Clinical Phytoscience (Feb 2021)

Phytowaste as nutraceuticals in boosting public health

  • Chinyere S. Dike,
  • Chinna N. Orish,
  • Chukwuemeka R. Nwokocha,
  • Francis D. Sikoki,
  • Bolaji B. Babatunde,
  • Chiara Frazzoli,
  • Orish E. Orisakwe

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40816-021-00260-w
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 23

Abstract

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Abstract The utilization of bioactive constituent of peels and seeds provide an effective, environment friendly and inexpensive therapy for different forms of human disease, and the production, improvement and documentation of novel nutraceuticals. This review systematically presents findings and further understanding of the reported benefits and therapeutic applications of peel and seed extracts on innovative cell culture and animal studies, as well as phased clinical human trial research. The extracts of seed and peels were reported to possess high quantities of bioactive substances with antioxidative, antidiabetic, hepatorenal protective, antithyroidal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, cardiovascular protective, neuro-protective effects, anticancer and wound healing activities. Therapeutic activities of the bioactive substances of peel and seed extracts include elevation of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), GSH-Px, t-GPx, Catalase and GST activities, with the suppression of MDA levels, hydroperoxide generation and lipid peroxidized products, the extracts also regulate inflammatory mediators and cytokines as they are reported to suppress the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, which include; IL-1β, PGE2, TGF-β and TNF-α and induces apoptosis and cell differentiation. This review revealed the therapeutic importance and best utilization of peels and seed extracts of fruits and vegetables.