phytochemicals are bioactive compounds that are naturally present in plants and their secretions vary from plant to plant. the term 'phyto' is a Greek word which means plants origin. so these are the plant based non nutrients compounds which helps body to prevent from many chronic diseases. These are not essential compounds for human body like other macro and micro nutrients but are important in preventing many health related disorders. Provides antioxidant and other substances that body does not produce on its own.

classification of phytochemicals


Phytochemicals: These are the chemicals that are naturally produced in a plant as a secondary metabolites.

phytonutrient: Compounds that is been consumed in a meal.

Photoactive: It is the activity that is performed by a phytonutrient in human body.

Phytonutrients and colors:

Different colors of food are associated with availability of different phytochemicals and many foods contain more than one phytonutrient.
for example:
  • Green color fruits and vegetables like Brussels sprouts and kale contain phytochemicals (chrollophyll, isoflavones and isothiocyanates).
  •  Spinach, black radish and beans contain tannins and saponins.
  •  White color foods like garlic, mashrooms and onions contain phenolic acid, flavon allicin etc.
  •  Yellow and orange color fruits like carrots, citrus and sweet potatoes contain beta carotene, curcumin and bromelain.
  •   Purple and blue color foods like blue berries, cran berries, grapes and cabbage contain anthocyanidins, stilbenes and reverstrol.
  •  Red color foods like cherries, berries and tomatoes contain lycopene, nitrate and betacyanins.
  •  Brown color foods like beans, coca and oats contain lignans, beta glucan and theobromine.

Benefits of phytochemicals:

  • As human consumes these phytochemicals through foods. Food containing phytochemicals in it are considered as functional foods. Neutraceuticals also contain phytochemicals but they are in derived form.
  • Every food contain different type of phytochemicals with different type of health benefits to our body.
  • Phytochemicals play a very pivotal role in human health through various effective ways.
  •  As all phytochemicals are anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant in nature and some are anti-inflammatory, increased activity of enzymes that detoxify, effect DNA metabolism, maintenance of DNA repair, increase in apoptosis of cancer cells, decrease cell proliferation etc.

Other benefits of phytochemicals:

Phytochemical usage are not only limited to human health. In today's technology phytochemicals play an important role in medicinal use. Most of the medicines are plant derived. Ayurveda, unani and herbal medicines play important role sine ancient times.
In addition phytochemicals are also used in cosmetics, health, hygiene, fragrance and food supplements.

Classification:

Phytochemicals are classified according to its origin, modes of action, chemical structure and function performed in body. There are 25000 of phytochemicals have been discovered yet.
Major classes of phytochemicals are:
  •  Polyphenols
  •  carotenoids
  •  glucosinolates
  •   other bioactive plant compounds

Polyphenols:

polyphenols are also known as phenolic. Polyphenols are further consist of:

  1.   Flavonoids
  2.   Stilbenes
  3.   Phenolic acid
  4.   Lignans
  5.   Others

1.Flavonoids are secondary plant metabolites with a polyphenolic structure. Sub secondary classes of polyphenols are:

  •  Flavones
  •  Isoflavonoids
  •  Anthocyanins
  •  Chalcones
  •  Flavanols
  •  Flavanones

flavonoid activity are recorded as antioxidant, anti inflammatory, anti mutagenic and anti carcinogenic also associated with key cellular enzyme functions. About 6000 flavonoids components are considered as colorfull pigments in plants. 

2.Stilbenes are polyphenols with high bioavailability and nerve protective actions. 

3. phenolic acid are polyphenols with a carboxylic group at one end largely found in fruits and vegetables.

4.Lignans have a steroid like chemical structure associated with antioxidant, anti inflammatory, anti tumor activities and balancing metabolic and hormonal system.

Carotenoids:

Carotenoids are associated with yellow and orange pigments in plants and vegetables. Classes of carotenoids are:

  1. Alpha carotenoids
  2. Beta carotenoids
  3. Alpha cryptoxanthin

 All of these carotenoids have a pro vitamin activity in human body.

Glucosinolates:

glucosinoltes are sulphur containing phytochemicals which are majorly found in fruits and vegetables like broccoli, kale and cabbage.

3 types of glucosinolates are:

  1. Glucobrassicin
  2.  Gluconasturtin
  3.  Glucorapanin
  1. Other compounds are chrolophyll and betalins. betalins include betacyanins and betaxanthins.