Phytochemicals commercial products

In Timisia, the olive oil sector plays an important role in the economy, providing both employment and export revenues. Olive trees cover an area of 1.6 million ha with an annual oil production of 170 000 t (Rigane et al., 2011). The last decade, Timisian autochthonous varieties were extensively studied for their potential with regard to VOO quality characteristics. The oils obtained from healthy fruits using laboratory scale extraction, most of the time with the aid of an Abencor type mill and extractor (Oueslati et al., 2009). Thus, the amoimts of bioactive phytochemicals reported are rather high in comparison to what is reported for VOOs from the main producing coimtries. This illusive picture does not reflect necessarily the real content of this nutrient in the commercial products sold locally or of those exported. 

Details about structure, biosynthesis, and classification of phenolics are described in the other chapters in this handbook. Plant phenolics have a distinctive ability to form non-covalent, intermolecular complexes with each other and with both large and small molecules. Recognition of the antioxidant activities of many polyphenols has established correlation with the health benefits by such compounds [34]. This leads to the development of commercial products containing free-radical-scavenging phytochemical mixtures, for example, Pycnogenol (procyanidin extracted from Pinus maritima). Table 82.2 represents a list of polyphenolic compounds used in nutraceuticals and their biologic effects on human health. 

Clinical trials are costly to conduct, and results are often critical to the commercial viability of a phytochemical product. Seemingly minor decisions, such as which measurement tool to use or a single entry criterion, can produce thousands of dollars in additional costs. Likewise, a great deal of time, effort and money can be saved by having experts review the study protocol to provide feedback regarding ways to improve efficiency, reduce subject burden and insure that the objectives are being met in the most scientifically sound and cost-effective manner possible. In particular, I recommend that an expert statistician is consulted regarding sample size and power and that the assumptions used in these calculations are reviewed carefully with one or more clinicians. It is not uncommon to see two studies with very similar objectives, which vary by two-fold in the number of subjects under study. Often this can be explained by differences in the assumptions employed in the sample size calculations. 

The diversity in the EOs phytochemical composition induces as a consequence that the production of a standardized product is a real challenge for their commercialization. 

The second saponin source of commercial value is Quillaya saponaria, found in the arid areas of Chile. The bark of the tree is the part used and has been used as shampoo in Chile for hundreds of years. Yucca and quillaya extracts are commonly used as foaming agents for beverages such as root beer (6-7 fluid ounces of yucca and 3.5 ounces of quillaya per 100 gallons of syrup). These have also been used in other soft dinks (1-2 fluid ounces per 100 gallons of syrup) and cocktail mixes. These phytochemicals have also commercial applications such as ore separation in industrial and mining operations, and are useful as components in products such as photographic emulsions, cosmetics and shampoos. 

---