Nanotechnological Manipulation of Nutraceuticals and Phytochemicals for Healthy Purposes: Established Advantages vs. Still Undefined Risks

Abstract

Numerous foods, plants, and their bioactive constituents (BACs), named nutraceuticals and phytochemicals by experts, have shown many beneficial effects including antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiulcer, anti-cholesterol, hypoglycemic, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant activities. Producers, consumers, and the market of food- and plant-related compounds are increasingly attracted by health-promoting foods and plants, thus requiring a wider and more fruitful exploitation of the healthy properties of their BACs. The demand for new BACs and for the development of novel functional foods and BACs-based food additives is pressing from various sectors. Unfortunately, low stability, poor water solubility, opsonization, and fast metabolism in vivo hinder the effective exploitation of the potential of BACs. To overcome these issues, researchers have engineered nanomaterials, obtaining food-grade delivery systems, and edible food- and plant-related nanoparticles (NPs) acting as color, flavor, and preservative additives and natural therapeutics. Here, we have reviewed the nanotechnological transformations of several BACs implemented to increase their bioavailability, to mask any unpleasant taste and flavors, to be included as active ingredients in food or food packaging, to improve food appearance, quality, and resistance to deterioration due to storage. The pending issue regarding the possible toxic effect of NPs, whose knowledge is still limited, has also been discussed.

Combination of Nanodelivery Systems and Constituents Derived from Novel Foods: A Comprehensive Review

“…Nanotechnology has been applied both to deliver compounds with health properties and to produce nanoparticles using food-derived materials, also called "nanoceutical materials", for embedding compounds with beneficial activities on human health. Consumers' increasing interest and trust in natural health products have boosted this scientific research in recent decades, as previously reported [6]. Nutraceuticals are essential nutrients for human health and well-being and are present in edible food products.…”

Development of Phytochemical Delivery Systems by Nano-Suspension and Nano-Emulsion Techniques

“…Epidemiological studies have evidenced that the ingestion of some foods, including edible plants, is associated with the onset of beneficial health effects. An example is the assumption that red wine is correlated with a decrease in death from cardiovascular events caused by atherothrombosis due to its capability of decreasing the progression of atherosclerotic lesions [ 1 ]. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that green vegetables exert protective effects against cardiac diseases [ 1 ].…”

“…An example is the assumption that red wine is correlated with a decrease in death from cardiovascular events caused by atherothrombosis due to its capability of decreasing the progression of atherosclerotic lesions [ 1 ]. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that green vegetables exert protective effects against cardiac diseases [ 1 ]. The bioactive chemical compounds responsible for these benefits are known as phytochemicals (PHYs).…”

“…Over the years, humans have used PHYs both as poisons and as traditional medicine [ 3 ]. Nowadays, the recognition that plants can be a source of compounds endowed with beneficial properties is progressively expanding worldwide, and both the food market and the sector of natural compounds are involved [ 1 ]. Moreover, experts in the field incessantly emphasize their extensive introduction in the normal diet and in food supplements, as well as their use as natural therapeutics to treat several diseases [ 4 ].…”

Pyrazole-Based Water-Soluble Dendrimer Nanoparticles as a Potential New Agent against Staphylococci

“…Moreover, despite being active, a possible clinical application of the insoluble free form of BBB4 would remain utopian unless water-soluble BBB4 formulations were developed. To address the problems related to the solubility of bioactive compounds, several nanotechnological strategies have provided very promising results [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. In this field, due to their nonpareil physicochemical properties, dendrimers are extensively applicated [ 24 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”