Phytochemicals And Phytonutrients Flashcards
5 functions of Polyphenols in plants
–Protection against herbivores and microbial infection
–Attraction of pollinators and seed-dispersing animals
–Allelopathic agents
–UV protection
–Cell signaling for formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules
•Polyphenol intake has been associated with prevention of several diseases, including (4 things)
cancer, CVD, diabetes, and impaired cognitive function
6 categories of flavonoids
- Flavonols
- Flavones
- Isoflavones
- Flavanones
- Anthocyanidins
- Flavan-3-ols
The majority of flavonoids occur as ______ rather than aglycone
glycosides
4 categories of non flavonoids
- Gallic acid
- Ellagic acid
- Chlorogenic acid
- Stilbenes (resveratrol)
3 Most common flavanols are
kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin
Quercetin is present in high amounts in what foods
red and yellow onions
How do flavones differ from flavanols
Similar to flavonols in structure but lack oxygen at C-3
Flavones are present in what 3 things
Celery
Parsley
Some herbs
Flavanols and flavones both occur as
Glycosides
Where isoflavones found
almost exclusively in legumes like soy
Heats effects on the amount of isoflavones in soy products
decreases the content of isoflavones in soy products
2 main isoflavones in soy products
Daidzein and genistein
Fermented soy products are rich in
aglycone forms of daidzein and genistein as a result of hydrolysis of the glycosides
–Isoflavones are classified as phytoestrogens because of
the structural similarity with estrogen
2 main flavonones
Naringenin and hesperetin
Flavonones are usually present as glycosides
T/F
T
Where are flavonones mainly found
Present in high amounts in citrus fruits
Gallic acid found?
found in green and black tea
Gallic acid 2 main roles
Main roles in human health are as antioxidants and in chemoprevention
Ellagic acid found in what 7 things
raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, walnuts, hazelnuts, persimmons, pomegranates
4 effects of ellagic acid
–Anti-inflammatory
–Anti-estrogenic
–Antimicrobial
–Antioxidant
Chlorogenic acid found in
Coffee
Stillbenes (resveratrol) found in
found in red and white wine
–Intake of flavan-3-ol-rich cocoa and chocolate have been shown to significantly decrease what?
systolic blood pressure in normal and hypertensive subjects
Intake of flavan-3-ol-rich cocoa from 2 to 12 weeks has been shown to improve
endothelial vasodilation in different populations
Other effects of short term consumption of flavan-3-ol-rich cocoa are: 4 things
inhibition of platelet activation, decrease in LDL, increase in HDL, and improvement in insulin resistance in various populations
Role of glucosinolates in plants
•Protection against predators
Protection from glucosinolates only occurs when?
Myrosinase comes into contact with glucosinolates
5 mechanisms by which glucosinolates protect from cancer
–Inhibition of phase I enzymes –Stimulation of phase II enzymes –Inhibition of cell proliferation –Stimulation of apoptosis –Epigenetic regulation
Inhibition of phase I enzymes has what effect
Decreases the activation of carcinogens
Stimulation of phase II enzymes has what effect
•Increases excretion of carcinogens
–Stimulation of apoptosis has what effect
•Increases programmed death of an injured cell
Epigenic regulation has what effect
•Decrease in methylation of the promoter region of certain genes
8 benefits of phytochemicals and phytonutrients
–antioxidant –anti-bacterial –anti-fungal –anti-inflammatory –anti-cancer –neuroprotective –hypolipidemic –anti-allergy
