ABSTRACT
Consumption of fruits and vegetables in daily diet is substantially escalating as they provide high amount of biologically active components or phytochemicals that bestow benefits to human health beyond basic nutritional needs. The biologically active compounds present in fruits and vegetables are diverse ranging from polyphenols, fibers, conjugated isomers of linoleic acid, gallate, D-limolene, epigallocatechin, soy protein, vitamins A, B, C, and E, isoflavones, selenium, calcium, alipharin, chlorophyllin, catechin, sulfides, tetrahydrocurecumin, uric acid, seasaminol, glutathione, indoles, thiocyanates, protease inhibitors, etc. These phyto-chemicals have been categorized into various broad classes such as phenolics, N-containing compounds, alkaloids, organosulfur compounds, and phytosterols. The intake of dietary phytochemicals is significantly related to lower mortality from coronary heart diseases and cancer. They prevent the low-density lipoprotein oxidation and also have anti-ischemic, 70antioxidative, antiangiogenic, antihypercholesteroemic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Likewise, they also inhibit the cancer progression by altering cellular signal transduction pathway and regulating apoptosis. Phytochemicals also have angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibiting and hypoglycemic role. In order to attain the maximum benefits, these phyto-chemicals are extracted by using conventional or modern techniques.
