Natural Ingredients to Improve Immunity
Gasmi A. Shanaida M. Oleshchuk O. Semenova Y. Mujawdiya P.K. Ivankiv Y. Pokryshko O. Noor S. Piscopo S. Adamiv S. Bjørklund G.
April 2023Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Pharmaceuticals
2023#16Issue 4
The immune system protects the body from infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Once encountered with pathogens or antigens, the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system trigger a strong immune response to eliminate them from the system and protect the body. Thus, well-balanced immunity is pivotal for maintaining human health, as an insufficient level of immune defense leads to infections and tumors. In contrast, the excessive functioning of the immune system causes the development of autoimmune diseases and allergies. Strong immunity requires adequate nutrition, dietary interventions, and sufficient intake of certain vitamins (vitamin C, vitamin D, and folic acid) and minerals (magnesium, zinc, and selenium). Therefore, nutritional and micronutrient deficiencies lead to compromised immunity. Several natural ingredients have shown potent immunomodulatory properties. The immune-enhancing properties of many plants and fungi are due to containing bioactive phytoconstituents such as polyphenols, terpenoids, β-glucans, vitamins, etc. Probiotics and prebiotics can be used as innovative tools to reduce intestinal inflammation and downregulate hypersensitivity reactions. Plant sources of melatonin, a multifunctional molecule with proven anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, have been discovered relatively recently. The bioactive compounds augment the immune response by directly increasing the cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells, macrophages, and neutrophils. Many phytoconstituents prevent cell damage due to their powerful antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The present review attempts to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the immune-enhancing properties of some bioactive compounds from plants, fungi, animals, microorganisms, and other natural sources.
antioxidants , dosages , immunomodulators , medicinal plants , melatonin , minerals , natural bioactive compounds , prebiotics , probiotics , propolis , vitamins
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Société Francophone de Nutrithérapie et de Nutrigénétique Appliquée, Villeurbanne, 69100, France
I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ternopil, 46001, Ukraine
School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, 5/1 Kerey and Zhanibek Khandar Str, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Inochi Care Private Limited, New Delhi, 110017, India
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Multan, 60000, Pakistan
Department of Nutritional Research and Development, Nutri-Logics SA, Luxembourg, 9990, Luxembourg
Department of General Dentistry, Odessa National Medical University, Odessa, 65000, Ukraine
Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, Mo i Rana, 8610, Norway
Société Francophone de Nutrithérapie et de Nutrigénétique Appliquée
I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University
School of Medicine
Inochi Care Private Limited
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Department of Nutritional Research and Development
Department of General Dentistry
Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine
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