TABLE 1.
Functional compounds and their health benefits.
| Sl. No | Compound | Health benefits | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tocopherols, β-carotene | Antioxidants, reduce the risk of heart diseases and few types of cancers and protect from age-related muscular degeneration | Sies and Stahl, 1995; Gul et al., 2015, Jacobo- Valenzuela et al., 2011 |
| 2 | α-linolenic acid | Cardioprotective in nature, modulation of an inflammatory response, and improves central nervous system functions | Stark et al. (2008) |
| 3 | Astaxanthin | Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory improves blood circulation and brain functions, promote an integrated immune response | Kidd, (2011) |
| 4 | Anthocyanins | Acts as dietary antioxidants helps to prevent neural diseases, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, inflammation and many other diseases | Yousuf et al. (2016) |
| 5 | Tannins | Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancerous, antiallergic, antihelminthic and antimicrobial activities | Sharma et al. (2019) |
| 6 | β-glucan | Beneficial role in insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity | El Khoury et al. (2012) |
| 7 | Lycopene | Antioxidant, anticancer, protect against cardiovascular diseases, modulation of inflammatory responses, cholesterol reduction | Thies et al. (2017) |
| 8 | Flavonoids | Antioxidant, prevention of coronary heart diseases, hepatoprotective and anti-cancer activity | Yao et al., 2004; Yadav et al., 2020, Basu et al., 2018 |
| 9 | Vitamin C | Prevent scurvy, coronary heart diseases stroke and cancer | Granger and Eck (2018) |
| 10 | Alkaloids | Analgesic, antipyretic, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, improves brain functioning, antidiabetic and helps to treat gastroenteritis and chronic diseases | Derosa et al., 2016; Street et al., 2017, Adams et al., 2014 |
| 11 | Saponins | Lowers blood lipids, lower blood glucose response and cholesterol levels, reduce cancer risks | Shi et al. (2004) |
| 12 | Eugenol | Antioxidants, anti-inflammation, helps to control hyperglycemia, elevated cholesterol levels, neural disorders and cancer. Also, possess antimicrobial agent | Khalil et al. (2017) |
| 13 | Polyphenols | Neuroprotectve, anti-aging, Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory | Lau et al. (2005) |
| 14 | Isothiocyanates | Lowers the risk of liver, breast, lung cancers | Aghajanpour et al., 2017; Mohanty and Singhal, 2018; Kartikey et al., 2019 |
| 15 | Phytosterols | Anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, and cholesterol-lowering activity | Chongtham et al. (2011) |