Phthalate-induced Toxicity and its Mitigation by Natural Plant Products

Abstract: Phthalates are common synthetic chemicals in various industrial and consumer products, including plastics, personal care products, and medical equipment. They are dangerous even at extremely low concentrations during the crucial stages of life, such as pregnancy, infancy, early childhood, and adolescence. In recent years, there has been increased interest in looking into natural plant components as potential phthalate toxicity mitigators. Phthalates have been related to a number of health problems, including endocrine disruption, reproductive and developmental disorders, and carcinogenicity. As a result, effective ways to decrease phthalate exposure and attenuate its negative effects are required. Natural plant products have shown the potential to reduce phthalate toxicity via various methods. These methods include antioxidant and anti- inflammatory properties, detoxifying enzyme regulation, and competition for phthalate binding sites. Certain plant-derived chemicals, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenes, and alkaloids, have been shown to interact with phthalates and potentially limit their absorption, distribution, and metabolism inside the body. This review highlights the effects of several naturally occurring plant products, such as apigenin, taxifolin, vitamin C, and many more, on the toxicity of phthalates. Natural products use nowadays is increasing due to their non-toxic nature, so in the future, more focus should be in favor of increasing the use of these natural products that we obtained from plants.