This book explores the rich world of fruit-derived bioactive compounds and their emerging role in health and medicine. From antioxidants to anti-inflammatory agents, it highlights how these natural compounds support disease prevention and promote wellness. Bridging biotechnology, nutrition, and natural product chemistry, the volume offers valuable insights into the development of functional foods. An essential resource for researchers, students, and professionals in food science, biomedicine, and related fields, it presents scientifically grounded insights and emphasizes the potential of fruits as valuable sources of bioactive compounds contributing to healthier dietary strategies and sustainable nutrition.
Table of Contents:
Preface. FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN FRUITS. Introduction to Bioactive Compounds in Fruits. Fruit Species in the Urban Landscape: Native and Introduced Species as Functional Foods. BIOACTIVITIES, THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL, AND FUNCTIONAL FOOD APPLICATIONS. Bioavailability and Bioactivities of Fruit-Derived Compounds. Nutritional Composition and Bioactive Potential of Brazilian Nuts. Bioactive Peptides from Fruits and Their Health-Promoting Properties. Polysaccharides in Fruits and Their Bioactivities. Carotenoids from Fruits: Chemistry, Occurrence, Bioavailability, and Biological Activities. Functional Foods: Fruits as Disease Preventers. Nutritional and Therapeutic Value of Wild Edible Fruits. Nutritional and Therapeutic Potential of Brazilian Cerrado Fruits: Challenges and Future Perspectives. REGULATIONS AND FUTURE FUNCTIONAL FOODS. Regulatory Framework for Bioactive Compounds in Fruits Future Directions in Bioactive Compounds and Functional Foods. The Future of Fruits as Next Generation Functional Foods. Index. Editorsʼ Biography.
About the Author :
Dr. Shandesh Bhattarai is a Senior Scientific Officer at Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal. He holds a PhD in Botany (Ethnopharmacology) from the Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Nepal. His major fields of research interest are applied ethnobotany/ethnopharmacology, plant systematics, biological invasion, and conservation biology of useful plants. He has research and training experience in over 10 research projects funded by national and international organizations (Flora of Nepal, Nepal, UK, Japan; NUFU, Norway; VW Foundation, Germany; Darwin Initiative, UK; DFID, UK; IUCN Bangkok; EvK2CNR Italy; CESVI Italy; UGC Nepal, etc.). Dr. Bhattarai has nearly 55 research and review papers published in national and international journals. Additionally, he has edited and authored seven books, one conference proceeding, and one report.
Dr. Edivan Carvalho Vieira is Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Piaui (UFPI), Teresina, Brazil. He holds a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from UFSCar and completed postdoctoral research at the Universidade de São Paulo. His expertise includes inductively coupled plasma spectrometry and multielemental analysis of agricultural samples. He has worked at Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste, focusing on analytical methods for phosphorus determination. Dr. Vieira has published extensively in leading journals, with notable citations in Web of Science and Scopus, contributing to food science, environmental analysis, and material chemistry through innovative analytical techniques. He was the coordinator of the postgraduate program in Chemistry at UFPI.
Dr. Mahendra Rai is presently a Senior visiting Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Piaui (UFPI), Teresina, Brazil. Formerly, he was a Professor and Head of the Department of Biotechnology at SGB Amravati University in Maharashtra, India. He has also held positions as a visiting scientist at several prestigious institutions, including the University of Geneva, Debrecen University in Hungary, the University of Campinas in Brazil, VSB Technical University of Ostrava in the Czech Republic, the National University of Rosario, in Argentina, and the University of São Paulo. Dr. Rai has an impressive publication record, with over 450 research papers published in national and international journals with 95 h-index. In addition, he has edited/authored more than 70 books and holds 6 patents. Notably, he has been recently featured in Stanford’s list of the top 2% of scientists in nanoscience and nanotechnology, and ranks 7th nationally in Biology and Biochemistry, according to Research.com.
