ABSTRACT
Bioactive compounds have a great impact on health. Plants contain a variety of biologically active phytochemicals. Meat and cured meats also contain various bioactive compounds. Both plant and animal products contain bioactive compounds and they can be produced synthetically. Fatty acids present in milk and fish are examples of bioactive compounds in animal products. Examples of bioactive compounds are caffeine, carotenoids, flavonoids, carnitine, choline, creatine, coenzyme Q, dithiolthiones, polysaccharides, phytosterols, phytoestrogens, glucosinolates, polyphenols, prebiotics, taurine, and anthocyanins. Production and utilization of bioactive compounds of meat origin, including bioactive peptides which can be generated from meat proteins, is a promising means for the development of nutritionally rich functional meat products.
