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.

Dietary supplements are estimated to be used regularly by almost 60% of the American population, and over 300 million people worldwide. An important and ever-growing portion of this market is in botanical supplements that are derived from natural plants. Natural, however, does not necessarily mean safe, and although plants can provide health-essential and health-improving nutrients they can also provide toxic compounds. While the use and sales of botanical supplements continues to expand rapidly, scientific understanding of the efficacy and safety of these products remains limited. The aim of Dietary Supplements of Plant Origin is to give both the general and specialized reader a comprehensive insight into the most recent findings in this interesting area of dietary supplementation. It is hoped that this book will shed a new light on this topic and impact positively upon the health of people in this new millennium.

Dietary supplements are estimated to be used regularly by almost 60% of the American population, and over 300 million people worldwide. An important and ever-growing portion of this market is in botanical supplements that are derived from natural plants. Natural, however, does not necessarily mean safe, and although plants can provide health-essent

The growing consumer interest in health and fitness has expanded the market for a wide range of products, from yoga mats to the multiple dietary supplements now on the market. Supplements are popular, but are they safe? Many dietary supplements are probably safe when used as recommended. However, since 1994 when Congress decided that they should be regulated as if they were foods, they are assumed to be safe unless the Food and Drug Administration can demonstrate that they pose a significant risk to the consumer. But there are many types of products that qualify as dietary supplements, and the distinctions can become muddled and vague. Manufacturers are not legally required to provide specific information about safety before marketing their products. And the sales of supplements have been steadily increasingâ€"all together, the various types now bring in almost $16 billion per year. Given these confounding factors, what kind of information can the Food and Drug Administration use to effectively regulate dietary supplements? This book provides a framework for evaluating dietary supplement safety and protecting the health of consumers.

This volume provides reviews and details of the quality, safety and efficacy for some of the top-selling botanicals worldwide, including black cohosh, chamomile, comfrey, echinacea, garlic, ginkgo, ginseng, kava, milk thistle, St John's wort and valerian. The work was written based on a systematic review of the scientific literature from 1975-2000.;Each review includes a brief introduction, a section on quality including a definition of the crude drug, geographical distribution, and a listing of the major chemical constituents. The safety and efficacy sections summarize the medical uses, pharmacology, contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse reactions, dose and dosage forms. The safety and efficacy sections were written for a busy health-care professional, and should enable one to ascertain which clinical uses are supported by clinical data, without having to read through all the pharmacology. Each chapter is fully referenced, enabling the reader to access further information when necessary.

Recent technological advancements, socio-economic trends, and population lifestyle modifications throughout the world indicate the need for foods with increased health benefits. The clear relationship between the food that we eat and our well-being is widely recognized. Today, foods are not only intended to satisfy hunger and provide necessary nutrients: they can also confer additional health benefits, such as preventing nutrition-related diseases and improving physical and mental well-being. This book provides a comprehensive overview of developments in the field of functional foods and food supplements. Readers will discover new food matrices as innovative natural sources of bioactive compounds endowed with health-promoting properties. Studies on chemical, technological, and nutritional characteristics of healthy food ingredients, analytical methods for monitoring their quality, and innovative formulation strategies are included.

The global popularity of herbal supplements and the promise they hold in treating various disease states has caused an unprecedented interest in understanding the molecular basis of the biological activity of traditional remedies. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects focuses on presenting current scientific evidence of biomolecular ef