scholarly journals Dietary Isoflavones: Biological Effects and Relevance to Human Health

1999 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 758S-767S ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth D. R. Setchell ◽  
Aedin Cassidy
Author(s):  
Beatrice Campanella ◽  
Laura Colombaioni ◽  
Edoardo Benedetti ◽  
Agostino Di Ciaula ◽  
Lisa Ghezzi ◽  
...  

A mini review of the toxicity of Thallium (Tl) at low doses is herein presented. Thallium has severe toxicity. Although its acute biological effects have been widely investigated and are well known, its biological effects on human health and in cell cultures at low doses (<100 μg/L) due, for example, to Tl chronic exposure via consumption of contaminated water or foods, have often been overlooked or underestimated. Relatively few papers have been published on this topic and are herein reviewed to provide a focused scientific opinion in the light of current worldwide regulatory issues.


Author(s):  
Perran A. Ross ◽  
Neda Nematollahi ◽  
Anne Steinemann ◽  
Spas D. Kolev ◽  
Ary A. Hoffmann

Abstract Common fragranced consumer products, such as cleaning supplies and personal care products, emit chiral compounds such as limonene that have been associated with adverse effects on human health. However, those same compounds abound in nature, and at similar concentrations as in products, but without the same apparent adverse human health effects. We investigated whether different types of limonene may elicit different biological effects. In this study, we investigated the mortality rate of mosquito larvae in response to changes in their environment. Specifically, we tested different sources of naturally occurring R-limonene and chemically synthetized limonene, containing one of its enantiomeric forms (R-, S-) in mortality bioassays with Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae. We found that a natural source of limonene extracted from oranges induced lower mortality of mosquito larvae compared to synthetic sources at the same concentration. However, enantiomeric forms did not differ in their effects on mortality. Our results provide novel evidence that natural sources of a chemical can cause lower rates of mortality than synthetic sources.


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-70
Author(s):  
Miodrag Šmelcerović

The environment we live in is exposed to the increasing and increasing frequency of electromagnetic radiation in our homes and workplaces. In addition to natural radiation from the sun, radiation sources such as high-voltage transmission lines and powerful radar devices are sources of strong electric and magnetic fields. Increasing the number of portable communication and entertainment devices also increase the human body's exposure to additional electromagnetic radiation. This paper describes the most common effects of low-frequency non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (ELFs), which can cause biological changes, sometimes negative for human health. Different methods and approaches are used to investigate the effect of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields on biological systems. In vitro cell culture studies provide important insights into the underlying mechanisms of biological effects of low radiation levels. It is often not possible to deduce the functional response of a human organism to a particular biological effect. In vivo animal and human studies provide more convincing evidence of possible adverse health effects. There is a problem with the extrapolation of the results obtained from animal experiments to humans. Epidemiological studies provide the most direct information on the risk of adverse effects in humans. However, it is difficult to find good control groups that in all aspects (gender, similar life habits, etc.) fit the exposed groups. Care should be taken in interpreting the results of epidemiological studies, especially if low risk is found, as this may be due to other factors. Epidemiological studies are important for monitoring the impact of new technologies on human health [1].


Author(s):  
Christopher L. J. Frid ◽  
Bryony A. Caswell

To determine whether or not a contaminant has the potential to become a pollutant, its biological effects must first be established. The scientific discipline of toxicology considers the measurement of toxins, their mechanisms and the effects they have on the environment, its inhabitants and on human health. This chapter describes how contaminants behave in marine environments, how organisms are exposed to them and how they respond at the molecular, individual, population and ecosystem levels. Marine organisms exhibit a range of different responses and detoxification mechanisms that are used as the basis of approaches for measuring toxicity. The complex interactions of pollutants in the environment, their interactions with other toxicants and the large natural variability in toxic effects between species and individuals make this challenging. However, in order to regulate the production and discharge of pollutants it is critical that the impacts on ecosystems and ecosystem services are understood.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 270-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanti Bhooshan Pandey ◽  
Syed Ibrahim Rizvi

Polyphenols are secondary metabolites of plants and are generally involved in defense against ultraviolet radiation or aggression by pathogens. In the last decade, there has been much interest in the potential health benefits of dietary plant polyphenols as antioxidant. Epidemiological studies and associated meta-analyses strongly suggest that long term consumption of diets rich in plant polyphenols offer protection against development of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative diseases. Here we present knowledge about the biological effects of plant polyphenols in the context of relevance to human health.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 2991
Author(s):  
Rosaria Acquaviva ◽  
Giuseppe Antonio Malfa ◽  
Claudia Di Giacomo

The Special Issue, “Plant-Based Bioactive Molecules in Improving Health and Preventing Life-style Diseases”, includes original research papers and reviews, which aim to increase knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying multiple biological effects of natural compounds from plants, responsible for maintaining human health and improving many diseases caused by people’s daily lifestyles [...]


