Phytochemicals Phytosterols

The range of food components now considered as bioactives include vitamins, minerals, functional lipids, probiotics, amino acids, peptides and proteins, phytosterols, phytochemicals and antioxidants (Wildman 2001). Their structure and function vary widely and are important considerations when adding them to food. The health aspects of bioactive ingredients and functional foods are not covered here as they are beyond the scope of this chapter. 

The demand for healthy foods has led to the development of several entirely new healthy ingredient and additive categories (Heasman and Mellentin 2001 Sloan 2004). An entirely new sector of functional food ingredients has developed, including products such as omega-3 fatty acids and phytosterols for cardiovascular health, prebiotics and probiotics for gut health, antioxidants, polyphenols and phytochemicals, and bioactive peptides. The established vitamins and minerals sector has also benefited from this functional food trend, with more and more products being fortified with beneficial vitamins and minerals. 

Nutrient Content high in protein, prebiotic and insoluble fiber, lignans, antioxidant vitamins A and C, dietary minerals, phytosterols Phytochemical Content high in total carotenoids and polyphenols (anthocyanins, catechins, proanthocyanidins, chlorogenic acid)... 

High Nutrient Content protein, prebiotic fiber, antioxidant A-C-E vitamins, B vitamins, dietary minerals, phytosterols, omega fats High Phytochemical Content carotenoids (beta-cryptoxanthin, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lycopene) polyphenols (anthocyanins, hespe-ridin, ellagic acid)... 

Three new triterpenoid saponins, nudicaucin A, -B and -C (62-64) have also been isolated from H. nudicaulis together with a known saponin, guaiacin D (65) [10]. The phytosterols, stigmasterol and sitosterol are frequently reported in most of the phytochemical work on this genus. 

The phytochemical composition of avocado (Table 4), combined with its main fatty acid, oleic acid (18 1), represents a potential for lowering plasma cholesterol [34] and increasing antioxidant status. An added benefit may result from its content of phytosterols. Moreover, the presence of chlorogenic and caffeic acids in avocado increases the antioxidant capacity of plasma. In the same way, jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) contains antioxidants and phytosterols (Table 4) and its flavonoids, particularly the flavonones, have antioxidant activity [4],... 

Although few data are available on the phytochemical composition of rambutan, the cholesterol-lowering effect [41] of this fruit may be associated with its phytosterol content. 

Hazelnut, which contains lipid-lowering bioactives such as MUFA, PUFA, phytosterols, phytostanols, polyphenols, and sphingolipids [11,12,107,117,140,141,147,175,183,189,203-205], offers an opportunity as a potential hypercholesterolemic heart-healthy diet component In addition to these bioactives and minor components, there are a number of nonfat constituents (such as essential minerals, essential amino acids, antioxidant phenoUcs, soluble dietary fiber, and phytochemicals, among others) in hazelnut that may elicit additional cholesterol-lowering and cardioprotective effects [11,57,59,85,117,174,206]. 

This chapter reviews the health benefits of pistachio in relation to the phytochemicals found in pistachio kernels and peels. Phytochemicals previously identified from pistachios include phytosterols, lutein, resveratrol, and anthocyanins. Pistachios are unique among tree nuts both in having anthocya-nins in their peels and significant amounts of lutein both in the peel and the kernel of the nut. 

There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that nut consumption may be heart-healthy. In addition to their MUFA, fiber and phytochemical antioxidants, pistachios are rich sources of phytosterols, which promote heart health by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol from the intestine through direct competition with uptake mechanisms. 

From the old times, it could be thought that Hypericum patulum. been used in their treatment and improvement for diuresis, hepatitis, cold, toothache, nosebleed or diuresis in China, and the regions such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Korea around mainly China. Actnally, Hypericum patulum contains medicinal pltytochemicals such as mainly flavonoids of (-)-epicatechin (1), essential oils, xanthones, triterpenoids and phytosterol. Therefore, the purpose of this Chapter is to describe the diverse functions of their phytochemicals related to hiunan healthes on these medicinal phytochemicals of Hypericum patulum. 

Dietaiy phytosterols such as P-sitosterol (44) have been known as a hypocholesterolemic and anti-inflammatory phytochemical. In 2009, based on these facts, a group of Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, State University of New York, USA examined the immunomodulatory effects of P-sitosterol (44) on the proliferation and release of key cytokines from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patients with multiple sclerosis. 

Ruscus aculeatus growing mainly regions around the Mediterranean sea coast has been used as a laxative and diuretic agent and as a vasoconstrictor in the topical treatment of varices and haemorrhoids in many countries of the Mediterranean region from old times. Their extracts of Ruscus aculeatus are rich in phytosterols, steroidal saponins, flavonoids and miscellaneous compounds. Based on these facts, the purpose of this Chapter is to describe their phytochemicals and health functions. 

Chapter 2 - Hypericum patulum is might be native to the Far East around China. From of old, Hypericum patulum has been used in their treatments of many diseases. Actually, Hypericum patulum contains rich in the medicinal phytochemicals such as flavonoids, essential oils, xanthones, triterpenoids and phytosterol. Very recently, the attention of pharmacognosy has started to be paid to their functions of Hypericum patulum medicinal phytochemicals. As the results, the correlations of their functions with the phytochemicals of Hypericum patulum have been begun to be found. Base on this fact, the purpose of this Chapter is to describe the phytochemicals and their human health effects oiHypericum patulum.. 

Chapter 5 - Butcher s brooms (Ruscus aculeatus) of Southern Europe origin have been used in their treatments and improvements for circulatory diseases of the lombs, hermorroids and the inflammatory symptoms of anorectal mucosa in their folkrore medicines. Based on these folkrore treatments, Chapter 6 mainly consists of three elements such as Section 1 Introduction, Section 2 Facts of Incompetence Improvement by Ruscus aculeatus of improvements of venous smooth muscle by the extracts of Ruscus aculeatus, dimetic effects by the extracts of Ruscus aculeatus, and venotonic effects by the extracts of Ruscus aculeatus, and Section 3 Phytochemicals and Their Functionality of Ruscus aculeatus of phytosterols, steroidal saponins, flavonoids, fatty acid, and miscellaneous components. Therefore, Chapter 6 describes their phytochemicals in Ruscus aculeatus and their evidences of treatments based on in vivo, in vitro and wider epidemiological evidences. 

A study of the relationship between dietary factors and breast tumor characteristics was carried out in premenopausal women (Touillaud et al., 2005). Tumors were characterized in terms of their estrogen receptor (ER) status. Tumors with ER-positive status, as compared to ER-negative, are known to respond to the proliferative effect of estrogen, and are more likely to react to endocrine therapy. In the study, a low intake of boron (0.8 mg/day) was associated with a lower risk of ER-negative tumors as compared to a higher intake (1.03 mg/day). A similar relationship was observed with phytochemicals, such as phytosterols and kaempferol. Although these data are preliminary, they suggest that the effect of boron is confounded by the presence of phytosterols that are known to interfere with the entero-hepatic circulation of steroids, steroid hormones, and cholesterol (Samman et al, 2004). 

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