The influence of polyphenol-rich extracts on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in macrophages

Recent decades have seen a rise in chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, neurodegenerative diseases. Importantly, such chronic inflammatory diseases also increase the risk of cancer development and there is a pressing need to identify new anti-inflammatory drugs. One promising source of new medication are natural polyphenolic compounds and polyphenol-rich preparations, extracts and foods, which have strong antioxidant properties. This paper reviews the anti-inflammatory role of polyphenolic-rich natural extracts, and their ability to modulate crucial pro-inflammatory mediators, such as cyclooxygenase-2, prostaglandin E₂, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nitric oxide, in macrophage cells. Our research confirms that natural compounds have health potential, and could be used in the treatment or prevention of inflammatory diseases.