Chlorophylls and Polyphenols: Non-Enzymatic Regulation of the Production and Removal of Reactive Oxygen Species, as a Way of Regulating Abiotic Stress in Plants

Chlorophylls, which are associated with carotenoids and photosynthetic protein complexes, acquire optical properties that enable the absorption of sunlight, necessary for the synthesis of energy and redox equivalents, necessary for photosynthetic absorption of CO2 and the production of oxygen as an intermediate product. These processes are important for plants, but also for the biosphere. In stressful situations, when photosynthesis is limited, the production of reactive oxygen and other species increases, and the activation of various protective systems is necessary to remove the aforementioned reactive species or reduce the excessive reduction in photosynthetic electron transport, as the cause of the production of the reactive species. A review of studies where the content and physiological state of chlorophyll are monitored, using destructive and non-destructive methods, such as various optical methods for monitoring its content and physiological activity, is given. Polyphenolic compounds belong to non-enzymatic systems for quenching the reactive species. In addition to their presence in monomeric and oligomeric forms of polyphenols, polymerization of this type of compound can occur. In addition to having a protective effect on the plants that synthesize them, polyphenolic compounds also have a beneficial effect on the health of animals and humans who consume them from plants.