Fruit Pod Extracts as a Source of Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals

Fruit pods contain various beneficial compounds that have biological activities and can be used as a source of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. Although pods or pericarps are usually discarded when consuming the edible parts of fruits, they contain some compounds that exhibit biological ac...

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Main Authors: Azrina Azlan, Azila Abdul Karim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2012-10-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/10/11931
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author Azrina Azlan
Azila Abdul Karim
author_facet Azrina Azlan
Azila Abdul Karim
author_sort Azrina Azlan
collection DOAJ
description Fruit pods contain various beneficial compounds that have biological activities and can be used as a source of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. Although pods or pericarps are usually discarded when consuming the edible parts of fruits, they contain some compounds that exhibit biological activities after extraction. Most fruit pods included in this review contain polyphenolic components that can promote antioxidant effects on human health. Additionally, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and chemopreventive effects are associated with these fruit pod extracts. Besides polyphenolics, other compounds such as xanthones, carotenoids and saponins also exhibit health effects and can be potential sources of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical components. In this review, information on fruit pods or pericarp of Garcinia mangostana, Ceratonia siliqua, Moringa oleifera, Acacia nilotica, Sapindus rarak and Prosopis cineraria is presented and discussed with regard to their biological activity of the major compounds existing in them. The fruit pods of other ethno- botanical plants have also been reviewed. It can be concluded that although fruit pods are considered as being of no practical use and are often being thrown away, they nevertheless contain compounds that might be useful sources of nutraceutical and other pharmaceutical components.
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spelling doaj.art-b923be420bb9412e936c6747a14cfe512022-12-21T17:56:18ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492012-10-011710119311194610.3390/molecules171011931Fruit Pod Extracts as a Source of Nutraceuticals and PharmaceuticalsAzrina AzlanAzila Abdul KarimFruit pods contain various beneficial compounds that have biological activities and can be used as a source of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. Although pods or pericarps are usually discarded when consuming the edible parts of fruits, they contain some compounds that exhibit biological activities after extraction. Most fruit pods included in this review contain polyphenolic components that can promote antioxidant effects on human health. Additionally, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal and chemopreventive effects are associated with these fruit pod extracts. Besides polyphenolics, other compounds such as xanthones, carotenoids and saponins also exhibit health effects and can be potential sources of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical components. In this review, information on fruit pods or pericarp of Garcinia mangostana, Ceratonia siliqua, Moringa oleifera, Acacia nilotica, Sapindus rarak and Prosopis cineraria is presented and discussed with regard to their biological activity of the major compounds existing in them. The fruit pods of other ethno- botanical plants have also been reviewed. It can be concluded that although fruit pods are considered as being of no practical use and are often being thrown away, they nevertheless contain compounds that might be useful sources of nutraceutical and other pharmaceutical components.http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/10/11931fruit podsbioactivenutraceuticalpharmaceutical
spellingShingle Azrina Azlan
Azila Abdul Karim
Fruit Pod Extracts as a Source of Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals
Molecules
fruit pods
bioactive
nutraceutical
pharmaceutical
title Fruit Pod Extracts as a Source of Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals
title_full Fruit Pod Extracts as a Source of Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals
title_fullStr Fruit Pod Extracts as a Source of Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals
title_full_unstemmed Fruit Pod Extracts as a Source of Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals
title_short Fruit Pod Extracts as a Source of Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals
title_sort fruit pod extracts as a source of nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals
topic fruit pods
bioactive
nutraceutical
pharmaceutical
url http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/17/10/11931
work_keys_str_mv AT azrinaazlan fruitpodextractsasasourceofnutraceuticalsandpharmaceuticals
AT azilaabdulkarim fruitpodextractsasasourceofnutraceuticalsandpharmaceuticals