烹饪时别烧毁了食物中的植物化学物

植物化学物是植物进化过程中保护自身和提高环境适应能力的一大类微量的生物活性成分．是植物特有的次生代谢产物。近来人们惊奇地发现．植物化学物虽然不是人体必需的营养素．但对于维系人类的健康同样功不可没。人体每天从膳食中摄入约1．5克植物化学物,素食者更高。     

植物化学物抗病毒作用的研究进展

植物化学物是植物中的次级代谢产物,主要的亚类包括多酚、类胡萝卜素、生物碱、富含氮的物质、有机硫化物、植物固醇。植物化学物具有多种生物学活性,其中很重要的一种作用即抗病毒作用。本文综述了植物化学物对呼吸道病毒、人类免疫缺陷病毒、人类肝炎病毒等的作用,旨在为植物化学物的应用提供参考。[营养学报,2020,42(2):183-186,192]     

植物化学物诱导脂肪细胞凋亡作用研究进展

诱导脂肪细胞凋亡是控制机体脂肪组织堆积、预防肥胖及相关疾病的重要措施之一,天然存在的植物化学物可诱导前体和成熟脂肪细胞凋亡,在肥胖防治中具有良好应用前景。本文论述了植物化学物诱导脂肪细胞凋亡的作用及相关机制。     

摄入植物化学物给健康加分

植物化学物的发现在营养学上的重要意义,可与抗生素、维生素的发现相媲美。研究已证实,蔬菜、水果的多样摄入有助于降低心脑血管疾病、肿瘤等疾病的发病率、死亡率,现代生物技术证实,起核心作用的就是植物化学物——植物中含有的天然化学物质。目前．已被确认并分离出来的植物化学物有上千种,比如大蒜中的蒜氨酸、番茄中的番茄红素、柑橘中的叶黄素、葡萄中的白藜芦醇,茶中的茶多酚、花椰菜中的异硫氰酸盐,等等。     

十字花科蔬菜的癌症预防作用

十字花科蔬菜富含芥子油苷类植物化学物。人们日常食用的许多蔬菜（如白菜、菜花、卷心菜、甘蓝等）都属于十字花科。流行病学研究及实验研究发现十字花科蔬菜具有显著的抗癌作用，起主要作用的是其中以芥子油苷为前体存在的异硫氰酸盐。本文综述了近年来十字花科蔬菜中芥子油苷类植物化学物的抗癌作用研究进展。     

植物化学物与良性前列腺增生关系的研究进展

良性前列腺增生已成为目前世界范围内影响老年男性健康和生活质量的主要疾病。从20世纪末期开始,植物性食物中除营养素以外的生物活性物质即植物化学物(phytochemicals),已成为国内外营养学研究的新热点。本文主要综述目前所研究的植物化学物与良性前列腺增生的关系。     

植物化学物与高尿酸血症关系的研究进展

高尿酸血症是由尿酸代谢紊乱即尿酸分泌过多和/或排泄过少所致的代谢性疾病,受遗传和环境两方面影响。近年来,植物化学物防治高尿酸血症的研究日益增多,研究表明,多酚类、皂苷类、萜类和芥子油苷等多种植物化学物能够通过抑制黄嘌呤氧化酶的活性、抗炎、减少氧化应激水平、调控与尿酸转运相关的基因表达等途径,减少尿酸的生成,增加尿酸的排泄,从而发挥降尿酸的作用。本文对近年来植物化学物对尿酸影响的研究进行综述,以期为高尿酸血症的防治提供理论依据。[营养学报,2021,43(4):407-411]     

