Phytonutrients and phytochemistry Flashcards

1
Q

What are phytonutrients?

A

The plant makes chemicals in reaction to it’s environment.

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2
Q

What may phytochemicals be?

A
  1. medicines for the plant itself.
  2. protection from animal predation.
  3. communication between plants, animals and bacteria.
  4. chemicals produced as part of plant growth cycle.
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3
Q

How do phytonutrients work?

A
  1. function as antioxidants
  2. regulate the cell cycle
  3. increase detoxification of carinogenic compounds
  4. reduce DNA damage
  5. mimic or interact with hormones
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4
Q

Are all phytochemicals helpful? Why?

A

No. Some phytochemicals are dangerous or toxic to the body. E.g. many alkaloid class of phytochemicals are the basis for pharmaceutical drugs (morphine).

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5
Q

Phytates (found in beans, grains and legumes) can prevent the absorption of which minerals?

A

zinc
iron
calcium

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6
Q

Identify 4 differences in phytochemicals in plants.

A
  1. soil and water conditions
  2. humans and other animals around them
  3. climate
  4. bacteria, virus and pathogens
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7
Q

What can knowing the polarity and solubility help us find out about phytochemicals?

A

The best extraction methods for ingesting or preserving.

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8
Q

Phenols and polyphenols are also known as?

A

Phenolic compounds

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9
Q

What do the phenolic compounds include?

A

flavonoids
phenolic acids
lignans
tyrosol esters

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10
Q

What are the 6 major subgroups of flavonoids?

A
flavanols
flavones
flavonols
flavanones
anthocyanins
isoflavonoids
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11
Q

What are flavonoids and carotenes together responsible for?

A

The colouring of fruits, vegetables and herbs.

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12
Q

What actions do flavonoids contain?

A
antioxidant
anti-allergic
anti-cancer
anti-inflammatory
anti-viral
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13
Q

What is epicatechin (flavonoid)?

A

A strong antioxidant, has insulin mimic action and improves heart health.

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14
Q

Name 2 health benefits of catechins.

A

reduce damage to the brain after a stroke (in mice)

enhances muscle fatigue resistance (in mice)

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15
Q

What are the health benefits of quercetin?

A

cancer (breast, colon, leaukaemia)
antioxidant and CVD prevention (reduced oxidised LDL)
athletes (improves lean body mass)
immune (inhibits histamine)

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16
Q

What is kaemferol?

A

A flavonoid. A yellow coloured powder and a strong antioxidant

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17
Q

Name two health benefits of kaemferol.

A
  1. Prevents arteriosclerosis by inhibiting the oxidation of LDL and formation of platelets in the blood.
  2. Chemopreventative agent - inhibits formation of cancer cells.
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18
Q

Name the flavonoid in grapefruit? What are the health benefits of grapefruit?

A
Naringin.
antioxidant
anti-carcinogenic
cholesterol lowering activity
reduces retinal disease linked to diabetes.
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19
Q

What are the contraindications of kaemferol?

A

Can interfere with certain drug metabolism including calcium channel blockers, sedatives, anti-depressants, warfarin, caffeine and oestrogen.

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20
Q

What is another name given to isolfavones and why?

A

Phytoestrogens because they have some oestrogen activity.

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21
Q

The richest food source of isoflavones is?

A

soybeans especially soy protein (tofu)

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22
Q

The biological effects of soy isofavones are strongly influenced by their metabolism which is strongly influenced by what?

A

Dependent on the activity of bacteria that colonize the human intestine.

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23
Q

Name 2 benefits of soy isoflavones and other phytoestrogens?

A

Oestrogenic effects in some tissues could help maintain bone density (osteoporosis)and improve blood lipid profiles (CVD).

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24
Q

Soy protein isolates prepared by ? tends to retain the isoflavones?

A

aqueous wash processes

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25
Q

What is the western equivalent of phytoestrogens instead of soy?

A

Lignans

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26
Q

Does flaxseed oil provide lignans?

A

No only the seed.

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27
Q

What are the health benefits of lignans (in particular flaxseed)?

A

might relieve constipation
lowers risk of lung cancer
slow proliferation of prostate epithelium
may lower blood glucose levels

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28
Q

What are proanthocyanidins?

A

Oligomeric flavonoids, mainly found in the skin of grapes. Gives it it’s red, blue, purple colours.

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29
Q

What are the health benefits of proanthocyanidins?

A

antioxidant
cardio protective effect
stabilise collagen and elastin (anti-aging)
anti-cancer
anti-allergic (inhibits enzymes that produce histamine)

30
Q

High levels of anthocyanins are found in?

A

Acai, blackcurrent, blueberry, bilberry, cherry, red grape and purple corn.

31
Q

What are anthocyanins protective against in plants?

A

UV radiation

32
Q

What group does cyanidin belong to and where can you find them?

A

Anthocyanins.

In most red coloured berries and some other fruits.

33
Q

What are some of the health benefits of cyanidin?

A

anticarcinogenic activity
vasprotective
anti-inflammatory
anti diabetes

34
Q

What is the most studied stilbenoid?

