Phytochemicals in modulation of immune response

Fitokemikalije su sekundarni biljni metaboliti koji imaju povoljan učinak na zdravlje, a nisu esencijalni nutrijenti. Cilj ovog rada bio je analizirati znanstvene publikacije u kojima je istraživano djelovanje nekoliko skupina fitokemikalija (polifenolnih spojeva (flavonoida i kurkumina), karotenoida (likopena i β-karotena), tokoferola, glukozinolata (sulforafana i indol-3-karbinola), alicina i fitoestrogena) na imunosni odgovor. Studije su pokazale da fitokemikalije štite organizam od štetnog djelovanja slobodnih radikala te utječu na stanice imunosnog sustava tako da mjenjaju omjere T-limfocita i B-limfocita te njihovih subopopulacija. Povećavaju proliferaciju limfocita, izlučivanje citokina i protutijela, NK (engl. Natural killer) stanica te povećavaju funkcije fagocita. Također, pokazalo se da fitokemikalije utječu na prevenciju kardiovaskularnih bolesti, dijabetesa i karcinoma putem različitih mehanizama djelovanja koji su također analizirani u radu.Phytochemicals are non-nutritive plant chemicals that have protective or disease preventive properties, but are not essential nutrients. Most phytochemicals have antioxidant activity and protect our body from certain diseases. The aim of this final work was to review the scientific publications which studied the effect of several groups of phytochemicals on the immune response. The papers reviewed are related to the effect of most common immunomodulators such as polyphenolic compounds (flavonoids and curcumin), carotenoids (lycopene and β-carotene), tocopherols, glucosinolates (sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol), allicin and phytoestrogens on the human body. It was shown that phytochemicals have an impact on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer through different mechanisms of action, which are also reviewed in this work