植物化学物防治2型糖尿病并发认知功能障碍作用及机制的研究进展

目的 对植物化学物防治2型糖尿病并发认知功能障碍的作用及机制进行综述。方法 以“2型糖尿病/ Type 2 diabetes mellitus / T2DM”、“胰岛素抵抗/ insulin resistance”、“线粒体/ mitochondria”、“内质网应激/ endoplasmic reticulum stress”和“植物化学物/ phytochemicals”等中英文为检索词,查阅2010—2020年收录于中国知网、万方数据库、维普资讯、Pubmed、Science Direct和Springer数据库的中英文文献。结果 T2DM的高血糖、胰岛素抵抗状态可引起神经元线粒体损伤、内质网应激、炎症和细胞凋亡,从而导致认知功能障碍发生。多酚类、皂苷类等多种植物化学物通过调节上述病理变化发挥认知保护效应。结论 植物化学物在T2DM引起的认知功能障碍动物模型中显示出一定的保护作用,为其有效防治提供了大量的实验室依据。但人群证据尚不充足。     

花色苷类植物化学物抗动脉粥样硬化作用研究进展

动脉粥样硬化(atherosclerosis,AS)的发病率和死亡率不断增加,已经成为西方发达国家的第1位死因,在我国也呈逐年上升趋势[1].近年来,植物化学物与健康的关系的研究,尤其是这类化学物的健康促进作用,以及在慢性疾病防治中的作用及其机制的研究,已经成为国内外营养学研究的热点和重点.花色苷属黄酮类植物化学物,近年来的研究表明,对AS的发生、发展可能具有明显的防治作用,现将其抗AS作用的研究进展进行综述.     

内质网应激在非酒精性脂肪性肝病中的作用及植物化学物的保护效应研究进展

目的 对内质网应激（endoplasmic reticulum stress, ERs）与非酒精性脂肪性肝病（nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, NAFLD）的关系以及植物化学物的保护作用进行综述。方法 以“非酒精性脂肪性肝病/ nonalcoholic fatty liver disease”、“内质网应激/ endoplasmic reticulum stress”和“非折叠蛋白反应/ unfolded protein response”的中英文为检索词,检索2010 - 2020年收录于中国知网、万方数据库、维普资讯、Pubmed、Science Direct和Springer数据库的中英文文献。结果 ERs通过引起肝脏脂肪堆积、炎症和细胞凋亡导致NAFLD。多酚类,萜类和皂甙类等多种植物化学物通过调节ERs发挥NAFLD保护效应。结论 ERs在NAFLD发生发展中具有重要作用,开发利用具有调节ERs作用的植物化学物将为NAFLD的防治提供新的策略。     

Bioactive phytochemicals in Indian foods and their potential in health promotion and disease prevention

Besides being a source of nutrients, foods, particularly plant foods, are a rich source of bioactive phytochemicals or bionutrients. Studies carried out during the past 2-3 decades have shown that these phytochemicals have an important role in preventing chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, coronary heart disease and hyper-cholesterolaemia. The major classes of phytochemicals with disease-preventing functions are dietary fibre, antioxidants, detoxifying agents, immunity-potentiating agents and neuropharmacological agents. Each class of these functional agents consists of a wide range of chemicals with differing potency. For example, antioxidant function is exhibited by some nutrients, such as vitamin E, vitamin C and provitamin A. Other phytochemicals that have antioxidant properties are carotenoids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and isothiocyanates. Some of these phytochemicals have more than one function. Foods rich in these chemicals and exhibiting disease-protecting potential are called functional foods. Indian habitual diets, which are based predominantly on plant foods like cereals, pulses, oils and spices, are all good sources of these classes of phytochemicals, particularly dietary fibre, vitamin E, carotenoids and phenolic compounds. There is, however, much scope for further systematic research in screening Indian foods and diets for these phytochemicals and assessing their potential in protecting against chronic diseases.     

Enhancing health benefits of berries through phenolic antioxidant enrichment: focus on cranberry

