Phytonutrients and phytochemistry

Question 1

What are phytonutrients?

Answer 1

The plant makes chemicals in reaction to it’s environment.

Question 2

What may phytochemicals be?

Answer 2

1. medicines for the plant itself.
2. protection from animal predation.
3. communication between plants, animals and bacteria.
4. chemicals produced as part of plant growth cycle.

Question 3

How do phytonutrients work?

Answer 3

1. function as antioxidants
2. regulate the cell cycle
3. increase detoxification of carinogenic compounds
4. reduce DNA damage
5. mimic or interact with hormones

Question 4

Are all phytochemicals helpful? Why?

Answer 4

No. Some phytochemicals are dangerous or toxic to the body. E.g. many alkaloid class of phytochemicals are the basis for pharmaceutical drugs (morphine).

Question 5

Phytates (found in beans, grains and legumes) can prevent the absorption of which minerals?

Answer 5

zinc
iron
calcium

Question 6

Identify 4 differences in phytochemicals in plants.

Answer 6

1. soil and water conditions
2. humans and other animals around them
3. climate
4. bacteria, virus and pathogens

Question 7

What can knowing the polarity and solubility help us find out about phytochemicals?

Answer 7

The best extraction methods for ingesting or preserving.

Question 8

Phenols and polyphenols are also known as?

Answer 8

Phenolic compounds

Question 9

What do the phenolic compounds include?

Answer 9

flavonoids
phenolic acids
lignans
tyrosol esters

Question 10

What are the 6 major subgroups of flavonoids?

Answer 10

flavanols
flavones
flavonols
flavanones
anthocyanins
isoflavonoids

Question 11

What are flavonoids and carotenes together responsible for?

Answer 11

The colouring of fruits, vegetables and herbs.

Question 12

What actions do flavonoids contain?

Answer 12

antioxidant
anti-allergic
anti-cancer
anti-inflammatory
anti-viral

Question 13

What is epicatechin (flavonoid)?

Answer 13

A strong antioxidant, has insulin mimic action and improves heart health.

Question 14

Name 2 health benefits of catechins.

Answer 14

reduce damage to the brain after a stroke (in mice)

enhances muscle fatigue resistance (in mice)

Question 15

What are the health benefits of quercetin?

Answer 15

cancer (breast, colon, leaukaemia)
antioxidant and CVD prevention (reduced oxidised LDL)
athletes (improves lean body mass)
immune (inhibits histamine)

Question 16

What is kaemferol?

Answer 16

A flavonoid. A yellow coloured powder and a strong antioxidant

Question 17

Name two health benefits of kaemferol.

Answer 17

1. Prevents arteriosclerosis by inhibiting the oxidation of LDL and formation of platelets in the blood.
2. Chemopreventative agent - inhibits formation of cancer cells.

Question 18

Name the flavonoid in grapefruit? What are the health benefits of grapefruit?

Answer 18

Naringin.
antioxidant
anti-carcinogenic
cholesterol lowering activity
reduces retinal disease linked to diabetes.

Question 19

What are the contraindications of kaemferol?

Answer 19

Can interfere with certain drug metabolism including calcium channel blockers, sedatives, anti-depressants, warfarin, caffeine and oestrogen.

Question 20

What is another name given to isolfavones and why?

Answer 20

Phytoestrogens because they have some oestrogen activity.

Question 21

The richest food source of isoflavones is?

Answer 21

soybeans especially soy protein (tofu)

Question 22

The biological effects of soy isofavones are strongly influenced by their metabolism which is strongly influenced by what?

Answer 22

Dependent on the activity of bacteria that colonize the human intestine.

Question 23

Name 2 benefits of soy isoflavones and other phytoestrogens?

Answer 23

Oestrogenic effects in some tissues could help maintain bone density (osteoporosis)and improve blood lipid profiles (CVD).

Question 24

Soy protein isolates prepared by ? tends to retain the isoflavones?

Answer 24

aqueous wash processes

Question 25

What is the western equivalent of phytoestrogens instead of soy?

Answer 25

Lignans

Question 26

Does flaxseed oil provide lignans?

Answer 26

No only the seed.

Question 27

What are the health benefits of lignans (in particular flaxseed)?

Answer 27

might relieve constipation lowers risk of lung cancer slow proliferation of prostate epithelium may lower blood glucose levels

Question 28

What are proanthocyanidins?

Answer 28

Oligomeric flavonoids, mainly found in the skin of grapes. Gives it it's red, blue, purple colours.

Question 29

What are the health benefits of proanthocyanidins?

Answer 29

antioxidant cardio protective effect stabilise collagen and elastin (anti-aging) anti-cancer anti-allergic (inhibits enzymes that produce histamine)

Question 30

High levels of anthocyanins are found in?

Answer 30

Acai, blackcurrent, blueberry, bilberry, cherry, red grape and purple corn.

Question 31

What are anthocyanins protective against in plants?

Answer 31

UV radiation

Question 32

What group does cyanidin belong to and where can you find them?

Answer 32

Anthocyanins. | In most red coloured berries and some other fruits.

Question 33

What are some of the health benefits of cyanidin?

Answer 33

anticarcinogenic activity vasprotective anti-inflammatory anti diabetes

Question 34

What is the most studied stilbenoid?

Answer 34

Resveratrol

Question 35

What are the health benefits of resveratrol?

