Health Active Properties of Commercially Available Dr Morley Somasundaram Muralitharan Crude extracts of fruits, herbs, vegetables, cereals and other plant materials rich in phenolics are of interest increasingly in the food industry because of retard oxidative degradation of lipids and thereby improve the quality and nutritional value of functional food. The importance of antioxidant constituents of plant materials in the maintenance of health and protection from coronary disease and cancer is also raising interest among scientists, food manufacturers and consumers as the trend of the current and future is moving towards functional food with specific health effects (Table 1). In addition, the use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) by patients suffering from chronic disorders, such as cancers,, stroke and immune disorders is well documented. CAMs are either used on their own (alternative) or in addition to conventional medicine (complementary) (1). Depending on the definition and inclusion criteria chosen, estimates of prevalence of CAM use in cancer patients range from 7% to 80%. CAMs can be grouped into herbal medicines, food supplements including vitamin preparations, trace elements and other substances such as omega-3 fatty acids. Cancer patients may take CAMs for a variety of reasons to combat the cancer, strengthen the immune system, counter side effects of conventional treatments and treat psychological problems including low mood and anxiety (2). The potential sources of antioxidant compounds have been searched in several types of plant materials such as vegetables, fruits, leaves, oilseeds, cereal crops, barks and roots, spices and herbs and crude plant drugs (Table 1). In addition, animal food products have been included in human diet to provide antioxidant and other immune boosting compounds (Table 1). The entire immune system needs vitamin C for optimum function. In addition, vitamin A is powerfully anti-viral and helps to maintain the thymus gland. It is mainly found in the form of beta-carotene which the body then converts into vitamin A. The B-vitamins are important for phagocyte (white blood cell) activity and vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant which helps stimulate antibody production. Certain minerals are also important. Calcium helps the phagocytic cells to carry out their cleaning-up duty, while selenium is necessary for the production of antibodies. Iron builds up many immune processes, including the maturation of T-cells which are heavily dependent on zinc. Healthy unsaturated fats are vital because they are high in omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation and boost overall immunity. Green leafy vegetables, including broccoli and cabbage, contain phytochemicals, which are powerfully anti-cancerous. Watermelon, pink grapefruit and tomatoes are rich in lycopene, another cancer fighting ingredient, while berries including strawberries and raspberries contain anti-inflammatory anthocyanins as well as ellagic acid, which can help to suppress the formation of cancer cells (1). Flavonoids and other plant phenolics, such as phenolic acids, stilbenes, tannins, lignans, and lignin are found in many plant parts. The antioxidant activity of phenolics is mainly due to their redox properties, which allow them to act as reducing agents, hydrogen donators, and singlet oxygen quenchers. In addition, they have a metal chelation potential (1). 1358 APBN Vol. 10 No. 23 2006
Table 1 Health properties present in 100 functional foods (summarised from Haigh, 2005) Roots and bulbs Sweet potato Carrot Yam Potato Onion anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, detoxifying and ant-cancer, anti-viral and anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying and Vegetable fruits Red pepper Beetroot Tomato Rhubarb Shiitake Pumpkin Chilli pepper Avocado ant-bacterial, antioxidant and and anti-cancer, anti-viral and antioxidant anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-viral, detoxifying and anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antioxidant and antiseptic anti-allergenic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and Leaf and green vegetables Spinach Asparagus Globe artichoke Brussels sprouts Nettle Watercress Belgian endive Cauliflower Curly kale Broccoli Savoy cabbage Rocket anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying and anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-cancer, antioxidant, detoxifying and and anti-viral, antioxidant, detoxifying and anti-allergenic, anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-allergenic, anti-cancer, anti-viral, antioxidant, detoxifying and anti-cancer, anti-viral, antioxidant and anti-cancer, detoxifying and anti-cancer, anti-viral, antioxidant and detoxifying APBN Vol. 10 No. 23 2006 1359
