RESUMO
Ellagic acid (EA) is a bioactive polyphenolic compound naturally occurring as secondary metabolite in many plant taxa. EA content is considerable in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) and in wood and bark of some tree species. Structurally, EA is a dilactone of hexahydroxydiphenic acid (HHDP), a dimeric gallic acid derivative, produced mainly by hydrolysis of ellagitannins, a widely distributed group of secondary metabolites. EA is attracting attention due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antiproliferative properties. EA displayed pharmacological effects in various in vitro and in vivo model systems. Furthermore, EA has also been well documented for its antiallergic, antiatherosclerotic, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and neuroprotective properties. This review reports on the health-promoting effects of EA, along with possible mechanisms of its action in maintaining the health status, by summarizing the literature related to the therapeutic potential of this polyphenolic in the treatment of several human diseases.
Assuntos
Antialérgicos/farmacologia , Anti-Inflamatórios/farmacologia , Antineoplásicos/farmacologia , Ácido Elágico/farmacologia , Taninos Hidrolisáveis/farmacologia , Hipoglicemiantes/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Polifenóis/farmacologia , Substâncias Protetoras/farmacologia , Animais , Antialérgicos/metabolismo , Anti-Inflamatórios/metabolismo , Antineoplásicos/metabolismo , Ácido Elágico/metabolismo , Frutas/química , Frutas/metabolismo , Trato Gastrointestinal/metabolismo , Humanos , Taninos Hidrolisáveis/química , Taninos Hidrolisáveis/metabolismo , Hipoglicemiantes/metabolismo , Fitoterapia/métodos , Extratos Vegetais/metabolismo , Plantas/química , Plantas/metabolismo , Polifenóis/metabolismo , Substâncias Protetoras/metabolismoRESUMO
Arsenic (As) is widely used in the modern industry, especially in the production of pesticides, herbicides, wood preservatives, and semiconductors. The sources of As such as contaminated water, air, soil, but also food, can cause serious human diseases. The complex mechanism of As toxicity in the human body is associated with the generation of free radicals and the induction of oxidative damage in the cell. One effective strategy in reducing the toxic effects of As is the usage of chelating agents, which provide the formation of inert chelator-metal complexes with their further excretion from the body. This review discusses different aspects of the use of metal chelators, alone or in combination, in the treatment of As poisoning. Consideration is given to the therapeutic effect of thiol chelators such as meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid, sodium 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonate, 2,3-dimercaptopropanol, penicillamine, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and other recent agents against As toxicity. The review also considers the possible role of flavonoids, trace elements, and herbal drugs as promising natural chelating and detoxifying agents.