ABOUT THE HISTORY RESEARCH OF POLYPHENOLIC COMPOUNDS

From immemorial times the use of medicinal plants in therapy was an increasing concern for mankind. Phenolic compounds represent a category of active ingredients common in plants. The name "Polyphenol" comes from the Greek word "polus" which means "many" and the word "phenol" refers to the chemical structure made of a nucleus to which are attached more hydroxyl groups. The study of the effect of these compounds on the level of living systems, presents a special scientific interest. through the ages it has been established that these compounds have many effects on living systems, such as: antioxidant, immunostimulating, antimutagen, antibacterial, bioregulator. For example, In traditional Ayurvedic medicine the pomegranate, because of its polyphenolic compounds that it contains, was largely used as a source of antioxidants. Moreover, polyphenols possess antioxidant properties and they have several other biological actions that are still little understood. The identification in the treatise literature of data regarding the history of usage of Polyphenolic compounds in therapy, as well as the wide scope, could bring significant clarification about the possibility of using them in various fields.