TY - CHAP
T1 - Phytoestrogens, phytosteroids and saponins in vegetables
T2 - Biosynthesis, functions, health effects and practical applications
AU - Di Gioia, Francesco
AU - Petropoulos, Spyridon A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Phytoestrogens are non-steroidal secondary metabolites with similarities in structure and biological activities with human estrogens divided into various classes of compounds, including lignans, isoflavones, ellagitannins, coumestans and stilbenes. Similarly, phytosteroids are steroidal compounds of plant origin which have estrogenic effects and can act as agonists, antagonists, or have a mixed agonistic/antagonistic activity to animal steroid receptors. On the other hand, saponins are widely distributed plant glucosides divided into triterpenoid and steroidal saponins that contribute to plant defense mechanism against herbivores. They present a great variation from a structural point of view, including compounds from different classes. In this chapter, the main vegetable sources of these compounds will be presented, while details regarding their biosynthesis and plant functions will be also discussed. Moreover, considering the significant bioactive properties that these compounds exhibit, special focus will be given on their health effects, either beneficial or adverse. The practical applications of these compounds in agriculture and phytomedicine will be also demonstrated, as well as the future prospects for related research.
AB - Phytoestrogens are non-steroidal secondary metabolites with similarities in structure and biological activities with human estrogens divided into various classes of compounds, including lignans, isoflavones, ellagitannins, coumestans and stilbenes. Similarly, phytosteroids are steroidal compounds of plant origin which have estrogenic effects and can act as agonists, antagonists, or have a mixed agonistic/antagonistic activity to animal steroid receptors. On the other hand, saponins are widely distributed plant glucosides divided into triterpenoid and steroidal saponins that contribute to plant defense mechanism against herbivores. They present a great variation from a structural point of view, including compounds from different classes. In this chapter, the main vegetable sources of these compounds will be presented, while details regarding their biosynthesis and plant functions will be also discussed. Moreover, considering the significant bioactive properties that these compounds exhibit, special focus will be given on their health effects, either beneficial or adverse. The practical applications of these compounds in agriculture and phytomedicine will be also demonstrated, as well as the future prospects for related research.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85062148200&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85062148200&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/bs.afnr.2019.02.004
DO - 10.1016/bs.afnr.2019.02.004
M3 - Chapter
C2 - 31445599
AN - SCOPUS:85062148200
SN - 9780128165676
T3 - Advances in Food and Nutrition Research
SP - 351
EP - 421
BT - Functional Food Ingredients from Plants
A2 - Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.
A2 - Barros, Lillian
PB - Academic Press Inc.
ER -