microcystins, and cylindrospermopsin obtained from Anabaena, Microcystis and
Cylindrospermopsis (respectively) show larvicidal activity with [50 % mortality.
The aeruginosins particularly inhibit serine proteases (trypsin, chymotrypsin,
thrombin, or elastase) and have been regarded as a promising drug candidate
(Yadav et al. 2011).
Functional food products are nonhomogeneous food category; they are expanded
to all segments of the food and drink market (Siro et al. 2008). Functional foods are
predominantly found in the dairy, confectionery, soft drinks, bakery, and baby food
market (Menrad 2003). The use of natural compounds as inhibitory agents for
virulence factor production is a new approach to overcome increased antimicrobial
resistance in pathogenic bacteria (Niraula et al. 2010). Medicinal plants are the most
exclusive source of lifesaving drugs for a majority of the world’s population. The
utilization of plant cells for the production of natural or recombinant compounds of
commercial interest has gained increasing attention over the past decades. The
secondary metabolites are known to play a major role in the adaptation of plants to
their environment and also represent an important source of pharmaceuticals (Sun
et al. 2007; Jimenez-Garcia et al. 2013). Increasing epidemiological evidence
associates diets rich in fruits and vegetables with reduced risk of heart disease,
cancer, and other chronic diseases. A major benefit from such a diet may be
increased consumption of antioxidants, including carotenoids, ascorbate, tocopherols, and phenolics. One phenolic fraction, flavonoids, are potent antioxidants and
include compounds such as flavones, isoflavones, flavonones, catechins, and the red,
blue, and purple pigments known as anthocyanins (Côté et al. 2010).
Dietary flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin) possess antiviral,
anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, and antioxidant properties. They have been
reported to inhibit lipid peroxidation, to scavenge free radicals, to chelate iron and
copper ions (which can catalyze production of free radicals), and to modulate cell
signaling pathways (Côté et al. 2010; Jimenez-Garcia et al. 2013). Production of
peroxides and free radicals, which damage lipids, proteins, and DNA, has been
linked to cancer, aging, atherosclerosis, ischemic injury, inflammation, and
neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson and Alzheimer). Flavonoids protect lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol from being oxidized, preventing the formation of
atherosclerotic plaques in the arterial wall. They stimulate enzymes involved in
detoxification of cancerogenic substances and inhibit inflammation associated with
local production of free radicals (Hounsome et al. 2008; Aires et al. 2009).
There are also reports about the usage of alkaloids in pharmaceuticals well as
Rauwolfia canescens is a central nervous stimulator (Parsaeimehr et al. 2011).
Dietary saponins cause a reduction of blood cholesterol, inhibit growth of cancer
cells, and stimulate the immune system. Some saponins, such as sapotoxin, can be
toxic for humans causing irritation of membranes of the respiratory and digestive
tract, and increase the membrane permeability of red blood cells and urticaria (skin
rash) (Satwadhar et al. 2011).
Plant glucoalkaloids, solanine, tomatine, and chaconine are called saponins;
these are found in peas, beans, tomatoes, spinach, asparagus, onions, garlic, and
potatoes. However, certain glucosinolates (glucoraphanin, glucobrassin,
1 Strategies for Sustainable Plant Food Production
17
Cylindrospermopsis (respectively) show larvicidal activity with [50 % mortality.
The aeruginosins particularly inhibit serine proteases (trypsin, chymotrypsin,
thrombin, or elastase) and have been regarded as a promising drug candidate
(Yadav et al. 2011).
Functional food products are nonhomogeneous food category; they are expanded
to all segments of the food and drink market (Siro et al. 2008). Functional foods are
predominantly found in the dairy, confectionery, soft drinks, bakery, and baby food
market (Menrad 2003). The use of natural compounds as inhibitory agents for
virulence factor production is a new approach to overcome increased antimicrobial
resistance in pathogenic bacteria (Niraula et al. 2010). Medicinal plants are the most
exclusive source of lifesaving drugs for a majority of the world’s population. The
utilization of plant cells for the production of natural or recombinant compounds of
commercial interest has gained increasing attention over the past decades. The
secondary metabolites are known to play a major role in the adaptation of plants to
their environment and also represent an important source of pharmaceuticals (Sun
et al. 2007; Jimenez-Garcia et al. 2013). Increasing epidemiological evidence
associates diets rich in fruits and vegetables with reduced risk of heart disease,
cancer, and other chronic diseases. A major benefit from such a diet may be
increased consumption of antioxidants, including carotenoids, ascorbate, tocopherols, and phenolics. One phenolic fraction, flavonoids, are potent antioxidants and
include compounds such as flavones, isoflavones, flavonones, catechins, and the red,
blue, and purple pigments known as anthocyanins (Côté et al. 2010).
Dietary flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin) possess antiviral,
anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, and antioxidant properties. They have been
reported to inhibit lipid peroxidation, to scavenge free radicals, to chelate iron and
copper ions (which can catalyze production of free radicals), and to modulate cell
signaling pathways (Côté et al. 2010; Jimenez-Garcia et al. 2013). Production of
peroxides and free radicals, which damage lipids, proteins, and DNA, has been
linked to cancer, aging, atherosclerosis, ischemic injury, inflammation, and
neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson and Alzheimer). Flavonoids protect lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol from being oxidized, preventing the formation of
atherosclerotic plaques in the arterial wall. They stimulate enzymes involved in
detoxification of cancerogenic substances and inhibit inflammation associated with
local production of free radicals (Hounsome et al. 2008; Aires et al. 2009).
There are also reports about the usage of alkaloids in pharmaceuticals well as
Rauwolfia canescens is a central nervous stimulator (Parsaeimehr et al. 2011).
Dietary saponins cause a reduction of blood cholesterol, inhibit growth of cancer
cells, and stimulate the immune system. Some saponins, such as sapotoxin, can be
toxic for humans causing irritation of membranes of the respiratory and digestive
tract, and increase the membrane permeability of red blood cells and urticaria (skin
rash) (Satwadhar et al. 2011).
Plant glucoalkaloids, solanine, tomatine, and chaconine are called saponins;
these are found in peas, beans, tomatoes, spinach, asparagus, onions, garlic, and
potatoes. However, certain glucosinolates (glucoraphanin, glucobrassin,
1 Strategies for Sustainable Plant Food Production
17