ANTIOXIDANTS IN PLANTS: A POTENTIAL SOURCE FOR NEUTRACETICALS AND FUNCTIONAL FOODS

G.S. Suresha1, P.T. Prathima2, K. Lakshmi2, C. Appunu2, T. Manjunatha2, V. Sreenivasa2

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Division of Crop Production, 2 Division of Crop Improvement, Sugarcane Breeding Institute (ICAR), Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India Plants synthesize many compounds as antioxidants under normal physiological

conditions which neutralize free radicals produced as byproducts of metabolism. These compounds may offer potential source for neutracetical/functional foods. Antioxidants in foods have received worldwide attention in recent times owing to their multiple beneficial effects on human health and disease prevention. Numerous health benefits have been attributed to the regular intake of antioxidants in our daily diet. These include reductions in the risk of cancer, age related macular degeneration, heart disease, eye disease, hot flashes during menopause, dental caries, etc. Besides, antioxidants are also known to be involved in supporting gastrointestinal health, boosting immunity, improving body composition and contributing to maintenance of healthy vision. A number of these antioxidants have been well characterized and known to belong to a group of compounds called secondary metabolites in plants. The broad range of bioactive compounds such as lipids, phytochemicals, pharmaceutics, flavours, fragrances, pigments and their extracts are widely used in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Extraction techniques have been investigated to obtain such valuable natural compounds from plants for commercialization. Functional food/neutracetical has one or more compounds with biochemical and physiological functions beneficial to the human health. Major group of phytochemicals found in plants includes terpenoids, polypophenols and glucosinolates. Terpenoids are classified into carotenoids (lycoppene, -carotene, -carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and astaxanthin) and non carotenoids (perillul alcohol, saponins, terpeneol, terpene and limonoids) terpenoids. Polyphenols include flavonoid polyphenolics (anthocyanins, catechins, isoflvones,

hesperidins, naringin, rutin, quercetin, silymarin, tangeretin and tannins); phenolic acids (ellagic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, phytic acid and cinnamic acid) and other non flavonoid polyphenolics (cucurmin, reseveratrol and lignans). Glucosinolates are mainly grouped into isothiocyanates (phenethyl isothiocynate, benzyl isothiocyanate & sulforaphane) and indoles (indole acetic acid). The other plant compounds are thiosulfonates, phytosterols

( sitosterol), anthroquinones (senna, barbalin and hypericin), capsaicin, piperine, chlorophyll, betaine and pectin. Neutraceticals mostly phytochemicals derived from dietary or medicinal plants such as soybean, ginger, tea and others may have chemo preventive activity as suggested by epidemiologic and animal model studies. Their ability to reduce cancer incidence in these studies is likely related to apoptosis. There are many plant based products which have been reported for bioactivity for various health benefits. Among these, lycopene in tomato reduces risk of prostate cancer; cruciferous vegetables (glucosinolates, indoles) and green tea (catechins) reduce the risk of cancer; soybeans and soy based foods (protein, isoflavones, daidzein, genistein) reduce total and LDL cholesterol. Brocoli sprouts (selenium and sulforaphane) lower the risk of cancer and inducer of detoxifying enzymes; red wine (polyphenols) reduces the risk of heart diseases. Citrus, berries, red grapes and cherries contributes maintenance of healthy vision and may reduce the degenerative diseases. Although, the use of plants for medicinal uses by indigenous people for many continents has long history, only recently scientifically supported nutritional and medical evidence allowed phytonutrients to emerge as being potentially used in neutracetical industries. Much work needs to be done to determine the effective dose, safe regimens and molecular mechanisms of action before these neutraceticals can be used for the treatments for various diseases. There is also need for more information about the health benefits and possible risks to ensure the efficacy of dietary supplements.