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Planta Med 2016; 82(11/12): 920-929
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-108340
Perspectives
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Metabolic Plant Feedback Hypothesis: How Plant Secondary Metabolites Nonspecifically Impact Human Health[*]

Jürg Gertsch
Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 23 March 2016
revised 24 April 2016

accepted 29 April 2016

Publication Date:
10 June 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Humans can ingest gram amounts of plant secondary metabolites daily through diet. Many of these phytochemicals are bioactive beyond our current understanding because they act through weak negative biological feedback mechanisms, undetectable in vitro. Homeostatic-type assessments shed light on the evolutionary implications of the human diet from plants, giving rise to the metabolic plant feedback hypothesis. The hypothesis states that ancient diets rich in carbohydrates coincide with bulk dietary phytochemicals that act as nonspecific inhibitors of metabolic and inflammatory processes. Consequently, food-derived phytochemicals are likely to be equally effective as herbal medicines for these indications. In addition to the ubiquitous flavonoids, terpenoids, and fatty acids in the diet, the likely impact of chronic chlorophyll ingestion on human health is discussed, and data on its modulation of blood glucose levels are presented. A major deduction of this hypothesis is that starchy diets lacking plant secondary metabolites are associated with multimorbidity (lifestyle diseases) including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. It is proposed that the intake of leafy vegetables, spices, and herbal remedies rich in phytochemicals matches the transition and genetic adaptation to early agriculture, playing a compensatory role in the mismatch of old genes and new diets.

Key words

evolution of diet - glucotoxicity - chlorophyll - paleolithic diet - natural products - diabetes

* Dedicated to Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Kurt Hostettmann in recognition of his outstanding contribution to natural product research.


Supporting Information

 

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