HERBS AND BIOACTIVE HEALTH BENEFITS (PROVIDE A BRIEF

SPICES COMPOUNDS DISCUSSION IN EVERY HEALTH BENEFIT)

CHILI PEPPER -Capsaicin Antioxidant anti-inflammatory effects
-capsaicinoids -Red pepper capsaicin has antioxidant potential in
-Capsinoids mitigating oxidative stress in various tissues or organs.
Capsaicin-inhibited neutrophil that focus to reduced
vascular permeability and proinflammatory cytokine
production.
Cardiovascular health
-The antioxidant and antiplatelet properties of capsaicin
and the important role of capsaicin in regulating energy
metabolism may also contribute to its beneficial effects
on the cardiovascular system. Capsaicin may also
defend against heart disease via a transient receptor
potential (TRP)-mediated modulation of coronary blood
flow
Blood glucose control
-Human trials found that 5 g or more of chili pepper
(Capsicum frutescens) was associated with a decrease in
blood glucose level and maintenance of healthy insulin
levels.
Thermogenesis, satiety, and weight management
-May have the potential to assist in body weight
management by increasing satiety and fullness, reducing
energy and fat intake, increasing body heat production
(thermogenesis), raising the body’s metabolic rate,
preventing fat cells from growing into mature cells
(adipogenesis), and increasing the rate of fat burn-off
(fat oxidation).
Gut health
-Evidence suggests capsaicin is a gastroprotective agent
in peptic ulcer disease . Capsaicin inhibits acid secretion
and stimulates alkali and mucus secretions (particularly
gastric mucosal blood flow), which help in the
prevention and healing of ulcers.
CINNAMON -Essential oils Antibacterial and antifungal activity
-Derivatives such as: -Extracts of cinnamon and its major components,
cinnamaldehyde, cinnamaldehyde and eugenol, have been shown to attack
cinnamic acid and major respiratory and gastrointestinal tract pathogens in
cinnamate (bark oil; vitro.
60–80%), eugenol Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects
(leaf oil; 10%), and -Cinnamon polyphenol extract suppressed inflammation
water soluble processes through the regulation of anti- and
polyphenols (4–10%) proinflammatory gene expression in vitro.
Cardiovascular health
-Cinnamon and cinnamon extract (high in type A
polyphenols) lowered sugar-induced blood pressure
increase in one study with rats predisposed to
hypertension. Cinnamaldehyde has been reported to
inhibit platelet aggregation in vitro in human and rabbit
cells as well as reduce blood clots formed within a blood
 vessel in an animal study. Consumption of cinnamon
(short term) is associated with notable reductions in
systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood
pressure (DBP).
Blood glucose control
-The consumption of cinnamon is associated with a
statistically significant decrease in fasting plasma
glucose (FPG) levels.
Hepatoprotective effect
-Cinnamon bark extract reduced the hepatic lipid
accumulation and protected the liver from acute alcohol-
induced fatty liver in mice.
Neuroprotective property
-Various cinnamon species and their biologically active
ingredients have renewed the interest toward the
treatment of patients with mild-tomoderate Alzheimer’s
disease (AD) through the inhibition of tau protein
aggregation and the prevention of the formation and
accumulation of amyloid-β (Abeta) peptides into the
neurotoxic oligomeric inclusions, both of which are
considered to be the AD trademarks.
GINGER -gingerols, Nausea and vomiting
-shogaols -Clinical trials show ginger (1 g/day) may be safe and
-paradols effective for decreasing nausea and vomiting during
-zingerone. pregnancy (102–105) or when induced by chemotherapy
(106). Furthermore, 500 mg oral ginger 1 h before
surgery in women who were undergoing laparoscopic
cholecystectomy is effective in decreasing the severity
of postoperative nausea and vomiting (107).
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects
-Ginger and its extracts, such as 6-gingerols and 6-
shogaol, exhibited substantial free-radical scavenging
activities and inhibited production of inflammatory
mediators. Ginger also significantly lowered COX-1
protein expression in participants at increased risk for
early event in colorectal cancer
Cardiovascular health
-Although the relatively few human trials involving
ginger generally used low doses yielding inconclusive
results, dosages of 5 g or more demonstrated significant
antiplatelet (anticlotting) activity
Joint and muscle health
-Animal studies suggest that ginger can reduce joint
swelling, cartilage destruction, and serum levels of
inflammatory cytokines associated with rheumatoid
arthritis and joint and muscle pain. It was also reported
that 4g ginger supplementation can accelerate muscle
strength recovery following intense exercise in a
randomized trial on 20 non-weight-trained participants.
Antiglycation and antiglycemic effects
-inhibiting AGEs (advanced glycation endproducts)
 formation is believed to play a role in the prevention of
diabetic complications. In vitro studies showed ginger
extract could prevent and/or inhibit protein glycation.
Weight management potential
-It is evident that oral ingestion of ginger could induce
thermoregulatory function and fat oxidation in humans.
Neuroprotective effect
-In vitro studies found that ginger extract inhibited the
expression of a wide range of inflammationrelated genes
in microglial-like cells and protected brain cells from
Abeta insult, suggesting that ginger may have
neuroprotective effects.
BLACK PEPPER -Piperine Antioxidant effect
-alkamides -Black pepper or piperine treatment has also been
-piptigrine evidenced to lower lipid peroxidation in vivo and
-wisanine beneficially influence cellular antioxidant status in a
-dipiperamide number of experimental situations of oxidative stress.
Anti-inflammatory effect
-The antiinflammatory activity of piperine has been
confirmed in many rat models. Both in vitro and in vivo
rat models found that piperine inhibited 5-lipoxygenase
and COX-2, two key enzymes involved in biosynthesis
of proinflammatory mediators that cause inflammation,
pain and fever.
Antiallergic effect
-An animal model found that piperine inhibited both
histamine release and eosinophil infiltration and also
suppressed allergic airway inflammation and airway
hyperresponsiveness.
Digestion aid
-Black pepper may accelerate the overall digestive
process by enhancing the activity of digestive enzymes,
increasing gastric acid and bile acid secretion, and
reducing food transit time.
Cardiovascular health
-Piperine has been shown to inhibit lipid droplet
accumulation in mouse macrophages that are converted
to foam cells in an animal study, suggesting it may help
retard the progression in which fatty deposits build up in
the arterial wall.
Weight management
-Piperine may enhance energy expenditure or
thermogenesis through the sympathetic nervous system
by increasing levels of catecholamine and activating the
adrenal sympathetic nerves in animal studies.
Enhancing nutrient bioavailability
-Piperine enhances the absorption of various nutrients
and drugs and functions as a bioavailability enhancer of
various substances such as coenzyme Q10, curcumin,
and tea polyphenols.
Mood and cognitive function
 -Black pepper may exhibit antidepressant-like activity
and have a cognition-enhancing effect via the regulation
of neurotransmitter metabolism in animals

