ISSN: 2277-9655 [Aggarwal* et al., 5(12): December, 2016] Impact Factor: 4.116 IC™ Value: 3.00 CODEN: IJESS7 http: // www.ijesrt.com © International Journal of Engineering Sciences & Research Technology [903] IJESRT INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING SCIENCES & RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY POLYPHENOLS: ANTIOXIDANT MAVERICK TO TACKLE NON- COMMUNICABLE DISEASES Shivanki Aggarwal*, Sheel Sharma * Research Scholar, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Banasthali University, Rajasthan, India Professor, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Banasthali University, Rajasthan, India DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.221121 ABSTRACT In recent years, healthy diet is gaining increased importance in the face of rampant Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) scenario India is reverberating with. Polyphenols, forming largest category of phytochemicals, are gaining unprecedented interest as ‘life span essentials’ in scientific settings. They are ubiquitous plant secondary metabolites, structurally diversified group ranging from simple phenols i.e. phenolic acids to complex phenols i.e. condensed tannins. Their antioxidant mechanisms: both direct (free radical scavenging, metal chelation) and indirect (cell signal modulation, phytochemical hormetic pathways) have been well-corroborated to attenuate oxidative stress and eventually culminates in health promotion and decreased incidence of NCDs. In this line, recommended dietary allowance has not been set precisely yet and in general, calls for increased frequency of their consumption from varied plant sources (fruits, vegetables, whole cereals, pulses, nuts) on a long term basis to reap its benefits. KEYWORDS: polyphenols, antioxidants, non-communicable diseases INTRODUCTION BURDEN OF NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES (NCDS) IN INDIA NCDs in India have become a big scourge by accounting for more disability-adjusted life years (DALY) (Bloom et al, 2014), and 53% deaths in India originating from cardiovascular diseases (24%), chronic respiratory diseases (11%), cancer (6%), diabetes (2%) (Sharma K, 2013). A report ‘Global Burden of Cancer-2013’ covering 28 cancer groups of 188 countries from 1990-2013 cited that global mortality rate from NCDs (57% in 1990 to 70% in 2013) has outstripped chorus of communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases (34% in 1990 to 22% in 2013); and those originating from cancer increased from 12% in 1990 to 15% in 2013, with abrupt hike to 60% in Indian scenario and new cancer cases almost doubled during the period (Fitzmaurice et al, 2015). In 2005, India witnessed the “highest loss in potentially productive years of life” worldwide, leading killer being reported as cardiovascular disease (Chakma and Gupta, 2014). This scenario indicates multi-pronged etiology i.e. increased sedentary lifestyle, increased shift towards processed foods, high-calorie diet, and decreased consumption of coarse cereals, fruits and vegetables which thereof calls for the urgent action needed to be taken on therapeutic modifications viz. increased consumption of coarse grains, inclusion of dietary fibre, decreased and judicious selection of processed foods, as a prudent adjunct with structured physical activity. OXIDATIVE STRESS - A COMMON DENOMINATOR IN PATHOGENESIS OF NCDS Oxidative stress is defined as ‘prooxidant -antioxidant imbalance in favour of the former, leading to potential biomolecular damage afflicted by free radicals i.e. Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species {RONS- ROS (O2 ∙- , H202, OH ∙ , RO ∙ , ROO ∙ ); RNS (NO ∙ , NO2, ONOO - }, and disruption of redox signalling and control’ (Sies H, 1991; Halliwell B, 2007; Jones DP, 2006). Operational concepts in the definition entail prooxidant-antioxidant imbalance which decodes that RONS, at low and steady concentrations exquisitely controlled by body antioxidants, are cardinal for normal physiological functioning i.e. immunity, muscular contraction, nerve transmission, gene expression, reproduction, apoptosis and so forth, and that oxidative stress results due to high, toxic levels of RONS supplied either by environmental stressors or emasculated antioxidant systems (Rahal et al, 2014); biomolecular damage involving a) Lipid peroxidation of cell membranes through formation of peroxyl