Carotenoids: Structure and Function in the Human Body

Plants produce chemicals that can have therapeutic effects in humans, such as alkaloids, coumarins, saponins, plant pigments, and flavonoids. Carotenoids, in particular, are well-known for their antioxidant properties. Carotenoids: Structure and Function in the Human Body provides comprehensive coverage of carotenoids, including their structural and physicochemical properties, distribution in nature, interaction with the human metabolism, and use as a coloring agent. It also discusses the intake, metabolism, and secretion of anthocyanins in the human body and the biosynthetic pathways through which they are synthesized.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 859 pages
Publication date: 19 February 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Plants produce a wide range of chemicals as part of their normal metabolic processes, including primary metabolites such as sugars and fats, as well as secondary metabolites that have therapeutic effects on humans and can be refined to produce drugs. These compounds are known as phytochemicals, and plants synthesize them using a limited number of biochemical motifs.

Numerous herbal-derived substances have been evaluated for their therapeutic potential, including alkaloids, coumarins, saponins, plant pigments, and flavonoids. Flavonoids, carotenoids, and anthocyanins are among the most well-known of these compounds due to their antioxidant properties.

Carotenoids: Structure and Function in the Human Body is a comprehensive textbook that covers the scientific literature and clinical significance of this organic pigment. The book explores carotenoids from various perspectives, including their structural and physicochemical properties, distribution in nature, interactions with human metabolism, and use as a coloring agent in various products.

The text also provides in-depth coverage of the intake, metabolism, and secretion of anthocyanins in the human body, as well as the biosynthetic pathways through which these compounds are synthesized in the natural system. Factors affecting stability and extraction are discussed, and the book explores the health-related uses and biological activities of carotenoids in great detail.

Furthermore, the book presents and discusses current and future trends in carotenoid research, making it an invaluable resource for researchers and professionals in food science, food technology, nutrition, biology, chemistry, and medical sciences.

Weight: 1318g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030464615
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021