Africa has been and continues to be a significant source of medicinal and aromatic plants and botanicals to the world's food, drug, herb and dietary supplement market, and in the past decade numerous African plant materials have established a strong international market presence. This book provides an excellent opportunity to delve into the current and future contributions that African plants can and will continue to make both internal to Africa and on the global stage. This book expertly covers various medicinal plants of African origin and the some of the latest basic and clinical research supporting their ongoing and potential uses in self-care and healthcare. This work also examines various issues and trends in medicinal plants from their uses in Traditional Medicine and ethnobotany, to our modern understanding of the plants chemistry and pharmacognosy, natural products chemistry and applications of medicinal plants, quality control, and models of benefit sharing.

Quality is a composite term encompassing many characteristics of foods. These include color, aroma, texture, general nutrition, shelf-life, stability, and possible presence of undesirable constituents. Obviously deterioration of quality may lead to changes in the attributes that characterize the food in its fresh or freshly processed state. In addition, quality enhancement of products may be carried out using appropriate processing techniques. Interaction of different components present with one another could have a profound effect on sensory quality of products. Meanwhile, presence of extraneous matter such as pesticides and debris may also contribute to a compromise in the quality of foods. In addition, processing often brings about changes in many attributes of food including its nutritional value. Thus, examination of process-induced changes in food products is important. In this book, a cursory account of quality attributes of fresh and processed foods is provided.

The book is of interest to food scientists, nutritionists and biochemists in academia, government and industry.

Chemical changes that occur in foods during processing and storage are manifold and might be both desirable and undesirable in nature. While many of the processes are carried out intentionally, there are also certain unwanted changes that naturally occur in food and might have to be controlled. Therefore, efforts are made to devise processing technologies in which desirable attributes of foods are retained and their deleterious ef fects are minimized. While proteins, lipids and carbohydrates are the main nutrients of food that are affected by processing, it is their interaction with one another, as well as in volvement oflow-molecular-weight constituents that affects their flavor, color and overall acceptability. Thus, generation of aroma via thermal processing and bioconversion is of utmost importance in food preparation. Furthermore, processing operations must be opti mized in order to eliminate or reduce the content of antinutrients that are present in foods and retain their bioactive components. Therefore, while novel processing technologies such as freezing, irradiation, microwaving, high pressure treatment and fermentation might be employed, control process conditions in a manner that both the desirable sensory attributes and wholesomeness of foods are safeguarded is essential. Obviously, method ologies should also be established to quantitate the changes that occur in foods as a result of processing. This volume was developed from contributions provided by a group of internation ally-recognized lead scientists."

A major challenge for the meat and seafood industries continues to be that of pro ducing high-quality, wholesome products. Consumers' demand for reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free meats (red meat, poultry, and seafood) with acceptable flavor, texture, and other sensory characteristics or those similar to typical, traditional high-fat meats has im parted further urgency to rising to this challenge. Consequently, meat scientists strive to develop different antemortem strategies as well as to improve on existing postmortem processing technologies in order to meet this consumer demand. While the microbiological quality of meat, meat products, and seafoods is important from a food safety standpoint, it is the physicochemical attributes and the interactions of the various chemical components of muscle and ingredients which directly influence the product palatability and consumer acceptability. Virtually every step in production and processing, including animal dietary regime, antemortem stress conditions, postmortem handling, product formulation, temperature of processing, packaging, and storage, affects the quality attributes of muscle foods."

This collection features four peer-reviewed reviews on the nutritional and health benefits of beverage crops. The first chapter introduces the importance of coffee leaves, highlighting their high antioxidant potential and impact on fruit quality. The chapter provides an inventory of molecules identified in the leaves of cultivated coffee trees, as well as the beneficial effects of these molecules on human health. The second chapter considers the nutritional and health-related aspects of regular coffee consumption, focussing on its ability to prevent the onset of chronic diseases. The chapter also highlights that above-average consumption of coffee can lead to the development of side effects, including caffeine tolerance, dependence and withdrawal. The third chapter discusses the main phytochemicals contained in tea, including polyphenols, amino acids, vitamins, carbohydrates and purine alkaloids. The chapter reviews the current analytical techniques available for tea characterisation, such as chromatic and spectroscopic techniques. The final chapter explores the beneficial health effects of consuming tea on a regular basis. The chapter considers the potential role for tea in combatting chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the possible mechanisms of actions of tea constituents.