2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (3) ◽  
pp. 739-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vyacheslav M. Labunskyy ◽  
Dolph L. Hatfield ◽  
Vadim N. Gladyshev

Selenium is an essential micronutrient with important functions in human health and relevance to several pathophysiological conditions. The biological effects of selenium are largely mediated by selenium-containing proteins (selenoproteins) that are present in all three domains of life. Although selenoproteins represent diverse molecular pathways and biological functions, all these proteins contain at least one selenocysteine (Sec), a selenium-containing amino acid, and most serve oxidoreductase functions. Sec is cotranslationally inserted into nascent polypeptide chains in response to the UGA codon, whose normal function is to terminate translation. To decode UGA as Sec, organisms evolved the Sec insertion machinery that allows incorporation of this amino acid at specific UGA codons in a process requiring a cis-acting Sec insertion sequence (SECIS) element. Although the basic mechanisms of Sec synthesis and insertion into proteins in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes have been studied in great detail, the identity and functions of many selenoproteins remain largely unknown. In the last decade, there has been significant progress in characterizing selenoproteins and selenoproteomes and understanding their physiological functions. We discuss current knowledge about how these unique proteins perform their functions at the molecular level and highlight new insights into the roles that selenoproteins play in human health.


Author(s):  
M. Deepa ◽  
A.V. Kavya Sree ◽  
Ch. Ascharya ◽  
A. Madhu Bindu ◽  
S. Bhuvaneswari ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 460-467
Author(s):  
V. N. Rakitskii ◽  
T. A. Synitskaya ◽  
Sergeii V. Skupnevskii

The review summarizes the results of studying the problem of environmental mercury pollution and associated risks to public health. Toxicological and hygienic studies include an analysis of the main sources of heavy metal emissions, ways of their distribution in the environment and biological effects on humans. The basis of anthropogenic pollution was shown to include the following: artisanal mining, coal burning and non-ferrous metal production. Out of the places of emissions metal is distributed with atmospheric air over long distances, as evidenced by the results of monitoring studies conducted in the Arctic and Antarctica. Pollution of water is extremely dangerous for human health, since it is proven that the main source of mercury intake is associated with the consumption of fish and seafood. In the soil horizon the toxicant is localized mainly in arable layers but in places where mercury-containing waste is stored, the metal can migrate to a depth of 18 m or more. Analysis of the mechanisms of adsorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion allows concluding: the greatest threat to health are metal-organic forms (methyl-and dimethyl-mercury), which is associated with the high lipophilicity of these compounds. On the example of Minamata disease there is given a description of the characteristic signs of mercury intoxication among which the Central nervous system is the leading one. There are presented the results of the research of biological effects of low metal concentrations and modern means of preventing negative impact on human health. Contact of the General population in production and everyday life determines the necessity for a comprehensive study and coverage of the effects associated with exposure of toxic mercury compounds.


Author(s):  
Zs. Veres ◽  
I. J. Holb ◽  
I. J. Nyéki ◽  
Z. Szabó ◽  
J. Remenyik ◽  
...  

Evidence suggests that a diet with high fruit and vegetable consumption may decrease the risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer, and phytochemicals including phenolics, flavonoids and carotenoids from fruits and vegetables may play a key role in reducing chronic disease risk. Recent research has proved that sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) is a valuable natural source of some bioactive compounds important in human health preservation. According to the published data, the most important biological effects of sour cherry are connected — directly or indirectly — to their endogenous antioxidant behaviour as well as to their specific pattern of anthocyanin components. In the present work, we measured the total antioxidant capacity of some Hungarian sour cherry varieties in combination with their anthocyanin-, and vitamin-C content. In 2003, twelve clones were selected and grafted from a local sour cherry population called "Bosnyák" sour cherry grown in small home gardens and farms of the village Csengod (Great-Plain Region, South Hungary). Other Hungarian sour cherry varieties, i.e. cv. Újfehértói fürtos, cv. Érdi bőterrnő, cv. Debreceni bőterrnő, cv. Csengődi and cv. Kántorjánosi served as a control.


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