Title Local Mediterranean food plants and nutraceuticals / volume editors, Michael Heinrich, Walter E. Müller, Claudio Galli

Published Basel ; New York : Karger, 2006

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Description 1 online resource (xii, 185 pages) : illustrations, maps Series Forum of nutrition, 1660-0347 ; v. 59 Forum of nutrition ; v. 59. 1660-0347 Contents Ethnobotany -- 'Local food-nutraceuticals': bridging the gap between local knowledge and global needs / Heinrich, M. [and others] -- Gathered Mediterranean food plants: ethnobotanical investigations and historical development / Rivera, D. [and others] -- Disseminating knowledge about 'local food plants' and 'local plant foods' / Rivera, D. [and others] -- Biological activities of 'local foods' -- Plant foods and brain aging: a critical appraisal / Schaffer, S. [and others] -- Local food and cardioprotection: the role of phytochemicals / Visioli, F. [and others] -- A vegetable to meat consumption ratio as a relevant factor determining cancer preventive diet. The Mediterranean versus other European countries / Kapiszewska, M. -- Mediterranean diet as a nutrition education and dietary guide: misconceptions and the neglected role of locally consumed foods and wild green plants / Manios, Y. [and others] -- Development of bioactive substances for functional foods: scientific and other aspects / Weber, P., Flühmann, B., Eggersdorfer, M Summary As a result of domestication - considered to be the most important cultural development of the past 13,000 years of human history - we depend today on a tiny number of domesticated plant and animal species for our food supply. Nevertheless, people continue to gather food which grows around their homes or they cultivate local varieties of food plants (as well as keep land races of domestic animals). Generally, wild varieties tend to be richer in micronutrients and bioactive secondary metabolites, which are produced in adaptation to local environmental conditions. These metabolites trigger further adaptive responses by producing 'protective', bioactive compounds which, when ingested, result in the transfer of protective effects to our organism. The preservation of local knowledge for future generations as well as the identification of new nutraceuticals by means of characterizing plant extracts with potential health beneficial effects are the main objectives of this book. The first part therefore focuses on the ethnobotanical study of local food plants in selected regions of the Mediterranean, i.e. their use as well as beliefs and cultural practices associated with it. The biological-pharmacological effects of these plants on selected (mostly in vitro) targets of the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system make up the second part, highlighting the potential of these plants for developing novel health foods, herbal medicines or local products with beneficial effects on health. Those interested in an integrated approach to the identification of new and health beneficial foods will undoubtedly find this book a valuable source of information and an inspiration for new scientific approaches to this age-old topic Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and indexes Subject Wild plants, Edible -- Mediterranean Region Vegetables in human nutrition -- Mediterranean Region Diet therapy -- Mediterranean Region Ethnobotany -- Mediterranean Region Dietary supplements. Plants, Edible. Diet therapy. Food -- Composition. Feeds -- Composition. Human beings. Humans Dietary Supplements Nutritive Value Plants, Edible Nutrition Therapy Diet Therapy Diet, Mediterranean Ethnobotany -- methods Functional Food Homo sapiens (species) SCIENCE -- Life Sciences -- Botany. Plants, Edible Food -- Composition Feeds -- Composition Dietary supplements Diet therapy Ethnobotany Vegetables in human nutrition Wild plants, Edible Valeur nutritive -- Région méditerranéenne. Plantes comestibles -- Région méditerranéenne. Diétothérapie -- Région méditerranéenne. Régime méditerranéen -- Région méditerranéenne. Ethnobotanique -- méthodes -- Région méditerranéenne. Plantes sauvages comestibles -- Méditerranée (région) Plantes comestibles -- Méditerranée (région) Diétothérapie -- Méditerranée (région) Nahrungspflanzen -- Nutraceutical -- Mittelmeerraum -- Aufsatzsammlung. Nutraceutical -- Nahrungspflanzen -- Mittelmeerraum -- Aufsatzsammlung. Mediterranean Region Mittelmeerraum -- Nahrungspflanzen -- Nutraceutical -- Aufsatzsammlung. Form Electronic book Author Heinrich, Michael, 1957 July 4- Müller, Walter E. (Walter Erhard), 1947- Galli, Claudio. ISBN 9783318013528 3318013528

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