3.1 Nutritional Importance of Polyphenols
41
catechin (Lambert and Elias 2010; van Duynhoven et al. 2013; Delgado et al. 2017a,
b). The clinical importance of catechins, including EGCG and similar molecules, is
correlated with the possible interaction and modulation of gut microbiota (NCBI
2018). Other molecules—phenolic acids and other compounds—are reported to
justify anti-inflammatory and antitumoral properties (Lorenzo and Munekata 2016).
Other infusions are claimed to have excellent health properties, such as South
American yerba mate infusions. Their traditional use is linked with folk medicine, and
more research is needed before confirming these properties. Anyway, the existences
of many historical traditions such as coffee and tea-related use in Med Diet seem
to be a constant feature worldwide. Some examples are chamomile infusions (from
flowers of Chamaemelum nobile), balm (Melissa officinalis) and Lemon verbena
(Hanganu et al. 2008; NCBI 2018; Srivastava et al. 2009).
The first of these beverages is claimed to have anti-inflammatory properties and
other characteristics, probably due to o-steroidal drugs. However, the phenolic fraction is notable, with the main presence of 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (or neo-chlorogenic
acid).
Balm can be available and used in different ways, and not only as infusion products. The phenolic profile is really heterogeneous, including caffeic acid, luteolin,
rosmarinic acid, etc.
With reference to lemon verbena, another plant originated from South America,
it is considered as a relaxing product in folk medicine. One of the most important
phenolic acids in related infusions is probably verbascoside or acteoside (Delgado
et al. 2017a, b; NCBI 2018).
3.1.6 Pulses
‘Pulses are a type of leguminous crop that is harvested solely for the dry seed. Dried
beans, lentils and peas are the most commonly known and consumed types of pulses’
(FAO 2015). Pulses are considered as good sources of phytochemical compounds
such as polyphenols; those compounds vary in concentration and in category among
different pulse species and varieties (Singh et al. 2017).
The wide range of polyphenols provided by pulses encompass: phenolic acids
and their derivatives, flavanols, flavan-3-ols, anthocyanins and condensed tannins.
Flavonoids, phenolic acids and procyanidins have been reported to dominate the
phenolic fraction of lentils, peas and common beans (Giusti et al. 2017; Zhang
et al. 2015). Reported studies have demonstrated that pulses provide a considerable
amount of polyphenols, which may range from 3 mg/kg (for dehulled red lentils)
to 1630.5 mg/kg for ruviotto beans. Based on the same study, a correlation between
the colour and the richness of polyphenols has been established. High antioxidant
activity correlates better with dark pulses than with pale-seed varieties. In previous
studies to this one, some authors reported flavonol glycosides, anthocyanins and
tannins to be responsible for the seed coat colour in dry beans (Choung et al. 2003;
41
catechin (Lambert and Elias 2010; van Duynhoven et al. 2013; Delgado et al. 2017a,
b). The clinical importance of catechins, including EGCG and similar molecules, is
correlated with the possible interaction and modulation of gut microbiota (NCBI
2018). Other molecules—phenolic acids and other compounds—are reported to
justify anti-inflammatory and antitumoral properties (Lorenzo and Munekata 2016).
Other infusions are claimed to have excellent health properties, such as South
American yerba mate infusions. Their traditional use is linked with folk medicine, and
more research is needed before confirming these properties. Anyway, the existences
of many historical traditions such as coffee and tea-related use in Med Diet seem
to be a constant feature worldwide. Some examples are chamomile infusions (from
flowers of Chamaemelum nobile), balm (Melissa officinalis) and Lemon verbena
(Hanganu et al. 2008; NCBI 2018; Srivastava et al. 2009).
The first of these beverages is claimed to have anti-inflammatory properties and
other characteristics, probably due to o-steroidal drugs. However, the phenolic fraction is notable, with the main presence of 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (or neo-chlorogenic
acid).
Balm can be available and used in different ways, and not only as infusion products. The phenolic profile is really heterogeneous, including caffeic acid, luteolin,
rosmarinic acid, etc.
With reference to lemon verbena, another plant originated from South America,
it is considered as a relaxing product in folk medicine. One of the most important
phenolic acids in related infusions is probably verbascoside or acteoside (Delgado
et al. 2017a, b; NCBI 2018).
3.1.6 Pulses
‘Pulses are a type of leguminous crop that is harvested solely for the dry seed. Dried
beans, lentils and peas are the most commonly known and consumed types of pulses’
(FAO 2015). Pulses are considered as good sources of phytochemical compounds
such as polyphenols; those compounds vary in concentration and in category among
different pulse species and varieties (Singh et al. 2017).
The wide range of polyphenols provided by pulses encompass: phenolic acids
and their derivatives, flavanols, flavan-3-ols, anthocyanins and condensed tannins.
Flavonoids, phenolic acids and procyanidins have been reported to dominate the
phenolic fraction of lentils, peas and common beans (Giusti et al. 2017; Zhang
et al. 2015). Reported studies have demonstrated that pulses provide a considerable
amount of polyphenols, which may range from 3 mg/kg (for dehulled red lentils)
to 1630.5 mg/kg for ruviotto beans. Based on the same study, a correlation between
the colour and the richness of polyphenols has been established. High antioxidant
activity correlates better with dark pulses than with pale-seed varieties. In previous
studies to this one, some authors reported flavonol glycosides, anthocyanins and
tannins to be responsible for the seed coat colour in dry beans (Choung et al. 2003;