The interest in phytochemicals found in plant foods as bioactive components of the diet has expanded in the last few years. This is because they have been linked with the prevention or reduced progression of many chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and degenerative diseases. Oxidative stress, which could bring about oxidative damage to DNA, protein and lipids has been found to be a major factor in the aetiology of these diseases. Epidemiological evidence shows that observed health benefits of these plant foods on humans, especially fruits and vegetables, are due to the presence of bioactive phytochemicals which today, play an important role in pharmaceutical applications. Research shows that these compounds modulate the risk of chronic disease development by inhibiting reactions mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Consequently, strong recommendations for their ingestion through the diet have become increasingly popular to improve man's health. This article presents a review of the role of nutraceuticals, functional foods and value added food products in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. We also summarized the biotechnological approaches for enhancing the level of these bioactive compounds in plants, with a view to improve their nutraceutical value and phytotherapy efficiency.

The anthelmintic efficacy of an aqueous crude extract of the leaves of Vernonia amygdalina Del. (Compositae) was studied in 16 Nigerian puppies. They were divided into four groups of four puppies per group. The group A animals were uninfected and hence were untreated, whereas those in groups B, C, and D were naturally infected with helminths. Group B animals were untreated whereas group C animals were treated with a proprietary anthelmintic (Mebendazole). Group D animals were treated with aqueous crude extracts of V. amygdalina using the oral route. Two weeks after treatment, blood and fecal samples were collected to evaluate the hematologic values and fecal egg counts, respectively. Before the onset of this study, fecal egg counts showed that ascarids (Toxocara canis) and hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum) were present in the experimental animals. The results of this study showed that the aqueous crude extracts of V. amygdalina after its administration into local dogs produced significant changes (p < 0.05) in PCV, RBC, Hb concentration, and TWBC. The fecal egg counts also showed remarkable and significant reduction in the levels of the identified helminths. The effects of the plant extracts were broad spectrum in action. Because the aqueous crude extract of V. amygdalina significantly reduced the fecal egg count of the helminths, it could be a potential source of a new lead anthelmintic agent.

Underutilized and neglected legumes have numerous nutritional potentials with great contributions to food security but they are usually excluded from research and development agenda. This study evaluates the nutritional and functional properties of six different underutilized and neglected legumes; Lima bean (LB) (Phaseolus lunatus) (2006-009), Bambara groundnut (BG) (Vigna subterranea) (TVSU- 1482), winged bean (WB) (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) (Tpt-48), jack bean (JB) (Canavalia ensiformis) (Tce-4), sword bean (SB) (Canavalia gladiata) (Tcg-4) and African yam bean (AYB) (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) (TSS-95) from the Genetic Resources Unit (GRU), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Nutritional and functional properties were evaluated using proximate composition, mineral analyses and functional properties like bulk density, water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, emulsion capacity and dispersibility. All the procedures were carried out using standard protocols. Statistical analysis was done using descriptive statistics. Results of proximate analysis showed that crude protein ranged from18.88 0.15%(WB) to 26.60±0.14%(AYB), crude fat ranged from 1.84 0.02% (JB) to 6.39 0.03% (BG), crude fibre ranged from 3.70 ±0.00% (AYB) to 5.04 0.03% (SB), ash ranged from 3.10 ± 0.14% (AYB) to 4.66 0.02% (LB), nitrogen free extract ranged from 55.60 0.04% (SB) to 62.97 0.12% (WB), moisture content ranged from 5.75 0.48% (AYB) to 10.77 0.03% (JB), dry matter ranged from 89.23 0.03% (JB) to 94.25 ± 0.488% (AYB) and gross energy ranged from 4.39 0.003 kcal/g (SB) to 4.66 0.00 (BG). Mineral content results revealed that calcium varied from 0.14 0.000% (LB) to 0.23 0.0003% (AYB), phosphorus varied from 0.20 0.0001% (AYB) to 0.38 0.00% (BG), sodium varied from 0.12 0.00% (LB and WB) to 0.35 0.0006% (AYB), potassium varied from 0.69 0.00% (LB) to 1.12 0.00% (BG), magnesium varied from 0.15 0.0002% (AYB) to 0.27 0.000% (BG) and iron varied from 44.84 0.03 (mg/g) (WB) to 80.98 0.0007(mg/g) (AYB). Results of functional properties showed that bulk density ranged from 0.45±0.04 g/mL (WB) to 0.77±0.08 g/mL (SB), water absorption capacity ranged from 168.33±0.03 g/100g (LB) to 183.62±0.01 g/100g (SB), oil absorption capacity ranged from 146.54 ±0.02 g/100g (LB) to 161.55±0.02 g/100g (JB), emulsion capacity ranged from 79.67 ±0.02 g/100g (LB) to 89.46±0.02 g/100g (SB) and dispersibility ranged from81.0±1.41%(SB) to 86.5±0.71% (BG). The study concluded that all the underutilized legumes have varying nutritional and functional properties, which should be exploited for nutritional benefits and industrial applications, as a solution to the problem of food shortage, especially in the developing countries.

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