This book is the first of its kind that focuses on the chemistry and biology of ellagitannins, a special class of naturally occurring polyphenols which have so far not received the attention they deserve. These polyphenolic substances are found in many plants, including numerous food sources. They not only exhibit unique structural features that fascinate most chemists who are aware of their existence, but also express remarkable biological activities that have yet to attract the interest of the pharmaceutical industry. This is surprising because ellagitannins have been identified as active principles in traditional Chinese medicines.

This book is the first of its kind that focuses on the chemistry and biology of ellagitannins, a special class of naturally occurring polyphenols which have so far not received the attention they deserve. These polyphenolic substances are found in many plants, including numerous food sources. They not only exhibit unique structural features that fascinate most chemists who are aware of their existence, but also express remarkable biological activities that have yet to attract the interest of the pharmaceutical industry. This is surprising because ellagitannins have been identified as active principles in traditional Chinese medicines.The principal aim of this book is to set the record straight. Most, if not all, worldwide experts in each aspect of the chemistry and biology of this underestimated class of natural products have contributed to this book. It covers topics such as their structural determination and natural occurrence; the most up-to-date knowledge of their biosynthesis; the current state of the art of their total chemical synthesis; their main physicochemical properties and principal biological activities; their presence in food and beverages; and their related health effects. All together, nine chapters compose this book whose content is placed into historical perspective in a yet inspiring preface written by one of the pioneers in modern polyphenol research, Professor Edwin Haslam. This book will be useful not only to scientists involved in natural product research, but also to lecturers and their students as a source of key references and/or a textbook.

Recent Advances in Polyphenol Research Volume 2 Edited by Santos-Buelga, Escribano-Bailon and Lattanzio Plant phenolics are secondary metabolites that constitute one of the most common and widespread groups of substances in plants. Polyphenols have a large and diverse array of beneficial effects on both plants and animals. For example they are famous as antioxidants, hormones, constituents of essential oils and natural neurotransmitters. Sponsored by Groupe Polyphenols, this publication, which is the second volume in this ground-breaking series, is edited by Celestino Santos-Buelga, Maria Teresa Escribano-Bailon, and Vincenzo Lattanzio, who have drawn together an impressive list of internationally respected authors, each providing cutting edge chapters covering some of the major topics of recent research and interest. Information included in this important new addition to the series include the following areas: • Flavonoid chemistry of the leguminosae • Chemistry and biological activity of ellagitannins • Chemistry and function of anthocyanins in plants • An update of chemical pathways leading to new phenolic pigments during wine ageing • Metabolic engineering of the flavonoid pathway • The translation of chemical properties of polyphenols into biological activity with impacts in human health • Plant phenolic compounds controlling leaf movement • Biological activity of phenolics in plants Chemists, biochemists, plant scientists, pharmacognosists and pharmacologists, food scientists and nutritionists will all find this book an invaluable resource. Libraries in all universities and research establishments where these subjects are studied and taught should have copies on their shelves.

Antioxidative polyphenols represented by tannins and flavonoids are rich in numerous food sources and traditional natural medicines and currently attracting increased attention in health care and food industries because of their multiple biological activities that are favorable to human health. Commemorating the outstanding achievements on tannins by Dr. Takuo Okuda on the occasion of his passing away in December 2016, his colleagues, friends, and worldwide experts of polyphenol research have contributed 18 papers on their recent study to the Special Issue of Molecules. This book is its reprinted form. This covers reviews of structural features, historical usages, and biological activities of unique class of ellagitannins and condensed tannins, and original articles on the most up-to-date findings on the anticancer effect of green tea catechins, the antivirus effect of tannins comparing with the clinically used drugs, the analytical method of ellagitannins using quantitative NMR, the chemical structures of Hydrangea-blue complex (pigment) and condensed tannins in Ephedra sinica and purple prairie clover, and the relationship of condensed tannins in legumes and grape-marc with methane production in the in vitro ruminant system, and others. This book will be useful to natural product chemists and also to researchers in pharmaceutical and/or food industry.

