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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Extraction and Purification of Polyphenols from Freeze-dried Berry Powder for the Treatment of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells In Vitro
Published on: July 5, 2017
Polyphenols, intracellular signalling and inflammation
Carmela Santangelo1, Rosaria Varì, Beatrice Scazzocchio
1Centro Nazionale per la Qualità degli Alimenti e per i Rischi Alimentari, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy. c.santan@iss.it
Abstract:
Excessive inflammation is considered as a critical factor in many human diseases, including cancer, obesity, type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and aging. Compounds derived from botanic sources, such as phenolic compounds, have shown anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo. Recent data suggest that polyphenols can work as modifiers of signal transduction pathways to elicit their beneficial effects. These natural compounds express anti-inflammatory activity by modulation of pro-inflammatory gene expression such as cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, nitric oxide synthases and several pivotal cytokines, mainly by acting through nuclear factor-kappa B and mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling. This review will discuss recent data on the control of inflammatory signalling exerted by some dietary polyphenols contained in Mediterranean diet. A clear understanding of the molecular mechanisms of action of phenolic compounds is crucial in the valuation of these potent molecules as potential prophylactic and therapeutic agents.
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