Dietary Plant Origin Bio Active Compounds Intestinal Functionality And Microbiome

Plant-based diets contain a plethora of metabolites that may impact on health and disease prevention. Most are focused on the potential bioactivity and nutritional relevance of several classes of phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, phyto-oestrogens, and frucrooligo-saccharides. These compounds are found in fruit, vegetables, and herbs. Daily intakes of some of these compounds may exceed 100 mg. Moreover, intestinal bacterial activity may transform complex compounds such as anthocyanins, procyanidins, and isoflavones into simple phenolic metabolites. The colon is thus a rich source of potentially active phenolic acids that may impact both locally and systemically on gut health. Further, nondigestible fiber (prebiotics) are dietary substrates that selectively promote proliferation and/or activity of health-promoting bacterial populations in the colon. Prebiotics, such as inulin, raffinose, and stachyose, have a proven ability to promote the abundance of intestinal bacterial populations, which may provide additional health benefits to the host. Further, various pulse seed soluble (fiber) extracts are responsible for improving gastrointestinal motility, intestinal functionality and morphology, and mineral absorption. Studies indicated that the consumption of seed origin soluble extracts can upregulate the expression of BBM proteins that contribute for digestion and absorption of nutrients.

Plant-based diets contain a plethora of metabolites that may impact on health and disease prevention. Most are focused on the potential bioactivity and nutritional relevance of several classes of phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, phyto-oestrogens, and frucrooligo-saccharides. These compounds are found in fruit, vegetables, and herbs. Daily intakes of some of these compounds may exceed 100 mg. Moreover, intestinal bacterial activity may transform complex compounds such as anthocyanins, procyanidins, and isoflavones into simple phenolic metabolites. The colon is thus a rich source of potentially active phenolic acids that may impact both locally and systemically on gut health. Further, nondigestible fiber (prebiotics) are dietary substrates that selectively promote proliferation and/or activity of health-promoting bacterial populations in the colon. Prebiotics, such as inulin, raffinose, and stachyose, have a proven ability to promote the abundance of intestinal bacterial populations, which may provide additional health benefits to the host. Further, various pulse seed soluble (fiber) extracts are responsible for improving gastrointestinal motility, intestinal functionality and morphology, and mineral absorption. Studies indicated that the consumption of seed origin soluble extracts can upregulate the expression of BBM proteins that contribute for digestion and absorption of nutrients.

This book provides a comprehensive examination of the role of gut microbiome/microflora in nutrition, metabolism, disease prevention and health issues, including farm animal health and food value, and human gastrointestinal health and immunity. Indigenous microbiotas, particularly the gut microflora/microbiome, are an essential component in the modern concept of human and animal health. The diet and lifestyle of the host and environment have direct impact on gut microflora and the patterns of gut microbial colonization associated with health and diseases have been documented. Contributing authors cover the impact of gut microbiome in farm animal health, and explore the possibility of modulating the human gut microbiome with better animal products to prevent human diseases, including endemic and emerging diseases such as obesity, cancer and cardiac diseases. Dieting plan and control methods are examined, with attention paid to balance dieting with natural food and drink components. In addition, the role of gut microbiota in enteric microbial colonization and infections in farm animals is also discussed. The volume also explores the possibility of improving human health by modulating the microbiome with better food, including bio-active foods and appropriate forms of intake. Throughout the chapters, authors examine cutting edge research and technology, as well as future directions for better practices regarding emerging issues, such as the safety and production of organic food.

This new volume explores the importance of phytochemicals from plants in therapeutics, focusing on the extraction of bioactive compounds and their applications in human health. Natural products and their bioactive compounds are increasingly utilized in preventive and therapeutic medication as well as for the production of pharmaceutical supplements and, more recently, as food additives to increase the functionality of foods. The first section of the volume describes recent advances in the extraction of bioactive compounds from various sources. It looks at advanced extraction techniques such as enzyme-assisted, microwave-assisted, ultrasound-assisted, pressurized liquid extraction, and supercritical extraction techniques. Part 2, on bioactive compounds and health claims, covers the roles of different bioactive compounds and their health-promoting potential for lifestyle diseases. This section explains the botany, physical characteristics, uniqueness, uses, distribution, importance, phytochemistry, bioactivities, and future trends of different functional foods.

Regular consumption of plant-based protein foods instead of animal-based protein foods reduces the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and certain cancers. Apart from human health, the adverse effects to the environment due to the production of protein is much higher for animal sources than plant sources. Greenhouse gas emissions from the production of one pound of lamb meat, for example, are thirty times higher than one pound of lentils. As consumers are increasingly aware of personal health and environmental impact of food production, the demand for plant protein foods is increasing globally. This trend has prompted several large-scale collaborative research projects on plant-based protein products supported by the industry and governmental agencies. Several established multinational meat companies have started adding plant-protein product lines to meet the current demand. This book presents the first comprehensive compilation of literature on plant-based protein foods. Chapters cover protein extraction technologies from plants, comparison of amino acid profiles of plant- and animal-based proteins, approaches to product development for plant-based protein products, health benefits of plant-based protein foods, market opportunities, and future challenges. Plant Protein Foods is an essential reference for consumers, students, researchers, food manufacturers and other stakeholders interested in this domain.

Increasing fiber consumption can address, and even reverse the progression of pre-diabetes and other associated non-communicable diseases. Understanding the link between plant dietary fiber and gut health is a small step in reducing the heavy economic burden of metabolic disease risks for public health. This book provides an overview of the occurence, significance and factors affecting dietary fiber in plant foods in order to critically evaluate them with particular emphasis on evidence for their beneficial health effects.

Many food components (such as phytochemicals, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, etc.) have been found to have various biological activities. Based on dietary intake and the availability of nutrients in the intestine, human gut microbiota can produce harmful metabolites that cause human diseases or beneficial compounds that prevent host diseases. Abnormal gut microbiota can produce endotoxins, exacerbating chronic inflammation and metabolic disorders. Moreover, gut microbiota is crucial for maintaining metabolism and health, and dysbiosis plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of various diseases. Therefore, a promising strategy to help manage colon and host health is to regulate the composition of the gut microbiota by eating biologically active food ingredients. Bioactive ingredients obtained from dietary sources can be designed and characterized to meet human nutritional and immune needs and balance gut microbiota. To maximize knowledge on the health effect of gut microbiota on improving human health, a Special Issue titled "Molecular Mechanisms of Bioactive Nutrients Promoting Health through Gut Microbiota" was published in the International Journal of Molecular Science, including nine papers: six research articles and three reviews. Among these six research articles, four are animal studies, one is an in vitro gut microbiota culture study, and one is a randomized clinical study.