An integrated strategy between food chemistry, biology, nutrition, pharmacology, and statistics in the development of functional foods: A proposal

Abstract Background Much research has been conducted to attest that different food and herbal extracts display functional properties in humans when consumed regularly as part of a balanced diet. However, most studies only relate one or some in vitro and/or in vivo functionalities of these extracts, without performing clinical trials to attest the alleged functionality. For instance, while some studies focus on the existence of statistical correlation between antioxidant activity and antidiabetic properties and the phenolic composition of a certain herb, others aim to assess the effects of different extraction methods ( i.e., pulsed electric fields, ultrasound, and supercritical fluid extrac…