic or anti-apoptotic agents depending on their concentration, the cell system, the type or stage of the degenerative process. The capability of polyphenols to modulate cell apoptosis is attributable to both their ability to modulate oxidative stress and their direct action on proteins or signalling pathways which regulate the death machinery. The aim of this chapter is to focus on the role of dietary polyphenols in apoptosis modulation, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying their protective eff ects.