This book is the Proceedings of the 12th International Flavor Conference, 4th George Charalambous Memorial Symposium, held May 25-29, 2009 in Skiathos, Greece. The International Flavor Conferences are sponsored by the Agricultural Food Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society and are attended by leaders in the in the field of flavor and food chemistry. The International Flavor Conferences have been held as a global forum for leaders in the field of flavor and food chemistry to present their results covering recent research activities. As in previous years the conference stresses flavors as its main theme but also includes important topics in food chemistry (analytical methods, packaging storage) and production (safety, patents). Information gathered by researchers in food chemistry have found numerous practical applications for improving foods, and symposia such as this have a goal of transferring basic knowledge to finished products. Recent Advances in Food and Flavor Chemistry: Food Flavors and Encapsulation, Health Benefits, Analytical Methods, and Molecular Biology of Functional Foods will be a useful reference for researchers and other professionals in the industry and academia, particularly those involved directly in food science. This book covers several topical areas and includes: -A historical look at the use of isotopic analyses for flavour authentication -Computer-aided organic synthesis as a tool for generation of potentially new flavouring compounds from ascorbic acid -Butter flavors and microwave popcorn: A review of health issues and industry actions -The aroma of guavas - Key aroma compounds and influence of tissue disruption -Flavour release in lipid rich food matrices; in vitro and in vivo measurement using proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry -A study of the fate of aspartame and flavour molecules in chewing gum utilizing LC/MS/MS and GC/MS -Study on the interaction of selected phenolic acids with bovine serum albumin.

The consumption of functional foods has emerged as a major consumer-driven trend, based on the needs of an ever-growing health conscious population that wants to exercise greater control over its health. Focusing on an important sector of this rapidly growing field, Asian Functional Foods discusses the theoretical and practical aspects of functional foods found in the traditional Asian diet, from fundamental concepts of biochemistry, nutrition, and physiology to food science and technology. The book covers a wide range of topics, beginning with an introduction to the source, history, functionality, and chemical, physical, and physiological properties of traditional Asian functional foods, followed by the health benefits, mechanisms of antioxidant action, anticancer and antiaging properties, supported by clinical and epidemiological evidence. The chapter authors discuss processing technology and process systems, equipment, material preparation, food preparation, and quality control during processing. They explore stability, shelf life, and storage criteria for traditional functional food products, industrial production, home-made products, consumer and marketing issues, and social and economical impact. As Asian functional foods continue to gain popularity worldwide, a solid understanding of these functional foods will help food scientists take advantage of them to better maintain and promote health. Examining the scientific and social issues impacting their development, this book provides that understanding.

Food may be nutritious, visually appealing and easy to prepare but if it does not possess desirable flavors, it will not be consumed. Food Flavors and Chemistry: Advances of the New Millennium primarily focuses on food flavors and their use in foods. Coverage also includes other important topics in food chemistry and production such as analytical methods, packaging, storage, safety and patents. Positive flavor notes are described, including ways of enhancing them in food. Conversely, methods for eliminating and reducing undesirable flavors are also proposed. Packaging aspects of foods, with respect to controlling sensory attributes, appearance and microbiological safety are discussed in detail. There is also a section concentrating on the most recent developments in dairy flavor chemistry. This book will be an important read for all postgraduate students, academics and industrial researchers wanting to keep abreast of food flavors and their chemistry.

Ethnic and international foods have gradually been integrated into the daily diet in North America. However, the existing literature of flavor characteristics and chemistry of such foods remains fragmentary and diverse. This book presents a summary of the current status of knowledge in this area.

The past decade has seen considerable interest and progress in unraveling the beneficial health effects of tea, particularly its polyphenolic components and its antioxidant activity. Understanding the science behind the claims will help in the production and marketing of teas and tea products. Pulling together recent research and presenting it in an organized format, Tea and Tea Products discusses the manufacturing and chemistry of various teas including green, black, Pu-erh, white, and GABA teas. Emphasizing black and green teas equally, the book presents comprehensive and up-to-date reviews and perspectives on the chemistry of tea components and the molecular biology of green tea catechins and black tea theaflavins. It covers the analysis, formation mechanisms, and bioavailability of tea polyphenols and discusses bioactivities of teas including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and anti diabetes. Increased awareness of the many health benefits of tea has fueled an increase in the market for ready to drink teas and tea products in general that will continue to grow. This expanding market requires a resource that provides the evidence. The editors of this volume have more than 100 research publications in tea, and experience in editing more than 50 books between them. Under their expertise and editorial guidance, the contributors present chapters that explore the science behind the health claims of teas.

Chemical changes that occur in foods during processing and storage are manifold and might be both desirable and undesirable in nature. While many of the processes are carried out intentionally, there are also certain unwanted changes that naturally occur in food and might have to be controlled. Therefore, efforts are made to devise processing technologies in which desirable attributes of foods are retained and their deleterious ef fects are minimized. While proteins, lipids and carbohydrates are the main nutrients of food that are affected by processing, it is their interaction with one another, as well as in volvement oflow-molecular-weight constituents that affects their flavor, color and overall acceptability. Thus, generation of aroma via thermal processing and bioconversion is of utmost importance in food preparation. Furthermore, processing operations must be opti mized in order to eliminate or reduce the content of antinutrients that are present in foods and retain their bioactive components. Therefore, while novel processing technologies such as freezing, irradiation, microwaving, high pressure treatment and fermentation might be employed, control process conditions in a manner that both the desirable sensory attributes and wholesomeness of foods are safeguarded is essential. Obviously, method ologies should also be established to quantitate the changes that occur in foods as a result of processing. This volume was developed from contributions provided by a group of internation ally-recognized lead scientists."

