Changes in lifestyle and demographics shifted preferences about the relationships between food and health, contributing to generate new needs in the food supply. Today, the role of food is not only intended as hunger satisfaction and nutrient supply, but also as an opportunity to prevent nutrition-related diseases and improve physical and mental well-being. There is a growing interest in the novel or less well known plant foods that offer an opportunity for health maintenance. This book shows that an interest in plant foods and underutilized fruits is continuously growing, and agrobiodiversity exploitation offers effective and extraordinary potentialities. Readers will discover that plant foods could become an important source of health-promoting compounds and functional food ingredients with beneficial properties. The description of the quality and physicochemical traits, the identification and quantification of the main biologically active compounds, and the evaluation of their biological activities are important to assess plant food efficacy as functional foods or a source of food supplement ingredients for the consumers.

It is now well accepted that the consumption of plant-based foods is beneficial to human health. Fruits, vegetables, grains, and derived products can be excellent sources of minerals, vitamins, and fiber and usually have a favorable nutrient-to-energy ratio. Furthermore, plant foods are also a rich source of phytochemicals such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and betalains, with potential health benefits for humans. Many epidemiological studies have made a direct link between the consumption of plant foods and health. Human intervention studies have also shown that higher intake/consumption of plant foods can reduce the incidence of metabolic syndrome and other chronic diseases, especially in at-risk populations such as obese people. In addition to its health benefits, plant foods are also used as functional ingredients in food applications such as antioxidants, antimicrobials, and natural colorants. The Special Issue “Foods of Plant Origin” covers biodiscovery, functionality, the effect of different cooking/preparation methods on bioactive (plant food) ingredients, and strategies to improve the nutritional quality of plant foods by adding other food components using novel/alternative food sources or applying non-conventional preparation techniques.

This book brings together chapters related to sustainable utilization of biological resources, including in situ and ex situ conservation of rare, endangered, and threatened plants. The title also gives a special emphasis on marine sponges and mangrove ecosystems, which are two important untapped potential resources of the marine ecosystem and play a key role in maintaining the marine ecosystem. There is an urgent need for the conservation, exploration and utilization of bioresources for the growth and survival of human beings. Due to the significant reduction in biological resources, many countries are developing strategic action plans for the conservation and sustainable use of biological resources. That is where this book fills the gap by discussing the significant development of new products and methodologies for sustainable utilization of these resources. This book also unveils a world of novel bioactive molecules from medicinal plants and the marine ecosystem and explains how drug design pipelines can advance modern drug development. The target audiences for this book include biodiversity researchers who are working on technology and bioresource management issues and faculty and students in the environment research areas and Biodiversity conservation.

Adequate intake of fruits has been linked with the reduction in the risk of chronic diseases and maintenance of body weight. Fruits and Their Roles in Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods covers recent research related to the bioactive compounds present in a variety of fruits. Novel techniques and methodologies used in the extraction, isolation, and identification of bioactive compounds of functional fruits are discussed in detail. Written by various experts in the field, the book examines a variety of fruit including apple, pear, mango, pomegranate, papaya, watermelon, pineapple, banana, and orange, among others. Key Features Covers all aspects related to the role of fruits in the nutraceutical and functional foods Examines the health elements of bioactive compounds as a treatment for various chronic disorders Provides an insight on the global regulatsory aspects for the utilization of fruits in nutraceuticals and functional foods

This Reference Work provides a comprehensive overview of bioactive compounds found in underutilized fruits and nuts around the world and it elucidates their pharmacological, biological and health effects. In this book, readers will learn about the potential applications of bioactive molecules presented in several underutilized fruits and nuts rich in carbohydrates, lipids, fats, proteins, polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamins, organic acids, and volatile compounds. Readers will also discover more about the nutraceutical importance of these underutilized crops, and will also find specific case studies of the therapeutic potential of undertilized fruits and nuts. Written by highly renowned scientists of the field, this reference work appeals to a wide readership, from students and researchers to healthcare and industry professionals interested in plant biotechnology, biology, pharmacology and food engineering.

According to an August 2009 report from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the United States market for functional foods in 2007 was US$ 27 billion. Forecasts of growth range from between 8.5% and 20% per year, or about four times that of the food industry in general. Global demand by 2013 is expected to be about $100 billion. With this demand for new products comes a demand for product development and supporting literature for that purpose. There is a wealth of research and development in this area and great scope for commercialization, and this book provides a much-needed review of important opportunities for new products, written by authors with in-depth knowledge of as yet unfulfilled health-related needs. This book addresses functional food product development from a number of perspectives: the process itself; health research that may provide opportunities; idea creation; regulation; and processes and ingredients. It also features case studies that illustrate real product development and commercialization histories. Written for food scientists and technologists, this book presents practical information for use in functional food product development. It is an essential resource for practitioners in functional food companies and food technology centres and is also of interest to researchers and students of food science. Key features: A comprehensive review of the latest opportunities in this commercially important sector of the food industry Includes chapters highlighting functional food opportunities for specific health issues such as obesity, immunity, brain health, heart disease and the development of children. New technologies of relevance to functional foods are also addressed, such as emulsion delivery systems and nanoencapsulation. Includes chapters on product design and the use of functional ingredients such as antioxidants, probiotics and prebiotics as well as functional ingredients from plant and dairy sources Specific examples of taking products to market are provided in the form of case studies e.g. microalgae functional ingredients Part of the Functional Food Science and Technology book series (Series Editor: Fereidoon Shahidi)