Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants in Food Design: Strategies and Technologies for Improved Healthcare explores the therapeutic potential of various natural and novel phytochemicals in the design of new foods. Divided into two parts, the first section discusses plant-based secondary metabolites for healthcare, focusing on the health aspects of herbs and medicinal plants and nutraceuticals for livestock production and for the treatment of diseases such as HIV and diabetes. The authors also address the benefits of preserving indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants and current consumer views of health issues from foods. The second part delves into the design and utilization of healthy foods. This section discusses the application of novel designs and herbal formulations in conjunction with other biomolecules for the development and utilization for food products with health benefits. Key features: Encourages the preservation of indigenous knowledge on herbs and medicinal plants Explains the health-promoting effects of some herbs and medicinal plants Discusses the therapeutics and their mechanisms of actions of the biological compounds for food safety This informative volume will be valuable for faculty, students, scientists, researchers, and industry professionals in the development of superfoods from phytochemicals and medicinal plants.

Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants in Food Design: Strategies and Technologies for Improved Healthcare explores the therapeutic potential of various natural and novel phytochemicals in the design of new foods. Divided into two parts, the first section discusses plant-based secondary metabolites for healthcare, focusing on the health aspects of herbs and medicinal plants and nutraceuticals for livestock production and for the treatment of diseases such as HIV and diabetes. The authors also address the benefits of preserving indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants and current consumer views of health issues from foods. The second part delves into the design and utilization of healthy foods. This section discusses the application of novel designs and herbal formulations in conjunction with other biomolecules for the development and utilization for food products with health benefits. Key features: Encourages the preservation of indigenous knowledge on herbs and medicinal plants Explains the health-promoting effects of some herbs and medicinal plants Discusses the therapeutics and their mechanisms of actions of the biological compounds for food safety This informative volume will be valuable for faculty, students, scientists, researchers, and industry professionals in the development of superfoods from phytochemicals and medicinal plants.

Phytochemicals as Bioactive Agents focuses on the mechanisms of action of phytochemicals identified as displaying bioactivity in the prevention of cancer, heart disease and other diseases and the prospects for developing functional foods containing these bioactive compounds. Internationally recognized experts present the latest research findings on the antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic effects of tea and tea constituents; chemoprevention provided by plants in the family Cruciferae and genus Allium; anticarcinogenic effects of carotenoids and curcumins; the chemistry and application of alfalfa saponins; the bioactive components of rice bran and rice oil; the effects of garlic on lowering serum cholesterol; and using phytochemicals to optimize gastrointestinal tract health and function.

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.

Phytochemicals as Lead Compounds for New Drug Discovery presents complete coverage of the recent advances in the discovery of phytochemicals from medicinal plants as models to the development of new drugs and chemical entities. Functional bioactive compounds of plant origin have been an invaluable source for many human therapeutic drugs and have played a major role in the treatment of diseases around the world. These compounds possess enormous structural and chemical diversity and have led to many important discoveries. This book presents fundament concepts and factors affecting the choice for plant-based products, as well as recent advances in computer-aided drug discovery and FDA drug candidacy acceptance criteria. It also details the various bioactive lead compounds and molecular targets for a range of life-threatening diseases including cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Written by a global team of experts, Phytochemicals as Lead Compounds for New Drug Discovery is an ideal resource for drug developers, phytochemists, plant biochemists, food and medicinal chemists, nutritionists and toxicologists, chemical ecologists, taxonomists, analytical chemists, and other researchers in those fields. It will also be very valuable to professors, students, and researchers in this domain. - Presents fundamental concepts and factors affecting choice for plant-based products - Details the FDA drug candidacy acceptance criteria, including bottlenecks and way forward - Highlights recent advances in computational-based drug discovery - Focuses on the discovery of new drugs and potential druggable targets for the treatment of chronic diseases of world importance

This book summarizes recent advances in the chemistry, bioactivity, nutrition, and functional aspects of dietary phytochemicals, as well as the health and functional aspects of foods rich in phytochemicals. Consisting of forty-four chapters, it discusses the different chemical types of phytochemicals in our diets and food and presents data collected from animal or human experiments that are directly related to human health. Each chapter covers the chemistry, epidemiological study, bioavailability, bioactivity (animal experiments) function in humans and safety, as well as products on the market. Moreover, the more than 200 figures make it easy to grasp the main findings in each area.

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

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.

Plants are a source of bioactive compounds that act as important components in medicines. The Himalayan region especially has been found to be brimming with medicinal plants that have the potential to prevent as well as cure a number of diseases. This new book, Himalayan Medicinal Plants for the Treatment of Depression: A Source of Rich Antidepressant Agents, presents research on the importance of bioactive compounds derived from Himalayan plants, focusing specifically on their beneficial antidepressant activities. The volume discusses a wide range of Himalayan plants, vegetables, fruits, flowers, mushrooms, grains, beans, nuts, spices, beverages, roots and tubers, and even microalgae, along with their traditional applications, chemical compositions, and antidepressant effects with the help of scientific literature. The book explores how bioactive compounds from Himalayan botanicals and foods can alleviate depression ailments. It documents the traditional uses, phytochemicals, and biological applications in terms of antidepressant agents in a systematic manner. The new volume sheds a bright light on the antidepressant potential of the rich source of plants of the Himalayas. The documented information presented here will be valuable to researchers for new drug discovery and for knowledge for isolating and purifying novel compounds from Himalayan botanicals as a cure and treatment for depression.