Nutraceuticals
Fruits and vegetables contain a vast array of chemical compounds, and some of these "phytonutrients" have been associated with specific benefits for human health (see table below). Our program aims to increase the concentration of compounds shown to benefit human health in common foods.
Our nutraceutical research has worked in collaboration with the Hormel Institute in Austin, Minn.; the Mayo Clinic, and the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center in Minneapolis.
| Food | Phytonutrient | Human Disease or Health Attribute Affected |
|---|---|---|
| Apple (skin), blueberry, cranberry, red grape | Quercetin | Prostatitis, heart disease, antihistamine (asthma, hives), interstitial cystitis, diabetes, herpes, flu, cancer (oral, leukemia) |
| Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, turnip, other cruciferous vegetables | Glucosinolates | Cancer (prostate, esophogeal, colorectal, breast) |
| Carrot | Beta-Carotene | Gallstones, liver dysfunction, photosensitivity, eases chemotherapy toxicity, cataracts, macular degeneration, immune system |
| Cranberry, red grape | Myricetin | Prostate cancer, cholesterol, alzheimers, diabetes |
| Dark chocolate (in moderation!) | Catechin | Cancer, cholesterol, blood pressure |
| Grape (red), peanut | Resveratrol | Anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagen, anti-aging, heart disease, cancer |
| Tomato | Lycopene | Cancer (Prostate, lung, bladder, cervix, skin), macular degeneration |
| Walnut | ω-3 fatty acids | Heart disease |
| Ginger | [6]-gingerol | Cancer (skin, colorectal, pancreatic, ovarian), nausea, cholesterol, anti-inflammatory |
| Turmeric | Curcumin | Alzheimer's disease |
*this list is neither all-inclusive nor conclusive
