Matic Ivana, Guidi Arianna, Kenzo Maurice, Mattei Maurizio, Galgani Andrea
Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.
Centro di Servizi Interdipartimentale, Stazione per la Tecnologia Animale, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy.
J Public Health Afr. 2018 Dec 21;9(3):841. doi: 10.4081/jphia.2018.841.
Diet and nutrition are important factors in the promotion and maintenance of good health throughout the entire life course. A plant-based diet may be able to prevent and treat chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension, obesity, chronic inflammation and cancer. Phytonutrient rich foods are found in traditional African diet which is mostly vegetarian, and most of these food plants are often used for medicinal purposes. This review focuses on a peculiar plant , called the "Miracle Tree", considered to be one of nature's healthiest and most nutritious foods. Countless studies describe the benefits of leaves, pods, seeds and flowers. Its well-documented role in prevention and treatment of chronic diseases is hypothesized here as a result of possible of cross-kingdom regulation by exogenous vegetal microRNAs and synergistic action of plant bioactive components on endogenous human microRNA regulation. The potential health impact of phytocomplexes from African dietary plants within the context of cross-kingdom and endogenous microRNA regulation on health improvement and the overall economic well-being of the continent is estimated to be enormous.
饮食和营养是在整个生命历程中促进和维持健康的重要因素。以植物为基础的饮食或许能够预防和治疗诸如糖尿病、心脏病、高血压、肥胖症、慢性炎症和癌症等慢性疾病。富含植物营养素的食物存在于以素食为主的传统非洲饮食中，并且这些食用植物中的大多数常被用于药用。本综述聚焦于一种特殊的植物，即所谓的“奇迹树”，它被认为是自然界中最健康、营养最丰富的食物之一。无数研究描述了其叶子、豆荚、种子和花朵的益处。由于外源性植物微小RNA可能存在的跨界调控以及植物生物活性成分对内源性人类微小RNA调控的协同作用，在此推测其在预防和治疗慢性疾病方面有充分记录的作用。非洲食用植物中的植物复合物在跨界和内源性微小RNA调控对健康改善及该大陆整体经济福祉的背景下，其潜在的健康影响估计是巨大的。