Sweet fruits Kiwi fruit Pineapple Papaya Apricot Guava Cantaloupe melon Passion fruit Banana Grape Apple Mango anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer, antioxidant and detoxifying anti-cancer, anti-viral, antioxidant and detoxifying anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-viral, antioxidant and detoxifying anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-viral, detoxifying and anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, detoxifying and anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying and anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, detoxifying and healthy Citrus fruits Lemon Orange Grapefruit Lime anti-cancer, antioxidant and antiseptic anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-viral, antioxidant, detoxifying and and anti-allergenic, anti-cancer, anti-viral, antioxidant and detoxifying Berries Strawberry Blueberry Cherry Raspberry Cranberry Rosehip anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and detoxifying ant-bacterial, anti-cancer, antioxidant, detoxifying and healthy antibacterial and antioxidant anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antioxidant, antiseptic and Nuts, seeds and oils Hazelnut Walnut Cashew nut Pine nut Brazil nut Pistachio nut Almond nut Sunflower seed and oil anti-cancer, antioxidant and antioxidant and anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory and detoxifying anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and healthy anti-allergenic, anti-viral, detoxifying and anti-cancer, antioxidant and antiallergenic, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and 1360 APBN Vol. 10 No. 23 2006
Pumpkin seed Safflower oil Evening primose oil Sesame seed and oil anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-allergenic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ant-cancer, antioxidant and Grains, pulses and beans Aduki bean Oats Wheatgum Bulgur wheat Quinoa Rice Corn Black-eyed bean Kidney bean Butterbean Lentil Chick pea Green bean Soya bean Mangetout anti-viral, antioxidant, detoxifying and anti-allergenic, anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-viral, antioxidant and antioxidant and anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, detoxifying and anti-allergenic, anti-cancer, antioxidant, detoxifying and healthy anti-cancer, anti-viral, antioxidant and anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-bacterial, antioxidant and anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-allergenic, antioxidant, detoxifying and ant-cancer, anti-viral, detoxifying and anti-cancer, anti-viral and anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, detoxifying and anti-viral, antioxidant and Poultry Turkey Guinea fowl Pheasant Duck Chicken anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and detoxifying anti-allergenic, anti-viral and antioxidant Fish, seafood and dairy Fresh tuna Salmon Mackerel Fresh anchovy Prawn Oyster Bio-yoghurt anti-allergenic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and ant-bacterial, anti-cancer and anti-viral APBN Vol. 10 No. 23 2006 1361
Herbs and species Peppermint Chamomile Echinacea Thyme Elderflower Rosemary Sage Green tea Ginger Black cumin Turmeric Horseradish Garlic Mustard seed Cayenne pepper anti-inflammatory and detoxifying anti-allergenic, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory anti-allergenic, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory and detoxifying anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and detoxifying anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic antiseptic and detoxifying anti-allergenic, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, antiseptic and detoxifying anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-viral, antioxidant, detoxifying and anti-bacterial, anti-viral and detoxifying anti-bacterial and antioxidant Contact Details: Contact Person: Dr Morley Somasundaram Muralitharan, Senior Lecturer in Biotechnology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences Address: Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3217, Australia. Email: morleym@deakin.edu.au Disclaimer The author compiled this article based on the information provided in the published literature. The author accepts no liability or no responsibility whatsoever for any loss to any person resulting from reliance upon the materials contained in this article. The contents of this article are not meant to constitute professional, health or other advice and readers should seek their own competent professional, health and other advice. References (1) C, Haigh (2005). The top 100 immunity boosters, published by Duncan Baird Publishers, Ltd, London. (2) U, Werneke, D, Ladenheim and T, McCarthy (2004). Complementary alternative medicine for cancer: a review of effectiveness and safety. Cancer Therapy 2, 475-500. (3) RA, Zimmerman and IM, Thompson (2002). Prevalence of complementary medicine in urologic practice. A review of recent studies with emphasis on using among prostate cancer patients. Urol Clin North Am 29, 1-9. 1362 APBN Vol. 10 No. 23 2006