Phytochemicals Of Nutraceutical Importance

Nutraceuticals are bioactive phytochemicals that protect or promote health and occur at the intersection of food and pharmaceutical industries. This book will cover a wider spectrum of human health and diseases including the role of phytonutrients in the prevention and treatment. The Book includes chapters dealing with biological and clinical effect, molecular level approach, quality assurance, bioavailability and metabolism of a number phytochemicals and their role to combat different diseases.

Phytochemicals of nutraceuticals importance are bioactive constituents that sustain or promote health and occur at the intersection of food and pharmaceutical industries. Such substances may range from isolated nutrients, dietary supplements and specific diets to genetically engineered designer foods, herbal products, processed foods and beverages. Phytochemicals are broadly described as phytoestrogens, terpenoids, carotenoids, limonoids, phytosterols, glucosinolates, polyphenols, flavonoids, isoflavonoids and anthocyanidins. They have tremendous impact on the health care system and may provide medical health benefits including the prevention and/ or treatment of diseases and physiological disorders. Majority of foods, such as whole grains, beans, fruits, vegetables and herbs contain phytochemicals of nutraceutical importance. These phytochemicals, either alone and/or in combination, have tremendous therapeutic potential in curing various ailments. The respective health benefits are based on science and ethics, for health claims, functional foods and presence of certain phytochemicals. They play specific pharmacological effects in human health as anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antioxidants, antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmodic, chemopreventive, hepato-protective, hypolipidemic, neuroprotective, hypotensive, antiaging, diabetes, osteoporosis, DNA damage, cancer and heart diseases, induce apoptosis, diuretic, CNS stimulant, analgesic, protects from UVB-induced carcinogenesis, immuno-modulator and carminative.

Phytochemicals are receiving increasing attention due to their observed nutritional and health-promoting effects in numerous food applications. As plant secondary metabolites with bioactive properties, they may provide desirable health benefits beyond basic nutrition to reduce chronic disease conditions. Their importance in nutrition and health cannot be overstated as it has generated so much interest and studies focused on elucidating their roles has produced so many outstanding results. Plant phytochemicals are readily used in alternative medicine in South East Asia especially, in China and India and they are becoming widely acceptable worldwide. However, very little is still known about the phytochemicals despite these intense research efforts because of their diverse biological and chemical nature. In this newest addition to the series, Nutraceuticals: Basic Research and Clinical Applications, Plant Food Phytochemicals and Bioactive Compounds in Nutrition and Health provides a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge in the field of bioactive plant phytochemical compounds, their food sources, bioactivities, bioavailability, extraction, production, and applications. Experts in the field discuss various bioactivities of the notable and promising plant phytochemicals of significance in nutrition and health, e.g., lowering of CVD, hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, inflammation, cancer, oxidative stress, neurodegenerative diseases and a host of other chronic disease conditions. Key Features: Describes the various nutritional and bioactive significances of notable and promising plant phytochemicals of significance in nutritional and medical research and their food and/or plant sources Includes various approaches for the quantification, extraction and production of the notable and promising phytochemical compounds in nutrition and health Examines the challenges and promises of plant phytochemical as ingredients for the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals as well as their use in alternative medicine Discusses regulatory issues regarding plant phytochemicals, especially as it pertains to their health claims and use

Plant-Based Functional Foods and Phytochemicals: From Traditional Knowledge to Present Innovation covers the importance of the therapeutic health benefits of phytochemicals derived from plants. It discusses the isolation of potential bioactive molecules from plant sources along with their value to human health. It focuses on physical characteristics, uniqueness, uses, distribution, traditional and nutritional importance, bioactivities, and future trends of different plant-based foods and food products. Functional foods, beyond providing basic nutrition, may offer a potentially positive effect on health and cures for various disease conditions, such as metabolic disorders (including diabetes), cancer, and chronic inflammatory reactions. The volume looks at these natural products and their bioactive compounds that are increasingly utilized in preventive and therapeutic medications and in the production of pharmaceutical supplements and as food additives to increase functionality. It also describes the concept of extraction of bioactive molecules from plant sources, both conventional and modern extraction techniques, available sources, biochemistry, structural composition, and potential biological activities.

