Natural Dibenzo-α-Pyrones: Friends or Foes?
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Date
2021-12-01
Publication Type
Review Article
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yes
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Abstract
Natural dibenzo-α-pyrones (DAPs) can be viewed from two opposite angles. From one angle, the gastrointestinal metabolites urolithins are regarded as beneficial, while from the other, the emerging mycotoxin alternariol and related fungal metabolites are evaluated critically with re-gards to potential hazardous effects. Thus, the important question is: can the structural characteris-tics of DAP subgroups be held responsible for distinct bioactivity patterns? If not, certain toxicolog-ical and/or pharmacological aspects of natural DAPs might yet await elucidation. Thus, this review focuses on comparing published data on the two groups of natural DAPs regarding both adverse and beneficial effects on human health. Literature on genotoxic, estrogenic, endocrine-disruptive effects, as well as on the induction of the cellular anti-oxidative defense system, anti-inflammatory properties, the inhibition of kinases, the activation of mitophagy and the induction of autophagy, is gathered and critically reviewed. Indeed, comparing published data suggests similar bioactivity profiles of alternariol and urolithin A. Thus, the current stratification into hazardous Alternaria toxins and healthy urolithins seems debatable. An extrapolation of bioactivities to the other DAP sub-class could serve as a promising base for further research. Conclusively, urolithins should be further evaluated toward high-dose toxicity, while alternariol derivatives could be promising chemicals for the development of therapeutics.
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published
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Journal / series
Volume
22 (23)
Pages / Article No.
13063
Publisher
MDPI
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Subject
functional nutrition; emerging contaminants; urolithins; mycotoxins; chemoprevention; neuroprotection; DNA damage; estrogenicity; microbiome; bioactives
Organisational unit
03853 - Sturla, Shana / Sturla, Shana