Search results for "Functional food"

Plant Occurring Flavonoids as Modulators of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor

2021

International audience; The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor deeply implicated in health and diseases. Historically identified as a sensor of xenobiotics and mainly toxic substances, AhR has recently become an emerging pharmacological target in cancer, immunology, inflammatory conditions, and aging. Multiple AhR ligands are recognized, with plant occurring flavonoids being the largest group of natural ligands of AhR in the human diet. The biological implications of the modulatory effects of flavonoids on AhR could be highlighted from a toxicological and environmental concern and for the possible pharmacological applicability. Overall, the possible AhR-mediated harmf…

Phytochemical characterization and biological activities of green tea (Camellia sinensis) produced in the Azores, Portugal

2021

Abstract Background Green tea is not only one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide, but is also known for its health promoting and therapeutic effects. Green tea is cultivated in areas with high humidity and acidic soils in China, Indonesia and Japan. Those places have well-marked dry and rainy seasons. In opposite, Azores have a climate with constant average annual rainfall and, unlike eastern regions, relatively constant air humidity throughout the year. While a brand implemented on the Portuguese market, the quality of green tea produced in Azores must be guaranteed. Quality control measures based on phytochemical determination of the chemical composition and biological activi…

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.): a comprehensive review of phytochemistry, medicinal properties, and product development

2021

Since ancient times, litchi has been well recognized as a functional food for the management of various ailments. Many bioactives, including flavanoids, anthocyanins, phenolics, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, and lignans, have been identified from litchi with a myriad of biological properties both in vitro and in vivo. In spite of the extensive research progress, systemic reviews regarding the bioactives of litchi are rather scarce. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehensively analyze the pharmacological activities and the structure-activity relationships of the abundant bioactives of litchi. Besides, more and more studies have focused on litchi preservation and development of its by-products,…

Effect of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Table Olives on the ImmuneInflammatory Responses: Potential Clinical Applications

2017

Background and Objective: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the common element among the Mediterranean countries. It can be considered a nutraceutical and functional food, thanks to its bioactive compounds. It can act and modulate different processes linked to ageing and age-related diseases related to a common chronic low grade inflammation. Depending on the cultivar, the growth conditions, the period of harvesting, the productive process and time of product storage, EVOO could contain different amount of vegetal components. Of course, the same is for table olives. Methods: The aim of our review is to summarize the effects of EVOO and table olives on the immunemediated inflammatory respons…

Functional food science and behaviour and psychological functions

2017

INSERM-Unite 341 et Service de Nutrition, Hotel-Dieu, Paris, France. bellisle@imaginet.frThe impact of ingesting various foods on psychological and behavioural functions is a topic of both interest and concern to the general public. In this article, the scientific literature concerning demonstrated cause-and-effect relationships is reviewed, beginning with methodological considerations specific to the quantification of particular behaviours and psychological events. The essential function of food is to satisfy hunger and the need for essential nutrients. The contributions of macronutrients to appetite and satiety are described, as well as their impact on metabolism and energy balance. Funct…

trans -Lycopene from tomato juice attenuates inflammatory biomarkers in human plasma samples: An intervention trial

2017

cope : To evaluate the effects of carotenoids from tomato juice (TJ) on inflammatory biomarkers, by performing a 4-week dose-response nutritional trial in a population at high cardiovascular risk. Methods and results : An open, prospective, randomized, cross-over, and controlledclinical trial was carried out with 28 volunteers (mean age 69.7 ± 3.1 years; mean BMI 31.5 ± 3.6 kg/m2) at high cardiovascular risk, which were assigned to consume daily for 4 weeks in random order: 200 mL (LD) or 400 mL (HD) of TJ, or water as a control (C), with a 21-day wash-out period between each intervention. Blood samples were collected at baseline (B) and after each intervention. Endpoints included significa…

Urban consumers’ attitudes and willingness to pay for functional foods in Iran: A case of dietary sugar

2017

Growing concerns for the incidence of incurable diseases and high costs of health care have attracted consumers to functional foods in the world. These foods are characterized with health improvement, lower risk of disease incidence and less health hazards. The present work examined consumers’ attitude and willingness to pay for dietary sugar in Rasht city, Iran. The studied sample included 125 citizens of Rasht in spring and summer of 2016 whose size was determined by Mitchell and Carson approach. Results of contingent valuation method on the basis of one-and-one-half-bound choice model revealed that the descriptive variable of bid had negative, statistically significant impact on the acce…

In situ riboflavin fortification of different kefir-like cereal-based beverages using selected Andean LAB strains.

2018

Cereal-based functional beverages represent social, economic, and environmental sustainable opportunities to cope with emerging trends in food consumption and global nutrition. Here we report, for the first time, the polyphasic characterization of three cereal-based kefir-like riboflavin-enriched beverages, obtained from oat, maize and barley flours, and their comparison with classical milk-based kefir. The four matrices were successfully fermented with commercial starters: i) milk-kefir and ii) water-kefir, proving the potential of cereal ingredients in the formulation of dairy-like fermented beverages with milk-kefir starter behavior better in these matrices. In the light of their potenti…

Mediterranean Diet as a tool for achieving successful ageing

2017

Targeted interventions to slow or postpone ageing and to favour an active life expectancy represent the new perspectives in ageing investigation. Some mechanisms that delay or prevent the onset of ageing disabilities and pathologies have been identified. In general, maintaining a healthy lifestyle seems to reduce many risk factors. In particular, eating habits represent the most concrete and low-cost method to address ageing. Of all dietary habits analysed, the Mediterranean diet has received much attention since it has consistently proven its beneficial influence on health and longevity. The Mediterranean diet is characterized by low glycaemic index and low animal protein intake, it is ric…

Healthy eating as a strategy to achieve successful ageing: focus on Mediterranean diet and functional foods.

People want to live longer. To date, it is impossible not to grow older, but it is desirable to get older in good health, avoiding age-related disabilities. To do this, it is necessary to have a healthy lifestyle which can limit the damage caused by the environmental hazards that face us each day. In humans, healthy ageing and longevity are modulated by a fortunate interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Regarding the latter, physical activity and healthy dietary habits are the most important modifiable factors that can affect the maintenance of a healthy ageing phenotype. A feasible diet that reduces the risk of ageing-related diseases, promoting health ageing and longevity,…