Answer 35

``` heart health anti-aging (marketed use) anti-toxic may increase sperm count and testosterone levels in males antioxidant anti-cancer ```

Question 36

How can red wine consumption help with CVD?

Answer 36

it contains resveratrol and even higher levels of flavonoids (compounds with anti-inflammatory and anti atherogenic properties).

Question 37

Identify an interaction/safety concern with resveratrol.

Answer 37

High intake from supplements could increase the risk of bleeding when taking anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin.

Question 38

What are phytosterols?

Answer 38

Plant derived lipids that are similar in structure and function to cholesterol.

Question 39

What is the outcome of high intakes of plant sterols or stanols?

Answer 39

It can lower serum total and LDL cholesterol concentrations in humans.

Question 40

What can sitosterols help induce?

Answer 40

Aptosis when added to cultured human prostate, brest and colon cancer cells.

Question 41

How can sitosterols help benign prostatic hyperplasia patients?

Answer 41

Significantly improve urinary symptoms and increases maximum urinary flow

Question 42

What are isothiocyanates?

Answer 42

Biologically active breakdown products of the sulphur rich glucosinolates.

Question 43

What are the food sources of isothiocyanates?

Answer 43

cruciferous veg such as broccoli, cabbage, kale, bok choi, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, watercress

Question 44

How can we increase the absorption of isothiocyanates?

Answer 44

By chewing raw cruciferous veg which increases the glucosinolate contact with myrosinase (enzyme that catalyses the hydrolysis of glucosinates).

Question 45

How can isothiocyanates inhibit carcinogen activation?

Answer 45

CYP450 enzymes (cytochrome)

Question 46

What is indole-3-carbinol (I3C)?

Answer 46

A compound derived by the enzymatic hydrolysis of a specific glucosinate known as glucobrassicin, which is first broken down into Di-Indole Methane (DIM).

Question 47

Indole-3-carbinol induces which enzymes?

Answer 47

Phase 1 and 2.

Question 48

Indole-3-carbinol induces CYP1A1 (phase 1 enzyme). What is this responsible for?

Answer 48

oestrogen metabolism, decreasing the availability of oestrogen metabolites that promote cancer growth.

Question 49

Name two interactions/safety concerns with Indole-3-Carbinol.

Answer 49

skin rash | tremor

Question 50

How are carotenoids absorbed?

Answer 50

Highly hydrophobic and absorbed via lipids.

Question 51

What are the most common carotenoids in western diets (5)?

Answer 51

``` alpha carotene beta-carotene beta cryptoxanthin lutein zeaxanthin lycopene ```

Question 52

Food sources of carotenoids

Answer 52

yellow, orange and red fruits and vegetable and green vegetables.

Question 53

The conversion of pro vitamin A to vitamin A is dependent on what?

Answer 53

status of vitamin A in individual. It is inhibited when vit A stores are high.

Question 54

Name two therapeutic benefits of a diet rich in carotenoids.

Answer 54

1. can decrease the risk of ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women. 2. reduces the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women.

Question 55

Name 3 food sources rich in beta carotene.

Answer 55

carrots pumpkin seed spinach

Question 56

Why doesn't high intake of beta carotene result in vitamin A toxicity? What can high doses cause?

Answer 56

Because the proportion converted to vitamin A decreases as beta-carotene intake increases. Yellow or orange skin pigmentation.

Question 57

Which 3 groups of people should not take beta-carotene supplements?

Answer 57

smokers people consuming alcohol people with a history of asbestos

Question 58

What are the therapeutic effects of consuming high amounts of lutein in your diet?

Answer 58

reduced risk of developing Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). reduce cancer risk reducing oxidative damage to DNA..

Question 59

Which food sources are astaxanthins found?

Answer 59

algae crustaceans fish

Question 60

What are the properties found in astaxanthins?

Answer 60

``` antioxidant anti-tumour anti-cancer anti-diabetic anti-inflammation ```

Question 61

What is Lycopene?

Answer 61

Non vitamin A carotenoid, it is a fat soluble red pigment produced by plants.

Question 62

What are the food sources of lycopene?

Answer 62

``` Mainly tomatoes Guava pink grapefruit watermelon papaya ```

Question 63

What are the properties found in lycopene?

Answer 63

``` hypo-cholesterolemic cardio-protective anti-inflammatory anti-mutagenic anti-cancer ```

Question 64

Which type of cancer may help with lycopene consumption and why?

Answer 64

prostate cancer, because the highest amount of lycopene is found in the testes. It reduces proliferation of prostatic epithelial cells.

Question 65

How is lycopene best absorbed?

Answer 65

Processed and cooked sources rather than raw. Mixing with oils and fats increases bio-availability.

Question 66

Limonene is classified chemically as?

Answer 66

monoterpene

Question 67

What might limonene prevent and stimulate?

Answer 67

tumour cell proliferation | immune system

Question 68

What symptoms might oral limonene cause?

Answer 68

nausea vomiting diarrhoea

Question 69

What are punicalagins?

Answer 69

Tannins, large polyphenol compounds found in pomegranates.

Question 70

Studies show that Pomegranate juice may slow down what?

Answer 70

progression of atherosclerosis.

Question 71

Why might patients be asked to stop drinking/eat pomegranates?

Answer 71

Consumption of pomegranates for many years may cause swelling of the tongue or face.

Question 72

What drug interaction does pomegranate juice have?

Answer 72

ACE inhibitor side effects