Chapter 4: Bioactive Food Constituents with Anti-inflammatory Activity Check Access

Inflammation, a vital component of the body’s immune response, serves to eliminate harmful stimuli and initiate healing. This intricate process involves five main stages: recognition, recruitment, removal, regulation, and repair. Functional foods, rich in anti-inflammatory compounds like omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, have potential to modulate inflammation. Chronic inflammation can lead to dysfunctions through altered blood vessel permeability, leukocyte activation and migration, and phagocytosis. Nutraceuticals, derived from food sources, present a promising avenue for combating chronic inflammation and associated diseases. The intricate interplay of inflammatory mediators, such as vasoactive amines, arachidonic acid metabolites, cytokines, complement proteins, and kinins, regulates inflammation. Arachidonic acid metabolism, mediated by cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways, is a key player, and its dysregulation contributes to various diseases. Nutraceuticals, including hydroxytyrosol and vitamin C, show promise in mitigating atherosclerosis progression by countering LDL oxidation and inflammation. Understanding the stages of atherosclerosis, from initial lesion to thrombosis, provides insights into nutraceutical interventions. This chapter concludes by highlighting the potential of nutraceuticals in reducing the burden of atherosclerosis and improving patient outcomes, calling for further research to optimize their use as adjunct therapies.