ABSTRACT
Nutraceuticals are phytocomplexes or animal derivatives that contain a wide array of vitamins, minerals, dietary fibres, etc., and act as nutritional supplements associated with lifelong healthy diets. India, presently the second most populous nation in the world, has been an emerging landscape for the origin and development of the nutraceutical industry with the abundance of new products available and growing in South India. This chapter deals with nutraceuticals, particularly significant in South India, and a wide range of applications of nutraceuticals as nanomaterials and nutraceutical formulations. Consumer behaviour has undergone a paradigm shift with immunity taking centre stage, more and more people are relying on nutraceuticals and the awareness of its preventive care at 360° has become a priority. South India can boast of its rich heritage in herbal and ayurvedic medicines with the segment likely to contribute 30%of the dietary supplement market in India. The role of herbs in Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha as medicine can be substantiated with references and solid practices adopted by healing practitioners. The bioefficacy of nutraceutical ingredients could be extended to regenerative medicine with increased opportunities paving the way to exponential growth and as a safe and viable approach to enhance health standards and decrease the risks of certain diseases.
