Author
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HANDA, AVTAR - Purdue University |
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FATIMA, TAHIRA - Purdue University |
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Mattoo, Autar |
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Submitted to: Frontiers in Chemistry
Publication Type: Review Article Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2018 Publication Date: 2/5/2018 Citation: Handa, A.K., Fatima, T., Mattoo, A.K. 2018. Polyamines: Biomolecules with diverse functions in plant and human health and disease. Frontiers in Chemistry. 6:10. https://doi.org/10.3389/chem.2018.00010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/chem.2018.00010. Interpretive Summary: Polyamines (PAs) are present in all living cells with specific roles in multiple cellular processes, which have impact on the life span of a plant, a fruit and even animals and humans. Our research has established that PAs provide mechanisms by which plants grow faster and the fruits stay longer on and off the vine, using tomato as a model system. PAs also feature prominently in plant responses to different abiotic and biotic stresses and regulate nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) signaling that is beneficial for plant growth. A beneficial role of dietary PA in enhancing the life span of various organisms and human cell lines tightened the connection between ‘wellness diets’ and human health. Our emerging understanding of PA action is opening new vistas not only for plant life but also human health. A research survey based on dietary intake of one of the PAs called Spd, suggested a correlation of Spd levels with reduced blood pressure and a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease, positive features that augment well for the future development of PA-based therapies. In this invited review, we bring together the recent developments in utilizing PAs for plant growth and developing resistance to abiotic stresses such as extreme temperatures and drought, and also the possible necessity to enhance PA metabolism for the benefit of plants, whose intake by healthy consumers may enhance their wellness. The information in this review is valuable to scientists and nutritionists. Technical Abstract: The literature abounds with solid evidence that affirms the ubiquitous presence of biogenic amines - polyamines, particularly spermidine and spermine, in all living cells together with their indispensable roles in many biochemical and physiological processes beneficial to plants as well as human health longevity. Polyamine levels generally decline with aging and this has been associated with a number of human health disorders. Endogenous cellular biosynthesis as well as their procurement and absorption through diet provide the needed levels of polyamines to maintain their homeostasis. Exogenously supplied polyamines increase longevity and reduce some of the age-associated cardiovascular diseases. It is also apparent that under certain disease conditions where cellular proliferation works against the patients, such as in many cancers, polyamine intake needs to be restricted. Therefore, it is essential that polyamine levels in edible plant sources as well as in dietary meats be rigorously quantified and utilized by the experts in making decisions about which foods to consume at what daily dose and shelve others. This would also be helpful in designing both high and low polyamine diets for consumption, particularly where the effects of polyamines are detrimental, for instance, cancer patients. We bring to bear on this important need and collate literature on the variability in the levels of three main polyamines - putrescine, spermidine and spermine - in different edible sources. The data collated are for vegetables, fruits, cereals, nuts, meat, seafood, cheese, milk and eggs. Potential beneficial and detrimental roles of polyamines in human health, including cancer, aging, innate immunity and cognitive impairment during Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases are discussed. Based on our analysis, we sum up the effects of polyamines into two broad, Yang and Yin categories: beneficial for the physiological processes in healthy cells and detrimental under pathological conditions. |
