Proanthocyanidins and Where to Find Them: A Meta-Analytic Approach to Investigate Their Chemistry, Biosynthesis, Distribution, and Effect on Human Health
Proanthocyanidins (PACs) are a class of polyphenolic compounds that are attracting considerable interest in the nutraceutical field due to their potential health benefits. However, knowledge about the chemistry, biosynthesis, and distribution of PACs is limited. This review summarizes the main chemi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Antioxidants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/8/1229 |
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| author | Giuseppe Mannino Giorgia Chinigò Graziella Serio Tullio Genova Carla Gentile Luca Munaron Cinzia Margherita Bertea |
| author_facet | Giuseppe Mannino Giorgia Chinigò Graziella Serio Tullio Genova Carla Gentile Luca Munaron Cinzia Margherita Bertea |
| author_sort | Giuseppe Mannino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Proanthocyanidins (PACs) are a class of polyphenolic compounds that are attracting considerable interest in the nutraceutical field due to their potential health benefits. However, knowledge about the chemistry, biosynthesis, and distribution of PACs is limited. This review summarizes the main chemical characteristics and biosynthetic pathways and the main analytical methods aimed at their identification and quantification in raw plant matrices. Furthermore, meta-analytic approaches were used to identify the main plant sources in which PACs were contained and to investigate their potential effect on human health. In particular, a cluster analysis identified PACs in 35 different plant families and 60 different plant parts normally consumed in the human diet. On the other hand, a literature search, coupled with forest plot analyses, highlighted how PACs can be actively involved in both local and systemic effects. Finally, the potential mechanisms of action through which PACs may impact human health were investigated, focusing on their systemic hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering effects and their local anti-inflammatory actions on the intestinal epithelium. Overall, this review may be considered a complete report in which chemical, biosynthetic, ecological, and pharmacological aspects of PACs are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:02:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0b83d1427c7c4a6e8aa6248ba9e8cad0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3921 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:02:59Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antioxidants |
| spelling | doaj.art-0b83d1427c7c4a6e8aa6248ba9e8cad02023-11-22T06:36:01ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212021-07-01108122910.3390/antiox10081229Proanthocyanidins and Where to Find Them: A Meta-Analytic Approach to Investigate Their Chemistry, Biosynthesis, Distribution, and Effect on Human HealthGiuseppe Mannino0Giorgia Chinigò1Graziella Serio2Tullio Genova3Carla Gentile4Luca Munaron5Cinzia Margherita Bertea6Plant Physiology Unit, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Quarello 15/A, 10135 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Turin, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128 Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Turin, ItalyPlant Physiology Unit, Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Quarello 15/A, 10135 Turin, ItalyProanthocyanidins (PACs) are a class of polyphenolic compounds that are attracting considerable interest in the nutraceutical field due to their potential health benefits. However, knowledge about the chemistry, biosynthesis, and distribution of PACs is limited. This review summarizes the main chemical characteristics and biosynthetic pathways and the main analytical methods aimed at their identification and quantification in raw plant matrices. Furthermore, meta-analytic approaches were used to identify the main plant sources in which PACs were contained and to investigate their potential effect on human health. In particular, a cluster analysis identified PACs in 35 different plant families and 60 different plant parts normally consumed in the human diet. On the other hand, a literature search, coupled with forest plot analyses, highlighted how PACs can be actively involved in both local and systemic effects. Finally, the potential mechanisms of action through which PACs may impact human health were investigated, focusing on their systemic hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering effects and their local anti-inflammatory actions on the intestinal epithelium. Overall, this review may be considered a complete report in which chemical, biosynthetic, ecological, and pharmacological aspects of PACs are discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/8/1229polyphenolsproanthocyanidinscluster analysisforest plotecologyhyperglycemia |
| spellingShingle | Giuseppe Mannino Giorgia Chinigò Graziella Serio Tullio Genova Carla Gentile Luca Munaron Cinzia Margherita Bertea Proanthocyanidins and Where to Find Them: A Meta-Analytic Approach to Investigate Their Chemistry, Biosynthesis, Distribution, and Effect on Human Health Antioxidants polyphenols proanthocyanidins cluster analysis forest plot ecology hyperglycemia |
| title | Proanthocyanidins and Where to Find Them: A Meta-Analytic Approach to Investigate Their Chemistry, Biosynthesis, Distribution, and Effect on Human Health |
| title_full | Proanthocyanidins and Where to Find Them: A Meta-Analytic Approach to Investigate Their Chemistry, Biosynthesis, Distribution, and Effect on Human Health |
| title_fullStr | Proanthocyanidins and Where to Find Them: A Meta-Analytic Approach to Investigate Their Chemistry, Biosynthesis, Distribution, and Effect on Human Health |
| title_full_unstemmed | Proanthocyanidins and Where to Find Them: A Meta-Analytic Approach to Investigate Their Chemistry, Biosynthesis, Distribution, and Effect on Human Health |
| title_short | Proanthocyanidins and Where to Find Them: A Meta-Analytic Approach to Investigate Their Chemistry, Biosynthesis, Distribution, and Effect on Human Health |
| title_sort | proanthocyanidins and where to find them a meta analytic approach to investigate their chemistry biosynthesis distribution and effect on human health |
| topic | polyphenols proanthocyanidins cluster analysis forest plot ecology hyperglycemia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/8/1229 |
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