Phenolic compounds, widespread in plants, are a necessary part of the human regimen due to their antioxidant and pro-oxidative properties. Naturally, phenolics structurally range from a very simple phenolic molecule moiety to an intricate polymer. For decades, phenolic compounds have gained pronounced attention because of their protective effects against degenerative disorders such as inflammation, diabetes and cancer. Physico-chemical properties (eg, solubility) restricted their bioactivity and also limited their usage as nutraceutical ingredients. However, encapsulation technology like liposomal formulations has been developed for the delivery of phenolic compounds without affecting their original aesthetic and organoleptic property. Hence, this review outlines the antioxidant and pro-oxidative properties of phenolic compounds and focuses on biological activity reports of flavonoids and phenolic acids as antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents. Also, the delivery applications of phenolic compounds as liposomes are discussed with few examples.

中文翻译：

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酚类化合物作为抗糖尿病、抗炎和抗癌剂以及通过脂质体提高其生物利用度

酚类化合物广泛存在于植物中，由于其抗氧化和促氧化特性，是人类养生法的必要组成部分。自然地，酚醛树脂的结构范围从非常简单的酚类分子部分到复杂的聚合物。几十年来，酚类化合物因其对炎症、糖尿病和癌症等退行性疾病的保护作用而备受关注。物理化学特性（例如，溶解度）限制了它们的生物活性，也限制了它们作为营养成分的使用。然而，像脂质体制剂这样的封装技术已被开发用于传递酚类化合物，而不会影响其原有的美学和感官特性。因此，本综述概述了酚类化合物的抗氧化和促氧化特性，并重点介绍了类黄酮和酚酸作为抗糖尿病、抗炎和抗癌剂的生物活性报告。此外，还用几个例子讨论了酚类化合物作为脂质体的递送应用。