A

Resveratrol

35
Q

What are the health benefits of resveratrol?

A
heart health
anti-aging (marketed use)
anti-toxic
may increase sperm count and testosterone levels in males
antioxidant
anti-cancer
36
Q

How can red wine consumption help with CVD?

A

it contains resveratrol and even higher levels of flavonoids (compounds with anti-inflammatory and anti atherogenic properties).

37
Q

Identify an interaction/safety concern with resveratrol.

A

High intake from supplements could increase the risk of bleeding when taking anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin.

38
Q

What are phytosterols?

A

Plant derived lipids that are similar in structure and function to cholesterol.

39
Q

What is the outcome of high intakes of plant sterols or stanols?

A

It can lower serum total and LDL cholesterol concentrations in humans.

40
Q

What can sitosterols help induce?

A

Aptosis when added to cultured human prostate, brest and colon cancer cells.

41
Q

How can sitosterols help benign prostatic hyperplasia patients?

A

Significantly improve urinary symptoms and increases maximum urinary flow

42
Q

What are isothiocyanates?

A

Biologically active breakdown products of the sulphur rich glucosinolates.

43
Q

What are the food sources of isothiocyanates?

A

cruciferous veg such as broccoli, cabbage, kale, bok choi, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, watercress

44
Q

How can we increase the absorption of isothiocyanates?

A

By chewing raw cruciferous veg which increases the glucosinolate contact with myrosinase (enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of glucosinates).

45
Q

How can isothiocyanates inhibit carcinogen activation?

A

CYP450 enzymes (cytochrome)

46
Q

What is indole-3-carbinol (I3C)?

A

A compound derived by the enzymatic hydrolysis of a specific glucosinate known as glucobrassicin, which is first broken down into Di-Indole Methane (DIM).

47
Q

Indole-3-carbinol induces which enzymes?

A

Phase 1 and 2.

48
Q

Indole-3-carbinol induces CYP1A1 (phase 1 enzyme). What is this responsible for?

A

oestrogen metabolism, decreasing the availability of oestrogen metabolites that promote cancer growth.

49
Q

Name two interactions/safety concerns with Indole-3-Carbinol.

A

skin rash

tremor

50
Q

How are carotenoids absorbed?

A

Highly hydrophobic and absorbed via lipids.

51
Q

What are the most common carotenoids in western diets (5)?

A
alpha carotene
beta-carotene
beta cryptoxanthin
lutein zeaxanthin
lycopene
52
Q

Food sources of carotenoids

A

yellow, orange and red fruits and vegetable and green vegetables.

53
Q

The conversion of pro vitamin A to vitamin A is dependent on what?

A

status of vitamin A in individual. It is inhibited when vit A stores are high.

54
Q

Name two therapeutic benefits of a diet rich in carotenoids.

A
  1. can decrease the risk of ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women.
  2. reduces the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women.
55
Q

Name 3 food sources rich in beta carotene.

A

carrots
pumpkin seed
spinach

56
Q

Why doesn’t high intake of beta carotene result in vitamin A toxicity? What can high doses cause?

A

Because the proportion converted to vitamin A decreases as beta-carotene intake increases.
Yellow or orange skin pigmentation.

57
Q

Which 3 groups of people should not take beta-carotene supplements?

A

smokers
people consuming alcohol
people with a history of asbestos

58
Q

What are the therapeutic effects of consuming high amounts of lutein in your diet?

A

reduced risk of developing Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
reduce cancer risk reducing oxidative damage to DNA..

59
Q

Which food sources are astaxanthins found?

A

algae
crustaceans
fish

60
Q

What are the properties found in astaxanthins?

A
antioxidant
anti-tumour
anti-cancer
anti-diabetic
anti-inflammation
61
Q

What is Lycopene?

A

Non vitamin A carotenoid, it is a fat soluble red pigment produced by plants.

62
Q

What are the food sources of lycopene?

A
Mainly tomatoes
Guava
pink grapefruit
watermelon
papaya
63
Q

What are the properties found in lycopene?

A
hypo-cholesterolemic
cardio-protective
anti-inflammatory
anti-mutagenic
anti-cancer
64
Q

Which type of cancer may help with lycopene consumption and why?

A

prostate cancer, because the highest amount of lycopene is found in the testes. It reduces proliferation of prostatic epithelial cells.

65
Q

How is lycopene best absorbed?

A

Processed and cooked sources rather than raw. Mixing with oils and fats increases bio-availability.

66
Q

Limonene is classified chemically as?

A

monoterpene

67
Q

What might limonene prevent and stimulate?

A

tumour cell proliferation

immune system

68
Q

What symptoms might oral limonene cause?

A

nausea
vomiting
diarrhoea

69
Q

What are punicalagins?

A

Tannins, large polyphenol compounds found in pomegranates.

70
Q

Studies show that Pomegranate juice may slow down what?

A

progression of atherosclerosis.

71
Q

Why might patients be asked to stop drinking/eat pomegranates?

A

Consumption of pomegranates for many years may cause swelling of the tongue or face.

72
Q

What drug interaction does pomegranate juice have?

A

ACE inhibitor side effects