ABSTRACT
Owing to changes in lifestyle, diet, and improvement in healthcare leading to longer life expectancy, mankind is faced with the ever-rising global threat of non-communicable diseases, carrying with them several morbidities and mortalities. There is a global shift in treatment modali-ties, with the proactive approach of using preventive medicine on the rise. This has largely taken the form of nutraceuticals, pharmafoods, functional, and designer foods. However, there is a lot of confusion in distinguishing these substances, based on what they are, what they do, and how they can be obtained inter alia. They have been shown to prevent and even treat various diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension among others. This chapter focuses on nutraceuticals from plant sources, their classification, phytochemistry, as well as their biological and the therapeutic activities. A clear understanding of what these substances are, where they can be obtained from, and encouraging their regular consuming, can go a long way in mitigating disease and improving our quality of life.
