Nutraceuticals: Transformation of Conventional Foods into Health Promoters/Disease Preventers and Safety Considerations

Nutraceuticals are essential food constituents that provide nutritional benefits as well as medicinal effects. The benefits of these foods are due to the presence of active compounds such as carotenoids, collagen hydrolysate, and dietary fibers. Nutraceuticals have been found to positively affect cardiovascular and immune system health and have a role in infection and cancer prevention. Nutraceuticals can be categorized into different classes based on their nature and mode of action. In this review, different classifications of nutraceuticals and their potential therapeutic activity, such as anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-lipid activity in disease will be reviewed. Moreover, the different mechanisms of action of these products, applications, and safety upon consumers including current trends and future prospect of nutraceuticals will be included.

Automated summary

Nutraceuticals, essential food constituents with medicinal effects, have active compounds like carotenoids and collagen hydrolysate that positively impact cardiovascular and immune system health. Categorized based on nature and mode of action, they show potential therapeutic activities in disease prevention such as anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-lipid effects. Research also covers mechanisms of action, safety for consumers, and future prospects in nutraceutical development.