Admissions Open
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Journal is one of the extremely important and widely circulated journals of Bentham Science Publishers. The current thematic issue has been focused on the role of Phenols and Polyphenols on human health. Phenolic and polyphenolic derivatives constitute an interesting class of synthetic as well as natural organic compounds that possess miraculous antioxidant properties as such because of their ability to quench or reduce the free radicals which are generated due to pro-oxidant-induced oxidative stress which, in turn, accelerate numerous associated chronic diseases. Additionally, these compounds also act as antibiotics and posses a wide range of biological activity such as anti-cancer, anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, antifungal, anti-septic anti-diarrheal, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory activities etc. In spite of great importance, these compounds also exhibit adverse effects on diverse biological systems particularly when taken in a larger amount. For example, several flavonoid derivatives inhibit thyroid peroxidase (an enzyme) and thus interfere the biosynthesis of thyroid hormone and ultimately thyroid function. Tannins, one of the major polyphenol in foodstuff, when consumed in large amount can lead to formation of tannin-protein complexes, a group of indigestible complexes, inhibit digestive enzymes and affect the utilization of vitamins and minerals. Among bisphenols, bisphenol A (BPA) is frequently used to make a hard, clear plastic known as polycarbonate, which has been used in many consumer products including water bottles, baby bottles, metal-based food and beverage cans etc. FDA also recognized some substantial uncertainties regarding their potential implications for human health effects. A number of reports have shown their toxicity behavior and disclosed the detrimental face of this class of compounds. Therefore, efforts have been made to explore the importance of phenolic compounds in human life and some considerable facts associated to human health through various articles contributed by diverse range of authors. Here is the brief summary of the six contributed articles: