Phenolic compounds and their health benefits: A review

Accepted: 29/06/2014 Abstract Phenolic compounds, ubiquitous in plants, are essential part of human diet. Major polyphenolic compounds found in plants are flavonoids, catechins, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), flavonones, iso-flavones, flavanols, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, stilbenes, flavonoids, chalcones, lignans etc. These compounds are secondary plant metabolites and possess antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties along with high antioxidative activity. These properties make polyphenols interesting for the treatment of various diseases like inflammation, cancer and also used for anti-ageing purposes in cosmetic formulations as well as have nutraceutical applications. The antioxidative activity of phenolic compounds depends on their structure, in particular the number and position of the hydroxyl groups and the nature of substitutions on the aromatic rings. Fruits, vegetables and beverages are the chief sources of phenolic compounds in the human diet. This review focused on plant polyphenols, taking into consideration aspects relative to their structure, botanical sources, action, bio-availability as well as their potential health benefits.