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Cancer is a severe public health problem. Resveratrol is a famous natural compound that has various bioactivities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and antiaging activities. Especially, resveratrol could prevent and treat various cancers, such as oral, thyroid, breast, lung, liver, pancreatic, gastric, colorectal, bladder, prostate and ovarian cancers. The underlying mechanisms have been widely studied, such as inhibiting cell proliferation, suppressing metastasis, inducing apoptosis, stimulating autophagy, modulating immune system, attenuating inflammation, regulating gut microbiota and enhancing effects of other anticancer drugs. In this review, we summarize effects and mechanisms of resveratrol on different cancers. This paper is helpful to develop resveratrol, crude extract containing resveratrol, or foods containing resveratrol into functional food, dietary supplements or auxiliary agents for prevention and management of cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary intake of caffeine has significantly increased in recent years, and beneficial and harmful effects of caffeine have been extensively studied. This paper reviews antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of caffeine as well as its protective effects on cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes mellitus, cancers, and neurodegenerative and liver diseases. In addition, we summarize the side effects of long-term or excessive caffeine consumption on sleep, migraine, intraocular pressure, pregnant women, children, and adolescents. The health benefits of caffeine depend on the amount of caffeine intake and the physical condition of consumers. Moderate intake of caffeine helps to prevent and modulate several diseases. However, the long-term or over-consumption of caffeine can lead to addiction, insomnia, migraine, and other side effects. In addition, children, adolescents, pregnant women, and people who are sensitive to caffeine should be recommended to restrict/reduce their intake to avoid potential adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases have attracted global attention with an overwhelming burden on families and society. Tea contains many bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols and theanine, which could contribute to the neuroprotective effects of tea. The possible mechanisms of action include regulating signaling pathways and gut microbiota; inhibiting abnormal protein aggregation; normalizing the hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of tea for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and depression. In this narrative revie w, the effects of tea on these diseases were summarized, and special attention was paid to the mechanisms of action. Abbreviations: AChE, acetylcholinesterase; ACTH, adrenocorticotropin; AKT, serine-threonine protein kinase; BChE, butyrylcholinesterase; BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor; CI, confidence interval; COX-2, cyclooxygenase-2; CRH, corticotrophin-releasing hormone; CREB, cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein; EC, epicatechin; ECG, epicatechin-3-gallate; EGC, epigallocatechin; EGCG, epigallocatechin gallate; ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; GABA, gamma-aminobutyric acid; GSK-3β, glycogen synthase kinase-3β; HPA, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal; HR, hazard ratio; IL, interleukin; MAOB, monoamine oxidase B; MPTP, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; NFκB, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells; Nrf2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2; NOS, nitric oxide species; OR, odds ratio; PGC-1α; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α; PI3K, phosphoinositide 3-kinase; PKC, protein kinase C; ROS, reactive oxygen species; RR, risk ratio; TLR4, Toll-like receptor 4; TNF-α; umor necrosis factor alpha; 6-OHDA, 6-hydroxydopamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet tea (Lithocarpus polystachyus Rehd.) has been consumed as herbal tea to prevent and manage diabetes for a long time. Recent studies indicate that sweet tea is rich in a variety of bioactive compounds, especially a class of nonclassical flavonoids, dihydrochalcones. In order to provide a better understanding of sweet tea and its main dihydrochalcones on human health, this review mainly summarizes related literature in the recent ten years, with the potential molecular mechanisms emphatically discussed. Phlorizin, phloretin, and trilobatin, three natural sweeteners, are the main dihydrochalcones in sweet tea. In addition, sweet tea and its dihydrochalcones exhibit plenty of health benefits, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, and anticancer effects, which are associated with the regulation of different molecular targets and signaling pathways. Therefore, sweet tea, as a rare natural source of dihydrochalcones, can be processed and developed into nutraceuticals or functional foods, with the potential application in the prevention and management of certain chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, obesity has become a global public health issue. It is closely associated with the occurrence of several chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Some edible and medicinal plants show anti-obesity activity, such as fruits, vegetables, spices, legumes, edible flowers, mushrooms, and medicinal plants. Numerous studies have indicated that these plants are potential candidates for the prevention and management of obesity. The major anti-obesity mechanisms of plants include suppressing appetite, reducing the absorption of lipids and carbohydrates, inhibiting adipogenesis and lipogenesis, regulating lipid metabolism, increasing energy expenditure, regulating gut microbiota, and improving obesity-related inflammation. In this review, the anti-obesity activity of edible and medicinal plants was summarized based on epidemiological, experimental, and clinical studies, with related mechanisms discussed, which provided the basis for the research and development of slimming products. Further studies should focus on the exploration of safer plants with anti-obesity activity and the identification of specific anti-obesity mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]