Abstract
This work aims at giving an updated picture of the strict interaction between main plant biologically active compounds and botanicals. The main features of the emerging class of dietary supplements, the botanicals, are highlighted. Focus is also on the definition of actual possibilities of study approach and research strategies. Examples of innovative directions are given: assessment of interaction of bioactive compounds, chemometrics and the new goal of biorefineries. Current models of existing databases, such as plant metabolic pathways, food composition, bioactive compounds, dietary supplements, and dietary markers, are described as usable tools for health research. The need for categorization of botanicals as well as for the implementation of specific and dedicated databases emerged, based on both analytical data and collected data taken from literature throughout a harmonized and standardized approach for the evaluation of an adequate dietary intake.
Highlights
This work aims at giving an updated picture of the strict interaction between main plant biologically active compounds and botanicals
At European level, within the PD Manager Project [85], information on the composition of dietary supplements taken from labels, and according to the Italian market were collected and updated for the development of a Dietary Supplement Label Database [86]: 212 items were inserted, by trying to give a uniform and representative picture of the main classes of dietary supplements consumed in Italy, and 82 descriptors were included, in addition to nutritional information: Brand name, Food group, Distributor, Producer, Packaging sizes, Unit weights, Data source, Additional remarks [86]
During the last decade botanicals, the newest class of dietary supplements, have emerged and their use is spreading among consumers, they should not replace a correct lifestyle and/or a healthy diet
Summary
Plants are the source of a magnificent spectrum of compounds and, in this order, are defined as one of the most efficient chemical systems known [18]: 200,000–1,000,000 different metabolites are estimated to be synthetized in the plant kingdom [18]. By-products of plant food processing represent a promising source of biologically active compounds, which may be used for their favorable technological or biological properties; the use of new technologies is utilized to reinforce and increase the “Green Economy” in agriculture and agro-industry [53,54] It is worth mentioning the work of Pfaltzgraff et al [55] that described and schematized well the components (i.e., pectin, sugars, starch, collagen, amino acids, polyphenols) present in food supply chain residues (i.e., tomato pomace, wheat straw, rice husks, spent Brewer’s grain) and their uses in common consumer applications. Another interesting review is the work of Baiano et al [56], that gave detailed and updated description of the type and amounts of food wastes and their legislation as well as conventional and innovative techniques for the extraction of bioactive compounds; the future trends in nutraceutical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical sectors were discovered [56]
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