This volume brings together information on the available and newly emerging technologies related to using plant compounds that have a beneficial role in food production. It is divided into sections focusing on phytochemistry of cereals and legumes, phytochemistry of medicinal plants, and technological advances in phytochemical study. Topics include the role of anti-nutritional substances of legumes in human health and on the elimination of such through technological processing sorghum phytochemicals and their processing and use in the development of food products production of nutraceuticals and functional foods of pharmaceutical importance T. cordifolia in the development of its therapeutic use in the food, health, and pharmacology industries polyphenolic compounds of plants, including their biosynthesis process, their classification, function, and role as bioactive compounds

Phytochemicals are biologically active compounds present in plants used for food and medicine. A great deal of interest has been generated recently in the isolation, characterization and biological activity of these phytochemicals. This book is in response to the need for more current and global scope of phytochemicals. It contains chapters written by internationally recognized authors. The topics covered in the book range from their occurrence, chemical and physical characteristics, analytical procedures, biological activity, safety and industrial applications. The book has been planned to meet the needs of the researchers, health professionals, government regulatory agencies and industries. This book will serve as a standard reference book in this important and fast growing area of phytochemicals, human nutrition and health.

Phytochemicals from Medicinal Plants: Scope, Applications and Potential Health Claims explores the importance of medicinal plants and their potential benefits for human health. This book looks at bioactive compounds from medicinal plants, the health benefits of bioactive compounds, the applications of plant-based products in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The first section discusses available sources of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants, biochemistry, structural composition, potential biological activities, and how bioactive molecules are isolated from medicinal plants. The authors examine the applications of bioactive molecules from a health perspective, looking at the pharmacological aspects of medicinal plants, the phytochemical and biological activities of different natural products, and ethnobotany/and medicinal properties, and also present a novel dietary approach for disease management. The book goes on to examine the plant-based products are used and can be used in various sectors of the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Naturally present bioactive compounds in plants are referred to as "Phytochemicals" and are being studied extensively for their role in human health. Studies have shown that they can have an important role to play in the prevention and management of several human diseases. Recognizing the increasing interest in this area, this book is being published in response to the need for more current information globally about phytochemicals and their role in human health. Chapters of the book are authored by internationally recognized authors who are experts in their respective field of expertise. The chapters represent both original research as well as up-to-date and comprehensive reviews. We are sure that the book will be an important reference source meeting the needs of a wide range of interest groups.

Plants are a very important source of nutrients and a very important part in the human diet. They provide us carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, cholesterol lowering compounds, antioxidants and other important sources of biologically active substances. Many nutritional values of plants have been discussed in the literature but there is very limited research in the biologically active compounds that are present in them. These biologically active compounds are called as phytochemicals. These phytochemicals are derived from every part of the plant including roots, stem, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds etc. These phytochemicals are sometimes used as such and in some cases they form the raw materials for a variety of other medicinally important compounds. Medicinal plants are a gift to us from the nature as they provide a number of health benefits to us. In India these medicinal plants are used for about centuries for their properties and are still used to this date. India has a variety of traditional medical systems like Ayurveda, siddha, unani and a huge class of ethnomedicine. This knowledge of medicine was disappeared due to the modernisation that has been on us on the past and is reappearing again as their importance have been realized and lack of side effects are also an important aspect in these types of traditional medicine. Medicinal plants are very important in health care of individuals and communities in many developing countries. Medicinal plants are believed to be much safer and are used in treatment of various ailments .The plants provide the basic nutrients needed for the growth of animals and humans like proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and oils minerals. These plant compounds are used as alternative medicine and have become popular all over the world. They are also used in everyday medicines that we take in our daily life without even knowing that these plant compounds are present, the plant are also used as nutraceutical supplements for improving nutritional intake.This book deals with the methods that are involved in the identification and analysis of such novel compounds that are useful in the field of drug discovery and other application of these valuable plant compounds.