Service of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology Unit, Patras University Medical School, Patras, Greece.
Curr Pharm Des. 2019;25(16):1828-1846. doi: 10.2174/1381612825666190701165821.
Natural compounds with potential antioxidant properties have been used in the form of food supplements or extracts with the intent to prevent or treat various diseases. Many of these compounds can activate the cytoprotective Nrf2 pathway. Besides, some of them are known to impact the thyroid gland, often with potential side-effects, but in other instances, with potential utility in the treatment of thyroid disorders.
In view of recent data regarding the multiple roles of Nrf2 in the thyroid, this review summarizes the current bibliography on natural compounds that can have an effect on thyroid gland physiology and pathophysiology, and it discusses the potential implication of the Nrf2 system in the respective mechanisms.
METHODS & RESULTS: Literature searches for articles from 1950 to 2018 were performed in PubMed and Google Scholar using relevant keywords about phytochemicals, Nrf2 and thyroid. Natural substances were categorized into phenolic compounds, sulfur-containing compounds, quinones, terpenoids, or under the general category of plant extracts. For individual compounds in each category, respective data were summarized, as derived from in vitro (cell lines), preclinical (animal models) and clinical studies. The main emerging themes were as follows: phenolic compounds often showed potential to affect the production of thyroid hormones; sulfur-containing compounds impacted the pathogenesis of goiter and the proliferation of thyroid cancer cells; while quinones and terpenoids modified Nrf2 signaling in thyroid cell lines.
Natural compounds that modify the activity of the Nrf2 pathway should be evaluated carefully, not only for their potential to be used as therapeutic agents for thyroid disorders, but also for their thyroidal safety when used for the prevention and treatment of non-thyroidal diseases.
具有潜在抗氧化特性的天然化合物已被制成膳食补充剂或提取物形式，用于预防或治疗各种疾病。这些化合物中的许多可以激活细胞保护 Nrf2 途径。此外，其中一些已知会影响甲状腺，通常会产生潜在的副作用，但在其他情况下，它们可能对甲状腺疾病的治疗有用。
鉴于 Nrf2 在甲状腺中的多种作用的最新数据，本综述总结了目前关于天然化合物的文献，这些化合物可以影响甲状腺的生理学和病理生理学，并讨论了 Nrf2 系统在各自机制中的潜在意义。
在 PubMed 和 Google Scholar 中使用与植物化学物质、Nrf2 和甲状腺相关的关键词进行了 1950 年至 2018 年的文献检索。天然物质被分为酚类化合物、含硫化合物、醌类化合物、萜类化合物或植物提取物的一般类别。对于每个类别中的单个化合物，根据体外（细胞系）、临床前（动物模型）和临床研究，总结了各自的数据。主要的新兴主题如下：酚类化合物通常显示出影响甲状腺激素产生的潜力；含硫化合物影响甲状腺肿的发病机制和甲状腺癌细胞的增殖；而醌类化合物和萜类化合物改变了甲状腺细胞系中的 Nrf2 信号。
应仔细评估那些能够调节 Nrf2 通路活性的天然化合物，不仅要评估它们作为治疗甲状腺疾病的潜在药物的作用，还要评估它们在用于预防和治疗非甲状腺疾病时的甲状腺安全性。
