Plant polyphenolic compounds: flavonoids and hormesis
Salvatore Chirumbolo is studying the role of natural phytochemicals (polyphenolic compunds derived from edible plants, mainly flavonoids) or from hive (propolis) in allergic inflammation and in immunity. He is considered an expert worldwide and he was recently invited to write two chapters about these topics in two different scientific books. The role of flavonoids, such as quercetin, represents a main issue in the search for a successful therapy for allergy; anyway, the role of flavonoids in inflammation is hindered by several complex mechanisms and regulatory pathways, often very difficult to disentangle (Chirumbolo S. The role of quercetin, flavonols and flavones in modulating inflammatory cell function. Inflamm Allergy Drug Targets. 2010 Sep;9(4):263-85). Many of these compounds perform a bimodal or biphasic behavior (Chirumbolo S, Marzotto M, Conforti A, Vella A, Ortolani R, Bellavite P. Bimodal action of the flavonoid quercetin on basophil function: an investigation of the putative biochemical targets. Clin Mol Allergy. 2010 Sep 17;8:13-25; Chirumbolo S, Conforti A, Ortolani R, Vella A, Marzotto M, Bellavite P. Stimulus-specific regulation of CD63 and CD203c membrane expression in human basophils by the flavonoid quercetin. Int Immunopharmacol. 2010 Feb;10(2):183-92) and might suggest a mechanism related to hormesis (Chirumbolo S. Hormesis, resveratrol and plant-derived polyphenols: some comments. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2011 May 9, in press). In this context Chirumbolo studied also the effect of some purified vitamins on immunity (Schinella M, Nicoli M, Lippi G, Chirumbolo S. Effect of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate on human neutrophil aggregation in vitro. Int J Clin Lab Res. 1995;25(2):99-103; Lippi G, Chirumbolo S, Guidi G. Effect of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate on human neutrophil respiratory burst and adhesion on serum coated microplates. Biomed Pharmacother. 1998;52(4):157-61) and of propolis (Chirumbolo S. Propolis as anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic compounds: Which role for flavonoids? Int Immunopharmacol. 2011 Apr 8, in press), in the field of interest concerning human nutrition.