Quality is a composite term encompassing many characteristics of foods. These include color, aroma, texture, general nutrition, shelf-life, stability, and possible presence of undesirable constituents. Obviously deterioration of quality may lead to changes in the attributes that characterize the food in its fresh or freshly processed state. In addition, quality enhancement of products may be carried out using appropriate processing techniques. Interaction of different components present with one another could have a profound effect on sensory quality of products. Meanwhile, presence of extraneous matter such as pesticides and debris may also contribute to a compromise in the quality of foods. In addition, processing often brings about changes in many attributes of food including its nutritional value. Thus, examination of process-induced changes in food products is important. In this book, a cursory account of quality attributes of fresh and processed foods is provided. The book is of interest to food scientists, nutritionists and biochemists in academia, government and industry.

A major challenge for the meat and seafood industries continues to be that of pro ducing high-quality, wholesome products. Consumers' demand for reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free meats (red meat, poultry, and seafood) with acceptable flavor, texture, and other sensory characteristics or those similar to typical, traditional high-fat meats has im parted further urgency to rising to this challenge. Consequently, meat scientists strive to develop different antemortem strategies as well as to improve on existing postmortem processing technologies in order to meet this consumer demand. While the microbiological quality of meat, meat products, and seafoods is important from a food safety standpoint, it is the physicochemical attributes and the interactions of the various chemical components of muscle and ingredients which directly influence the product palatability and consumer acceptability. Virtually every step in production and processing, including animal dietary regime, antemortem stress conditions, postmortem handling, product formulation, temperature of processing, packaging, and storage, affects the quality attributes of muscle foods.

Health and healing foods have a long history in the Asian cultures. Those of Eastern culture have long believed that food and medicine are from the same source and can treat illnesses and promote a healthier life. This volume covers certain traditional Asian functional foods, their history, functionality, health benefits, physiological properties, mechanisms of anti-cancer and anti-aging action. In addition, it covers processing technology, storage, material sources, marketing, social, and economical aspects. Expanding on geographical areas covered in previous works, the authors consider foods that originate from all over upper and lower Asian as well as the Middle East.

The consumption of functional foods has emerged as a major consumer-driven trend, based on the needs of an ever-growing health conscious population that wants to exercise greater control over its health. Focusing on an important sector of this rapidly growing field, Asian Functional Foods discusses the theoretical and practical aspects of functional foods found in the traditional Asian diet, from fundamental concepts of biochemistry, nutrition, and physiology to food science and technology. The book covers a wide range of topics, beginning with an introduction to the source, history, functionality, and chemical, physical, and physiological properties of traditional Asian functional foods, followed by the health benefits, mechanisms of antioxidant action, anticancer and antiaging properties, supported by clinical and epidemiological evidence. The chapter authors discuss processing technology and process systems, equipment, material preparation, food preparation, and quality control during processing. They explore stability, shelf life, and storage criteria for traditional functional food products, industrial production, home-made products, consumer and marketing issues, and social and economical impact. As Asian functional foods continue to gain popularity worldwide, a solid understanding of these functional foods will help food scientists take advantage of them to better maintain and promote health. Examining the scientific and social issues impacting their development, this book provides that understanding.

Ethnic and international foods have gradually been integrated into the daily diet in North America. However, the existing literature of flavor characteristics and chemistry of such foods remains fragmentary and diverse. This book presents a summary of the current status of knowledge in this area.

Non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, represent the cause of 60% of all deaths around the globe. With proper diet and natural dietary antioxidant supplements, these diseases can be prevented by up to 40% according to the British Nutrition Foundation. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the literature on the health benefits of natural dietary antioxidant supplements. It presents state-of-the-art research and information as well as the global regulations, labelling, and health claims of natural dietary antioxidant supplements. Written by expert authors, the wealth of research is arranged by disease type rather than by supplement type making it much more useful to the reader. Filling a gap in the literature, the book is aimed at researchers and professionals working in food chemistry, nutrition, and health benefits.

This text examines bioactive compounds as food is processed - covering a wide range of products and examining the response to many different processing operations in regard to positive or negative effects on health.

Health and healing foods have a long history in the Asian cultures. Those of Eastern culture have long believed that food and medicine are from the same source and can treat illnesses and promote a healthier life. This volume covers certain traditional Asian functional foods, their history, functionality, health benefits, physiological properties, mechanisms of anti-cancer and anti-aging action. In addition, it covers processing technology, storage, material sources, marketing, social, and economical aspects. Expanding on geographical areas covered in previous works, the authors consider foods that originate from all over upper and lower Asian as well as the Middle East.