Emerging epidemiological evidence is increasingly pointing to the beneficial effects of fruits and vegetables in managing chronic and infectious diseases. These beneficial effects are now suggested to be due to the constituent phenolic phytochemicals having antioxidant activity. Cranberry like other fruits is also rich in phenolic phytochemicals such as phenolic acids, flavonoids and ellagic acid. Consumption of cranberry has been historically been linked to lower incidences of urinary tract infections and has now been shown to have a capacity to inhibit peptic ulcer-associated bacterium, Helicobacter pylori. Isolated compounds from cranberry have also been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Recent evidence suggests the ability of phytochemical components in whole foods in being more effective in protectively supporting human health than compared to isolated individual phenolic phytochemicals. This implies that the profile of phenolic phytochemicals determines the functionality of the whole food as a result of synergistic interaction of constituent phenolic phytochemicals. Solid state bioprocessing using food grade fungi common in Asian food cultures as well as cranberry phenolic synergies through the addition of functional biphenyls such as ellagic acid and rosmarinic acid along with processed fruit extracts have helped to advance these concepts. These strategies could be further explored to enrich cranberry and cranberry products with functional phytochemicals and further improve their functionality for enhancing health benefits.     

Onco-Preventive and Chemo-Protective Effects of Apple Bioactive Compounds

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally. Epidemiological studies have strongly linked a diet high in fruits to a lower incidence of cancer. Furthermore, extensive research shows that secondary plant metabolites known as phytochemicals, which are commonly found in fruits, have onco-preventive and chemo-protective effects. Apple is a commonly consumed fruit worldwide that is available all year round and is a rich source of phytochemicals. In this review, we summarize the association of apple consumption with cancer incidence based on findings from epidemiological and cohort studies. We further provide a comprehensive review of the main phytochemical patterns observed in apples and their bioavailability after consumption. Finally, we report on the latest findings from in vitro and in vivo studies highlighting some of the key molecular mechanisms targeted by apple phytochemicals in relation to inhibiting multiple ‘hallmarks of cancer’ that are important in the progression of cancer.     

Association between high consumption of phytochemical-rich foods and anthropometric measures: a systematic review

Phytochemical-rich foods consumption may be a valid nutritional strategy to reduce the risk of weight gain and obesity. The phytochemical index (PI) is a simple and nonspecific method to evaluate the phytochemical intake, defined as the percentage of dietary calories derived from foods rich in phytochemicals. We aimed to conduct a systematic review to evaluate whether high consumption of phytochemical-rich foods evaluated by the PI is associated with lower values of anthropometric measurements. The available literature suggests that the PI seems to be inversely associated with body weight and waist circumference. Analyzing the longitudinal changes in anthropometric variables, individuals with high intake of phytochemicals gained less weight and fat mass when compared to those with lower PI. Our findings suggest that higher PI is associated with lower body mass index, waist circumference and adiposity. Whether the results are a reflex of a lower calorie intake or the anti-obesity properties of phytochemicals remains to be elucidated.     

Antioxidant potential of broccoli stalk: a preliminary investigation

Broccoli is a popular Brassica vegetable widely consumed worldwide for its superior nutritive value and delicious taste. It is also a rich source of several health beneficial phytochemicals. However, sudden fluctuation in temperature, especially in tropical countries spoils the broccoli crop by distorting the heads and puts immense pressure on the farmers by virtue of monetary losses. Usually the broccoli curd is consumed, and the stalk is thrown away which is also of considerable nutritive value. In the present study, the antioxidant potential of the stalk was investigated and it was found to be a rich source of ascorbic acid, carotene and phenols. It is therefore, concluded that the broccoli stalk would provide a suitable means to add nutritive value to the diet in form of salad dressings, in combination with soups, pastas, fries etc. The optimal utilization of the stalk would provide immense nutritive and health benefits, curb malnutrition, supplement diet with phytochemicals and would also provide monetary benefits to the farmers from the sale of even the spoiled broccoli crops.     

Cocoa Bioactive Compounds: Significance and Potential for the Maintenance of Skin Health

Cocoa has a rich history in human use. Skin is prone to the development of several diseases, and the mechanisms in the pathogenesis of aged skin are still poorly understood. However, a growing body of evidence from clinical and bench research has begun to provide scientific validation for the use of cocoa-derived phytochemicals as an effective approach for skin protection. Although the specific molecular and cellular mechanisms of the beneficial actions of cocoa phytochemicals remain to be elucidated, this review will provide an overview of the current literature emphasizing potential cytoprotective pathways modulated by cocoa and its polyphenolic components. Moreover, we will summarize in vivo studies showing that bioactive compounds of cocoa may have a positive impact on skin health.     

