Gac Fruit


Book Description

Gac fruit, Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng, is rich in nutrients such as carotenoids (particularly ß-carotene and lycopene), fatty acids, vitamin E, polyphenol compounds and flavonoids. This book provides the latest research on this fruit, from cultivation through to novel processing technologies for health products. It addresses several techniques for propagation and cultivation in order to increase the production and quality of Gac fruit, including traditionally used parts of the fruit (aril) and those whose value has not yet been maximized (peel, pulp and seed). This plant has the potential to be a high value crop, particularly as parts of the fruit can be processed into nutrient supplements and natural colorants. Currently only the aril is commercially harvested, and this presents opportunities for upcycling the rest of the fruit.




Fruit Oils: Chemistry and Functionality


Book Description

Fruit Oils: Chemistry and Functionality presents a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the chemistry and functionality of lipid bioactive phytochemicals found in fruit oils. The chapters in this text examine the composition, physicochemical characteristics and organoleptic attributes of each of the major fruit oils. The nutritional quality, oxidative stability, and potential food and non-foodapplications of these oils are also extensively covered. The potential health benefits of the bioactive lipids found in these fruit oils are also a focus of this text. For each oil presented, the levels of omega-9, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are specified, indicating the level of health-promoting traits exhibited in each. The oils and fats extracted from fruits generally differ from one another both in terms of their major and minor bioactive constituents. The methods used to extract oils and fats as well as the processing techniques such as refining, bleaching and deodorization affect their major and minor constituents. In addition, different post-processing treatments of fruit oils and fats may alert or degrade important bioactive constituents. Treatments such as heating, frying, cooking and storage and major constituents such as sterols and tocols are extensively covered in this text. Although there have been reference works published on the composition and biological properties of lipids from oilseeds, there is currently no book focused on the composition and functionality of fruit oils. Fruit Oils: Chemistry and Functionality aims to fill this gap for researchers, presenting a detailed overview of the chemical makeup and functionality of all the important fruit oils.




Heal & Live Younger


Book Description

Perhaps youve come to a point in your life where enough is enough. Youve taken more medicines than you ever thought possible, you feel tired and sluggish or you are fed up with your fluctuating weight. No matter what your story is, this book is for you. Heal and Live Younger will give you the tools you need to break free of your pharmaceutical chains that hold you from feeling healthy and alive. It will enable you to take a more natural approach to your weight and health issues, while turning back the clock of time to look younger and feel great. Why take my word for it? Get started and learn to Heal and Live Younger!




Natural Substances for Cancer Prevention


Book Description

Natural Substances for Cancer Prevention explores in detail how numerous investigations in chemical biology and molecular biology have established strong scientific evidence demonstrating how the properties of naturally occurring bioactive chemicals hamper all stages of cancers (from initiation to metastasis). Accordingly, important goals for cancer prevention are the modification of our dietary habits and an increase in the intake of more anticancer-related natural substances. More significantly, the bioactive chemicals presented in the functional foods should be readily available, inexpensive, non-toxic, and nutritional.




Lifestyle After Cancer


Book Description

This revised and updated edition is an essential guide for individuals and their relatives affected by cancer. It is based only on the proven facts and describes practical dietary and lifestyle measures to reduce the side effects of treatments and to improve the overall chance of cure.




Cucurbits, 2nd Edition


Book Description

Completely updated with new content and full-colour figures throughout, the second edition of this successful book continues to provide complete coverage relating to the production of cucurbits, including cucumbers, gourds, muskmelons, pumpkins, squashes and watermelons. These crops are grown worldwide and represent one of the largest and most important groups of horticultural food plants. This second edition of Cucurbits provides up-to-date, succinct and authoritative knowledge on this variety of crops and reflects on significant advances in the areas of production, breeding and evolution.




Edible Medicinal And Non-Medicinal Plants


Book Description

This book continues as volume 2 of a multi-compendium on Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants. It covers edible fruits/seeds used fresh or processed, as vegetables, spices, stimulants, pulses, edible oils and beverages. It encompasses species from the following families: Clusiaceae, Combretaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Dilleniaceae, Ebenaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Ericaceae and Fabaceae. This work will be of significant interest to scientists, researchers, medical practitioners, pharmacologists, ethnobotanists, horticulturists, food nutritionists, agriculturists, botanists, herbalogists, conservationists, teachers, lecturers, students and the general public. Topics covered include: taxonomy (botanical name and synonyms); common English and vernacular names; origin and distribution; agro-ecological requirements; edible plant part and uses; botany; nutritive and medicinal/pharmacological properties, medicinal uses and current research findings; non-edible uses; and selected/cited references.




Antioxidant and Anti-aging Action of Plant Polyphenols


Book Description

Polyphenols are plant non-nutrient natural products, or plant secondary metabolites, found in fruits, vegetables and seeds that we consume daily. Their intakes from fruit, vegetables, seeds, and nuts are associated with lower risks of chronic and age-related degenerative diseases. Aging is a dynamic and complex biological process involving multiple actors and subject to a number of genetic and/or environmental influences. The famous free radical theory of aging proposed by Prof. Harman in 1956 states that free radicals lead to oxidative damage, causing cellular dysfunction and physiological decline, and are responsible for aging, with the appearance of degenerative diseases and eventually death. From this hypothesis, antioxidant molecules are capable of slowing down the aging process through the successful scavenging of radical oxygen and nitrogen species. Polyphenols have been shown to prolong the lifespan of different model species operating through a well-conserved antioxidant mechanism. This collection of research and review articles covers the most recent advances in the use of plant polyphenols, ranging from their biological properties and possible functions as medicines, the importance of traditional medicines as a source of inspiration, the rationalization of new uses of plant extracts which lead to applications in modern medicine, the status of modern green-chemistry extraction methods, to some reflections on future prospects.




Fruit Ripening


Book Description

Fruit ripening is an important aspect of fruit production. The timing of it affects supply chains and buying behaviour, and for consumers ripeness not only affects perceptions of health but has nutritional effects too. Ripeness is closely related to spoilage which has a major financial impact on agricultural industries. Currently there are fast moving developments in knowledge of the factors affecting fruit ripeness, and this up-to-date monograph seeks to draw together the disparate research in this area. The aim of the book is to produce a comprehensive account covering almost every area related to fruit ripening including the latest molecular mechanisms regulating fruit ripening, its impact on human nutrition and emerging research and technologies.




Natural Compounds as New Cancer Treatments


Book Description

Cancer remains one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although many pharmacological and clinical advances have been made, there is a constant need for new molecules to improve the overall options for treatment. Natural compounds from animal, microbial, vegetal, or fungal origin represent countless sources of new compounds that can be used as anticancer drugs, provided their activity, bioavailability, and toxicity are adequate. This book aims to compile both original articles and reviews that cover the most recent advances in the use of natural compounds for cancer treatment, and provide new objectives and advice for future research in the field of biological activity of natural compounds.