TURMERIC -curcuminoids Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects

including curcumin -Curcumin preparations in vitro have scavenged free
-demethoxycurcumin radicals, inhibited lipid peroxidation and LDL,
- oxidation, and prevented deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
bisdemethoxycurcumin oxidative damage.
-tetrahydrocurcumin. Cardiovascular health
-Curcumin reduced cholesterol levels in acute coronary
syndrome patients in a clinical trial in which curcumin
was administered in various doses (45, 90, or 180
mg/day).
Gastrointestinal health
-Curcumin has been shown to be effective against
development of hepatic steatosis and its progression to
steatohepatitis.
Brain health and cognitive function
-Animal studies with curcumin also found that this
bioactive ingredient has improved memory retention and
prevented oxidative damage.
Joint and muscle health
-The anti-inflammatory activity properties of curcumin
may also help this bioactive compound maintain healthy
joint function.
Blood glucose control
-In vitro and in vivo animal studies have found that
curcumin lowered blood glucose levels through the
suppression of glucose in the liver, reversed insulin
resistance in fat cell cultures, increased glucose uptake
into skeletal muscle, and stimulated pancreatic beta-cell
function.
Weight management
-In cell cultures and an animal model for obesity,
curcumin inhibited the formation of new blood vessels,
decreased the transformation of young fat cells into
mature fat cells, and reduced the buildup of fat in the
mature cells, which has implications for lowering body
fat and body weight gain in mice.
Chemoprevention
-Curcumin inhibited the proliferation of various tumor
cells in culture, prevented carcinogen-induced cancers in
rodents, and inhibited the growth of human tumors in
various models.