Functional foods offer specific benefits that enhance life and promote longevity, and the active compounds responsible for these favorable effects can be analyzed through a range of techniques. Handbook of Analysis of Active Compounds in Functional Foods presents a full overview of the analytical tools available for the analysis of active ingredients in these products. Nearly 100 experts from all over the world explore an array of methodologies for investigating and evaluating various substances, including: Amino acids, peptides, and proteins, along with glutamine, taurine, glutathione, carnitine, and creatine Water- and fat-soluble vitamins and probiotics Terpenes, including hydrocarbon carotenoids and oxycarotenoids (xanthophylls) Phenolic compounds such as flavonoids, flavan-3-ols, proanthocyanidins, stilbenes, resveratrol, anthocynanins, isoflavones, tannins, ellagic acid, and chlorogenic acids Fibers and polysaccharides, including chitosan, insoluble dietary fiber, fructans, inulin, pectin, and cyclodextrins Phytoestrogens and hormones, with chapters on anise oil and melatonin Tetrapyrroles, minerals, and trace elements Lipid compounds, with discussions of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acids, lecithin, sterols, stanols, lipoic acid, and alliin Sweeteners, salt replacers, and taste-modifying compounds Each chapter describes the specific compound and its benefits, surveys the range of analytic techniques available, and provides ample references to facilitate further study. The book follows a convenient format with well-organized chapters, allowing readers to quickly hone in on specific topics of interest. This comprehensive reference provides a complete survey of the most cutting-edge analytical techniques available for researchers, industry professionals, and regulators.

Bioactive ingredients, including both bioactive compounds and bioactive live organisms, are present in small amounts in natural sources such as fruits and vegetables. These ingredients have been continuously investigated during the last few decades and the epidemiological data suggest that their intake is associated with significant decreased risk of various disorders and chronic diseases owing to their anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities. Some of these natural ingredients such as catechins, curcumin, resveratrol, oleuropein, quercetin, rutin, hesperidin, sulforaphane, ellagic acid, and anthocyanins, have been studied as factors with possible direct or indirect effect on specific molecular pathways which are playing vital roles in the association with the pathophysiology of the chronic diseases such as cancer. In light of this, natural foods and food-derived products rich in bioactives have received recent growing attention. It has been reported that frequent consumption of fruits, vegetables, and their associated natural products have many health-promoting benefits that protect against degenerative illnesses including heart disease, arthritis, cancer, immune system decline, brain dysfunction, inflammation and cataracts. Functional foods and medicinal supplements containing encapsulated bioactive materials will be the future of new emerging products in the food and pharma industries. Such products present therapeutical and medicinal properties that can prevent and/or cure specific chronic diseases and disorders. Handbook Of Bioactive Ingredients provides a systematic overview of different food bioactive ingredients describing their chemistry, structure, functionality, safety/toxicity, oral delivery and their applications in functional foods. Detailed chapters will describe various bioactive ingredients including polyphenolic compounds such as phenolic acids, flavonoids and anthocyanins, carotenoids, sterols such as non-oxygenated carotenoids, xanthophylls and phytosterols, bioactive peptides such as marine bioactive peptides, animal bioactive peptides, plant bioactive peptides, microbial bioactive peptides, essential fatty acids like fish and marine oils and plant oils, live organisms like probiotics and yeasts, essential oils and oleoresins like monoterpens, sequiterpens and oleoresins, vitamins and minerals including liposoluble vitamins, hydrosoluble vitamins and trace minerals), and other bioactive compounds including prebiotics, oligosaccharides, dietary fibers and beta-glucan. This book is the first comprehensive collection of scientific evidence form published literature on natural bioactive ingredients.

This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Dietary and Non-Dietary Phytochemicals and Cancer" that was published in Toxins