Hormesis and health: molecular mechanisms and the key role of polyphenols
Hormesis is a fundamental adaptive mechanism in response to moderate stress stimuli. This phenomenon underlies many preventive and therapeutic strategies, particularly in the context of chronic-degenerative diseases. The aim of the current article is to analyze the main molecular pathways involved i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Food Chemistry Advances |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772753X25001467 |
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| author | Pasquale Perrone Stefania D’Angelo |
| author_facet | Pasquale Perrone Stefania D’Angelo |
| author_sort | Pasquale Perrone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hormesis is a fundamental adaptive mechanism in response to moderate stress stimuli. This phenomenon underlies many preventive and therapeutic strategies, particularly in the context of chronic-degenerative diseases. The aim of the current article is to analyze the main molecular pathways involved in hormetic processes, and their roles in promoting longevity, cellular resilience, and protection against harmful agents. Among the substances capable of triggering hormetic responses, polyphenols, bioactive compounds found in many plant-based foods, play a prominent role. Although polyphenols have relatively modest direct antioxidant activity, they are powerful inducers of hormetic responses. They act as low-dose xenobiotics, capable of stimulating endogenous cellular defense mechanisms. This dual nature, potentially toxic at high doses but beneficial at low concentrations, grants polyphenols a central role in modulating oxidative stress and inflammation. This review offers a novel perspective by integrating molecular, nutritional, and systemic dimensions of polyphenol-induced hormesis, with particular emphasis on the dynamic crosstalk between cellular stress responses and microbiota-derived signals. This manuscript highlights underappreciated mechanisms and proposes a more interconnected framework for understanding the health effects of polyphenols. In conclusion, polyphenol-induced hormesis appears as an innovative and promising paradigm for health promotion and the prevention of age-related diseases. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-aced3a62751a498384fd03bbfe767f69 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2772-753X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Food Chemistry Advances |
| spelling | doaj-art-aced3a62751a498384fd03bbfe767f692025-08-20T03:45:10ZengElsevierFood Chemistry Advances2772-753X2025-06-01710103010.1016/j.focha.2025.101030Hormesis and health: molecular mechanisms and the key role of polyphenolsPasquale Perrone0Stefania D’Angelo1Department of Medical, Movement, and Wellbeing Sciences, Parthenope University of Naples, 80133 Naples, ItalyCorresponding author.; Department of Medical, Movement, and Wellbeing Sciences, Parthenope University of Naples, 80133 Naples, ItalyHormesis is a fundamental adaptive mechanism in response to moderate stress stimuli. This phenomenon underlies many preventive and therapeutic strategies, particularly in the context of chronic-degenerative diseases. The aim of the current article is to analyze the main molecular pathways involved in hormetic processes, and their roles in promoting longevity, cellular resilience, and protection against harmful agents. Among the substances capable of triggering hormetic responses, polyphenols, bioactive compounds found in many plant-based foods, play a prominent role. Although polyphenols have relatively modest direct antioxidant activity, they are powerful inducers of hormetic responses. They act as low-dose xenobiotics, capable of stimulating endogenous cellular defense mechanisms. This dual nature, potentially toxic at high doses but beneficial at low concentrations, grants polyphenols a central role in modulating oxidative stress and inflammation. This review offers a novel perspective by integrating molecular, nutritional, and systemic dimensions of polyphenol-induced hormesis, with particular emphasis on the dynamic crosstalk between cellular stress responses and microbiota-derived signals. This manuscript highlights underappreciated mechanisms and proposes a more interconnected framework for understanding the health effects of polyphenols. In conclusion, polyphenol-induced hormesis appears as an innovative and promising paradigm for health promotion and the prevention of age-related diseases.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772753X25001467Defense mechanismHormesisOxidative stressPlant-derived foodPolyphenols |
| spellingShingle | Pasquale Perrone Stefania D’Angelo Hormesis and health: molecular mechanisms and the key role of polyphenols Food Chemistry Advances Defense mechanism Hormesis Oxidative stress Plant-derived food Polyphenols |
| title | Hormesis and health: molecular mechanisms and the key role of polyphenols |
| title_full | Hormesis and health: molecular mechanisms and the key role of polyphenols |
| title_fullStr | Hormesis and health: molecular mechanisms and the key role of polyphenols |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hormesis and health: molecular mechanisms and the key role of polyphenols |
| title_short | Hormesis and health: molecular mechanisms and the key role of polyphenols |
| title_sort | hormesis and health molecular mechanisms and the key role of polyphenols |
| topic | Defense mechanism Hormesis Oxidative stress Plant-derived food Polyphenols |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772753X25001467 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pasqualeperrone hormesisandhealthmolecularmechanismsandthekeyroleofpolyphenols AT stefaniadangelo hormesisandhealthmolecularmechanismsandthekeyroleofpolyphenols |