Plant Secondary Metabolites: Occurrence, Structure and Role in the Human Diet covers the main groups of natural products from a chemical and biosynthetic perspective.

This book illustrates how genetic engineering can be applied to manipulate levels of secondary metabolites of economic value, as well as those of potential importance in diet and health.

These descriptive chapters are augmented by chapters showing where these products are found in the diet, how they are metabolized and reviewing the evidence for their beneficial bioactivity.

Special Features:

• Detailed coverage of secondary metabolite biosynthesis, incorporating the latest research results to give the reader the most up to date review of this topic
• First book to consider the nutritional and health aspects of secondary metabolites
• Illustrates the impact gene technology can have on these important substances – from increasing the amount of antioxidants in tomatoes to growing coffee without caffeine

Contents

1 Phenols, Polyphenols and Tannins: An Overview

• Classification of phenolic compounds
• Biosynthesis
• Databases

2 Sulfur-Containing Compounds

• The glucosinolates-myrosinase system
• Chemical diversity of glucosinolates in dietary crucifers
• Biosynthesis
• Genetic factors affecting glucosinolate expression
• Environmental factors affecting glucosinolate expression
• Myrosinases and glucosinolate hydrolysis
• Hydrolytic Products
• Metabolism and detoxification of isothiocyanates
• The Alliin-alliinase system
• Biological activity of sulfur-containing compounds
• Anti-nutritional effects in livestock and humans.
• Beneficial effects of sulfur-containing compounds products in the human diet

3 Terpenes

• The biosynthesis of IPP and DMAPP
• Enzymes of terpene biosynthesis
• Isoprenoid biosynthesis in the plastids
• Isoprenoid biosynthesis in the cytosol
• Terpenes in the environment and human health: future prospects

4 Alkaloids

• Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids
• Tropane alkaloids
• Nicotine
• Terpenoid indole alkaloids
• Purine alkaloids
• Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
• Other alkaloids
• Metabolic engineering

5 Polyacetylenes and Psoralens

• Acetylenes in common food plants
• Distribution and biosynthesis
• Psoralens in common food plants
• Perspectives in relation to food safety

6 Functions of the Human Intestinal Flora: The Use of Probiotics and Prebiotics

• Composition of the gut microflora
• Successional development and the gut microflora in old age
• Modulation of the gut microflora through dietary means
• In vitro and in vivo measurement of microbial activities
• Molecular methodologies for assessing microflora changes
• Assessing the impact of dietary change of the gut microflora – does it improve health, what are the likelihoods for success, biomarkers of success?
• Justification for the use of probiotics and prebiotics to modulate the gut flora composition

7 Secondary Metabolites in Fruits, Vegetables, Beverages and Other Plant-Based Dietary Components

• Dietary phytochemicals
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Herbs and Spices
• Cereals
• Nuts
• Algae
• Beverages
• Databases

8 Absorption and Metabolism of Plant Secondary Metabolites

• Flavonoids
• Hydroxycinnamic acids
• Gallic acid and ellagic acid
• Dihydrochalcones
• Betalains
• Glucosinolates
• Carotenoids

Index

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