North American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) stimulates apoptotic pathways in DU145 human prostate cancer cells in vitro

Diets rich in fruits and vegetables have been shown to improve patient prognosis in a variety of cancers, a benefit partly derived from phytochemicals, many of which target cell death pathways in tumor cells. Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) are a phytochemical-rich fruit containing a variety of polyphenolic compounds. As flavonoids have been shown to induce apoptosis in human tumor cells, this study investigated the hypothesis that cranberry-mediated cytotoxicity in DU145 human prostate adenocarcinoma cells involves apoptosis. The results showed that induction of apoptosis in these cells occurred in response to treatment with whole cranberry extract and occurred through caspase-8 mediated cleavage of Bid protein to truncated Bid resulting in cytochrome-C release from the mitochondria. Subsequent activation of caspase-9 ultimately resulted in cell death as characterized by DNA fragmentation. Increased Par-4 protein expression was observed, and this is suggested to be at least partly responsible for caspase-8 activation. Proanthocyanidin-enriched and flavonol-enriched fractions of cranberry also increased caspase-8 and caspase-9 activity, suggesting that these compounds play a possible role in apoptosis induction. These findings indicate that cranberry phytochemicals can induce apoptosis in prostate cancer cells in vitro, and these findings further establish the potential value of cranberry phytochemicals as possible agents against prostate cancer.     

Phytochemical intakes of the Fijian population

The dietary intakes of major phytochemicals in Fijian population were estimated from the consumption of 90 plant foods reported in five major surveys conducted in Fiji from 1952 to 2001. These surveys included the Naduri Longitudinal study, for which food intake data were collected on four occasions in 1952, 1953, 1963 and 1994), the 1982 and 1993 National Nutritional Surveys, the 1996 Suva-Nausori Corridor cross-sectional study, the 1999 Verata cross-sectional study, and the 2001 Fiji Food Choice study. It was found that the Fijian population generally had low intakes of total phenols (275 mg/day), and total flavonoids (17.5 mg/day), but high intake of total carotenoids (20 mg/day), in comparisons with the intakes of other populations reported in literature. It has been speculated that the change of eating patterns resulting in the low intakes of phytochemicals may have partly contributed to the increase in the nutritionally chronic disease morbidity and mortality among the Fijians. It is further recommended that the traditional Fijian food patterns with high fruits and vegetables should be revived, and the consumption of sweet potato leaves and drumstick leaves, both of which were rich in phytochemicals, should be promoted.     

Caecal Microbial Phytate Hydrolysis in the Rat

The nutritional potential of outer (50–55%) fleshy edible cover of Terminalia catappa fruit was selected for investigation in search of a new source of nutrients. Two different varieties, red and yellow in their ripe and unripe stages, were analyzed for proximate and mineral composition along with phytochemicals. In the results (per 100 g sample), the red variety has shown to be a rich source of protein (1.95 g vs. 1.65 g) while the yellow variety has shown a high content of carbohydrate and ash (12.03 g vs. 6.14 g and 1.21 g vs. 0.70 g). Of the phytochemicals, β-carotene and vitamin C were found to be present in high amount in the red variety (2,090 μg vs. 754 μg and 138.6 mg vs. 105.4 mg), wherein the former increased while the latter decreased with ripening of the fruit. The results of the study show that the edible outer cover of tropical almond can contribute significantly to the nutrient intake.     

Polyphenols Rich Diets and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is an increasing health concern worldwide. Both genetic and environmental risk factors as improper dietary habits or physical inactivity are known to be crucial in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Polyphenols are a group of plant-derived compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that are associated with a low prevalence of metabolic conditions characterized by insulin resistance, including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Moreover, there is now full awareness that foods that are rich in phytochemicals and polyphenols could play an important role in preserving human cardiovascular health and substantial clinical evidence indicates that regular dietary consumption of such foods affects favorably carbohydrate metabolism. This review briefly summarizes the evidence relating dietary patterns rich in polyphenols with glucose metabolism and highlights the potential benefits of these compounds in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.