FENUGREEK -large carbohydrate Lipid metabolism and vascular health

fraction -The fiber content of fenugreek extract helped moderate
-steroidal saponins the metabolism of lipids in the digestive tracts of rats
-free amino acids Blood glucose metabolism
-Administrating fenugreek seed extract improved insulin
 -flavonoids and signaling and sensitivity, which promoted the cellular
alkaloids actions of insulin in fructose-fed animals. This effect
was comparable with that of metformin, a drug used to
treat high blood sugar.
Satiety and weight management
-Because of its high fiber content, fenugreek could help
promote satiety, which may potentially support weight
management.
Exercise and physical performance
-an animal study suggested fenugreek extract may have
beneficial effects on endurance capacity by increasing
fatty acid use and sparing glycogen.
Liver health
-Administration of fenugreek seed extract to alcohol-fed
rats (200 mg/kg) reduced the levels of lipid peroxidation
products and protein carbonyl content, increased the
activities of antioxidant enzymes, and restored the levels
of thiol groups compared with the control.
Sexual health
-Fenugreek seed extract has demonstrated hormone
modulatory activity, providing biological plausibility for
relieving menopausal symptoms.
ROSEMARY -phenolic acids - Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects
diterpenes including -Carnosic acid and carnosol likely account for over 90%
carnosic acid, carnosol, of its antioxidant activity. Rosemary extract enhanced
caffeic acid and its antioxidant defenses and improved antioxidant status in
derivatives aged rats.
-flavonoids Cognition, mental health, and neuroprotection
-tannins. -Inhalation of rosemary and lavender oils enhanced
-volatile oils that cognitive function. The aroma of rosemary oil reduced
consist of cineole, test-taking stress in graduate students.
pinene, and camphor. Vascular health
-Rosemary has shown antithrombotic activity and may
improve endothelial function both in vitro and in vivo.
Blood glucose control
-Rosemary activated PPAR-γ, which plays an essential
role in the regulation of cellular functions and
metabolism, leading to lower blood levels of fatty acids
and glucose.
Skin care
-Carnosic acid has demonstrated photoprotective action
on human skin cells exposed to UVA light in vitro.
Heptoprotective effects
-Rosemary extract has reduced toxic chemical-induced
liver damage and cirrhosis and has improved
detoxification systems in an animal model.
Chemopreventive and anticarcinogenic potential
-rosemary may exert anticancer effects is by reducing
the expression of a number of proinflammatory genes
GARLIC -Allicin Anti-inflammatory activity
-alliin -Garlic and its sulfur-containing compounds exert anti-
-diallyl sulfide inflammatory properties through the inhibition of NF-
-diallyl disulfide κB activation.
-diallyl trisulfide Cardiovascular health and endothelial function
-ajoene -research has shown that taking garlic may slow the
-S-allyl-cysteine development of atherosclerotic process, a condition that
can lead to heart attacks and strokes, by beneficially
reducing fatty streak formation in blood vessels and
atherosclerotic plaque size.
Blood cholesterol–lowering effects
-A meta-analysis found garlic reduced blood total
cholesterol (7.3 mg/dL) and triglycerides (9.7 mg/dL)
but exhibited no significant effect on LDL or HDL .
Blood pressure–lowering effects
-A meta-analysis indicated that garlic reduced SBP by
16.3 mmHg and DBP by 9.3 mmHg in patients with an
elevated SBP.
Antithrombotic and anticoagulant properties
-Garlic has been shown to inhibit platelet aggregation
(stickiness) by inhibiting COX-1 activity and
thromboxane A2 formation (a clotting factor) during in
vitro studies using human platelets.
Hypoglycemic activity
-Garlic has blood glucose–lowering properties in
diabetic rats. In a human trial, it was demonstrated that
treatment with time-released garlic product (Allicor)
resulted in better metabolic control because of the
lowering of fasting blood glucose and triglyceride
levels.
Brain health
-Experimental evidence has shown that some garlic-
derived products have a protective effect against
ischemic brain injury, thereby improving learning and
memory retention.
Immunomodulatory activity
-In studies, garlic and its constituents have several
immune-enhancing effects such as stimulation of
lymphocyte proliferation and interferon-γ release and
enhancement of macrophage phagocytosis and killer cell
activity.