This volume explores vegetables and plant metabolites as nutraceuticals that provide nutritional importance in the prevention and/or treatment of human diseases and for maintaining the body’s energy balance. Key features: Considers applications and implications of plant metabolites and vegetables as nutraceuticals in healthcare Discusses the mechanisms of plant metabolites and vegetables to support the prevention and treatment of cancer, gout, heart disease, liver disease, Parkinson’s and other brain diseases, and gastrointestinal disease Explores the role of phytochemicals bioactive compounds as nutraceuticals in healthcare Looks at the relationship between eating fruits and vegetables and the incidence of serious and chronic diseases With contributions from renowned scientists and researchers around the globe, the volume provides up-to-date information that offers insights on the value of plant metabolites and vegetables as nutraceuticals that will be of interest to academicians, scientists, researchers, and industry professionals worldwide.

As a result of domestication - considered to be the most important cultural development of the past 13,000 years of human history - we depend today on a tiny number of domesticated plant and animal species for our food supply. Nevertheless, people continue to gather food which grows around their homes or they cultivate local varieties of food plants (as well as keep land races of domestic animals). Generally, wild varieties tend to be richer in micronutrients and bioactive secondary metabolites, which are produced in adaptation to local environmental conditions. These metabolites trigger further adaptive responses by producing 'protective', bioactive compounds which, when ingested, result in the transfer of protective effects to our organism. The preservation of local knowledge for future generations as well as the identification of new nutraceuticals by means of characterizing plant extracts with potential health beneficial effects are the main objectives of this book. The first part therefore focuses on the ethnobotanical study of local food plants in selected regions of the Mediterranean, i.e. their use as well as beliefs and cultural practices associated with it. The biological-pharmacological effects of these plants on selected (mostly in vitro) targets of the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system make up the second part, highlighting the potential of these plants for developing novel health foods, herbal medicines or local products with beneficial effects on health. Those interested in an integrated approach to the identification of new and health beneficial foods will undoubtedly find this book a valuable source of information and an inspiration for new scientific approaches to this age-old topic.

Food security and the medicinal needs of billions of people around the world are pressing global issues, and the biodiversity and sustainable utilization of plants is of great significance in this context. Further, ethnobotanical studies are vital in the discovery of new drugs from indigenous medicinal plants, and plants with industrially important metabolites need to be cultivated to meet the growing market demand. In addition, the production of plant metabolites under in vitro conditions also has tremendous possibilities. The totipotency of plant cells plays a valuable role in the sustainable utilization of plant resources through cell, tissue and organ culture. At the same time, production can be enhanced using productive cell lines, treatment with elicitors, changing nutritional parameters and metabolic engineering. This book provides state-of-the-art information on biodiversity, conservation, ethnobotany, various aspects of In vitro secondary metabolite production, bioprospecting from various plant groups and drug discovery. It also discusses methods of extracting and characterizing drug leads from plant sources.​

Cognizing the significance of fruits and vegetables in the human diet. This book is designed to provide an insight into the nutritional importance of fruits and vegetables in human health, disease prevention, managing stress and boosting immunity, especially in this COVID-19 pandemic. The book contains a very concise and precise information on nutraceuticals, their sources and benefits. It also contains the best possible information regarding common health issues faced by humans and their prevention with the help of bioactive compounds, maintaining a focus throughout on how nutraceuticals influence human health. The information provided in this book is truly based on scientific records of scientists working in the arena of bioactive compounds of fruits and vegetables and their role in disease prevention of humans as well as Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) acts and regulations. Note: Taylor & Francis does not sell or distribute the hardback in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Chapter 63: Functional Beverages in Weight Management

This volume takes an eco-friendly approach to examining the advantages of using plant food by-products as food additives and nutraceuticals, turning solid wastes into value-added items. The chapters, written by researchers and professionals working in the plant food industry, look at ways to make effective use of plant by-products by harnessing the power of the antimicrobial and nutraceutical power of plant and herb extracts. The measures and techniques discussed here will also help to improve the economics of processing crops. The chapter authors cover a range of issues, including the economic and environmental benefits of utilizing plant food by-products, extraction technologies, plant tissues as a source of nutraceutical compounds, and more.

Bioactive ingredients in foods and their pharmacological and health effects. Functional foods and bioactives of microbial, plant and animal origin, including probiotics, herbs, spices, vegetables, specialty fruits, seafood and milk components. Impact on the microbiome, emerging metabolic pathways and prevention of chronic and infectious diseases.Techniques for functional food development and evaluation.Regulatory and safety considerations. This volume presents basic and advanced technical information on the sources, mechanisms and safety of food bioactives in the etiology and prevention of chronic and infectious diseases. In this context, it offers details useful not only for understanding but also improving the functionality of foods. It reviews advances in multiple phytochemicals and food ingredients known for positive effects on human physiology, including interactions with the human microbiome. Metabolomic and proteomic techniques are explored as ways of improving the understanding of mechanisms of action, and increasing the therapeutic effectiveness of selected food ingredients. Special attention is given to chemistry, molecular structure and pharmacological effects of bioactive ingredients. Bioactives from a wide range of foods are investigated, including pro- and prebiotics, fungi, yeasts, herbs, spices, fruits, vegetables, seafood and many more. The text provides systematic information needed to develop and validate commercial products incorporating functional ingredients.