Understanding One of the Most Important Areas of Modern Biology
The Science
Enzymes are among the body's most important biological regulators. They control thousands of chemical reactions that influence inflammation, immune function, metabolism, cellular energy production, neurological function and tissue repair. Virtually every biological process depends upon enzymes working in careful balance.
As we age, however, some enzymes become increasingly active. Rather than supporting normal physiology, they can begin contributing to biological processes associated with ageing. This is why enzyme inhibition has become one of the defining strategies of modern biomedical research. Many of today's most successful medicines work by selectively blocking enzymes involved in disease.
Nutrition offers a different opportunity. Rather than targeting one enzyme with one molecule, diverse plant phytochemicals have the potential to influence numerous biological pathways simultaneously. This systems biology perspective more closely reflects the complexity of human health and the remarkable diversity found within the Mediterranean Diet.
The DailyColours Discovery
DailyColours was specifically designed to investigate whether a diverse combination of Mediterranean phytochemicals could influence multiple enzyme systems rather than a single biological target.
Our discovery research evaluated enzymes involved in inflammation, immune regulation, cellular metabolism and neurological health. The results demonstrated strong inhibitory activity across a broad panel of biologically important enzymes, including CD38, CD39, CD73, BACE1, CDK5 and Cathepsin S. In several studies, DailyColours produced greater inhibition than established pharmaceutical comparator compounds used as laboratory controls.
Although each enzyme performs a different biological role, together these findings revealed something much more significant than any individual result. They demonstrated that the diverse phytochemicals within DailyColours consistently influenced numerous biological pathways simultaneously rather than concentrating on a single mechanism of action.
One of these discoveries—significant inhibition of CD38—was subsequently confirmed in an independent placebo-controlled human clinical study at King's College London, providing important human validation of the broader discovery program.
Why It Matters
The significance of the DailyColours research extends well beyond any individual enzyme. It demonstrates that diverse Mediterranean phytochemicals can influence multiple enzyme systems associated with healthy ageing, reflecting the same diversity and synergy that characterize the Mediterranean Diet itself. Rather than pursuing a single biological target, DailyColours was designed to support the interconnected biological networks that help maintain health throughout life.