Plant Food Phytochemicals and Bioactive Compounds in Nutrition and Health


Book Description

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




Food Bioactives


Book Description

This valuable volume addresses the growing consumer demand for novel functional food products and for high-value, nutritionally rich products by focusing on the sources and applications of bioactives from food. The chapters in the book describe functional properties and discuss applications of the selected food ingredients obtained from various sources, including culinary banana, phalsa, pseudocereals, roselle calyces, asparagus, and more. Several chapters address the resurgence of interest in pseudocereals due to their excellent nutritional and biological values, gluten-free composition, and the presence of some health-promoting compounds. The book also looks at utilizing industrial byproducts for making functional and nutraceutical ingredients. The chapters on prebiotics and probiotics highlight different functional properties, and a chapter on food allergens discusses advancements in detection and management in the food manufacturing industries.




Phytonutrients in Food


Book Description

Phytonutrients in Food: From Traditional to Rational Usage offers an overview of phytonutrients and reveals techniques related to the extraction, separation, identification and quantification of these compounds. The book focuses on the connection between the discovery and characterization of new molecules, explores new applications of well-known compounds and their relative effects for human health, analyses the processes of extraction, identification and production, and explains the protocols and precautions to avoid degradation, significant loss, or production of secondary reactions during production. Intended for researchers, product developers, nutritionists, food chemists, pharmacologists, pharmacists and students studying these topics, this book provides an invaluable reference. - Focuses on the connection between the discovery and characterization of new molecules in phytonutrients - Explores new applications of well-known compounds and their relative effects on human health - Analyzes the processes of extraction, identification and production - Explains the protocols and precautions to avoid degradation, significant loss, and the production of secondary reactions during production




Handbook of Plant Food Phytochemicals


Book Description

Phytochemicals are plant derived chemicals which may bestow health benefits when consumed, whether medicinally or as part of a balanced diet. Given that plant foods are a major component of most diets worldwide, it is unsurprising that these foods represent the greatest source of phytochemicals for most people. Yet it is only relatively recently that due recognition has been given to the importance of phytochemicals in maintaining our health. New evidence for the role of specific plant food phytochemicals in protecting against the onset of diseases such as cancers and heart disease is continually being put forward. The increasing awareness of consumers of the link between diet and health has exponentially increased the number of scientific studies into the biological effects of these substances. The Handbook of Plant Food Phytochemicals provides a comprehensive overview of the occurrence, significance and factors effecting phytochemicals in plant foods. A key of objective of the book is to critically evaluate these aspects. Evaluation of the evidence for and against the quantifiable health benefits being imparted as expressed in terms of the reduction in the risk of disease conferred through the consumption of foods that are rich in phytochemicals. With world-leading editors and contributors, the Handbook of Plant Food Phytochemicals is an invaluable, cutting-edge resource for food scientists, nutritionists and plant biochemists. It covers the processing techniques aimed at the production of phytochemical-rich foods which can have a role in disease-prevention, making it ideal for both the food industry and those who are researching the health benefits of particular foods. Lecturers and advanced students will find it a helpful and readable guide to a constantly expanding subject area.




Human Health Benefits of Plant Bioactive Compounds


Book Description

Focusing on the importance of functional foods and their secondary metabolites for human health, this volume presents new insights with scientific evidence on the use of functional foods in the treatment of certain diseases. The plants covered and their bioactive compounds are easily accessible and are believed to be effective with fewer side effects in comparison with modern drugs in the treatment of different diseases. The plants contain chemical compounds that can modify and modulate biological systems, eliciting therapeutic effects. Some plants and derived products mentioned include black carrot, olive oil, citrus peel, grapes, candy leaf, cereals and grains, and green and black tea. The volume is divided into four sections that cover these topics: Functional foods for human health: the available sources, biochemistry, structural composition, and different biological activities, especially antioxidant activity. Pharmacological aspects of fruits and vegetables: the extraction of bioactive molecules, phytochemistry, and biological activities of a selection of plants. Pharmacological aspects of natural products: bioactive compounds, structural attributes, bioactivity of anthocyanin, piceatannol, and a review of the ethnobotany and medicinal properties of green and black tea. Pharmacological aspects of cereals and grains: the health benefits of flaxseed, wheatgrass juice, and use and therapeutic potential as supplements for disease management.




Functional and Preservative Properties of Phytochemicals


Book Description

Functional and Preservative Properties of Phytochemicals examines the potential of plant-based bioactive compounds as functional food ingredients and preservative agents against food-spoiling microbes and oxidative deterioration. The book provides a unified and systematic accounting of plant-based bioactive compounds by illustrating the connections among the different disciplines, such as food science, nutrition, pharmacology, toxicology, combinatorial chemistry, nanotechnology and biotechnological approaches. Chapters present the varied sources of raw materials, biochemical properties, metabolism, health benefits, preservative efficacy, toxicological aspect, safety and Intellectual Property Right issue of plant-based bioactive compounds. Written by authorities within the field, the individual chapters of the book are organized according to the following practical and easy to consult format: introduction, chapter topics and text, conclusions (take-home lessons), and references cited for further reading. - Provides collective information on recent advancements that increase the potential use of phytochemicals - Fosters an understanding of plant-based dietary bioactive ingredients and their physiological effects on human health at the molecular level - Thoroughly explores biotechnology, omics, and bioinformatics approaches to address the availability, cost, and mode of action of plant-based functional and preservative ingredients




Handbook of Vegetables and Vegetable Processing


Book Description

Handbook of Vegetables and Vegetable Processing, Second Edition is the most comprehensive guide on vegetable technology for processors, producers, and users of vegetables in food manufacturing.This complete handbook contains 42 chapters across two volumes, contributed by field experts from across the world. It provides contemporary information that brings together current knowledge and practices in the value-chain of vegetables from production through consumption. The book is unique in the sense that it includes coverage of production and postharvest technologies, innovative processing technologies, packaging, and quality management. Handbook of Vegetables and Vegetable Processing, Second Edition covers recent developments in the areas of vegetable breeding and production, postharvest physiology and storage, packaging and shelf life extension, and traditional and novel processing technologies (high-pressure processing, pulse-electric field, membrane separation, and ohmic heating). It also offers in-depth coverage of processing, packaging, and the nutritional quality of vegetables as well as information on a broader spectrum of vegetable production and processing science and technology. Coverage includes biology and classification, physiology, biochemistry, flavor and sensory properties, microbial safety and HACCP principles, nutrient and bioactive properties In-depth descriptions of key processes including, minimal processing, freezing, pasteurization and aseptic processing, fermentation, drying, packaging, and application of new technologies Entire chapters devoted to important aspects of over 20 major commercial vegetables including avocado, table olives, and textured vegetable proteins This important book will appeal to anyone studying or involved in food technology, food science, food packaging, applied nutrition, biosystems and agricultural engineering, biotechnology, horticulture, food biochemistry, plant biology, and postharvest physiology.




Phytochemicals in Human Health


Book Description

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.




Plant-Based Functional Foods and Phytochemicals


Book Description

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.




Phytochemical Dictionary


Book Description

A vast array of natural organic compounds, the products of primary and secondary metabolism, occur in plants. This dictionary provides basic information, including structural formulae, on plant constituents. It profiles over 3000 substances from phenolics and alkaloids through carbohydrates and plant glycosides to oils and triterpenoids. For each substance, the author presents the trivial name, synonyms, structural type, chemical structure showing stereochemistry, molecular weight and formula, natural occurrence, biological activity and commercial or other use. Key references are provided for each class and subclass.