Aug 2026· Foods· Vol 15, pp. 2982· 0 citations· 136 references
Abstract
Sechium edule (Jacq.) Sw. (chayote), a neglected and underutilized Cucurbitaceae crop widely cultivated across tropical and subtropical regions, has drawn growing interest as a source of health-promoting food components. This review critically synthesizes studies published between 2000 and 2026 on its botanical features, genome characterization, nutritional value, phytochemistry, bioactivities, safety, and food-industry applications, based on literature retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library. Different plant parts (fruits, leaves, seeds, tuberous roots, and peels) contain diverse bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, cucurbitacins, pectin polysaccharides, and carotenoids. Reported bioactivities include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, cardioprotective, antiproliferative, and geroprotective effects, mediated in part through Nrf2-mediated antioxidant signaling and sirtuin (SIRT1/3/5/6) upregulation. Notably, a systematic meta-analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in serum glucose (MD = −20.56; 95% CI: −29.35 to −11.77) and HbA1c following three months of chayote intake in patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Industrially, chayote has been developed into fermented products, starch- and peel-derived bioactive films, ultrasound-extracted pectin, α-amylase inhibitory seed protein isolates, and probiotic encapsulation systems. Recent genomic work has further revealed a chromosome-level genome assembly, whole-genome duplication events, and a domestication history tracing to Mexico’s Oaxaca region. Collectively, this evidence positions chayote as a promising underutilized resource for food, nutraceutical, and biomedical use, while highlighting key gaps: the need for standardized clinical trials, bioavailability studies, and comprehensive safety evaluation.
The reviewed literature indicates that the leaves are rich in monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, and steroids, which should emphasize raw material standardization, extraction optimization, toxicological evaluation, and preclinical and clinical validation to facilitate the development of safe, effective, standardized, and sustainable products.
Dikianur Alvianto, Nuzlul Musdalifah, Nova Solina Purba et al.· AJARCDE | Asian Journal of A...· 0 citations
The family Orchidaceae is one of the most taxonomically diverse groups of angiosperms, recognized for their ornamental significance and their content of pharmacologically relevant secondary metabolites. This review critically evaluates the phytochemical diversity, bioactivities, and potential of Orchidaceae species as natural sources for the development of functional food products. This review is based on a comprehensive literature survey of 32 peer-reviewed articles indexed in Scopus and PubMed through April 2025, which reports the presence of diverse bioactive compounds-mainly phenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, and anthocyanins in various orchid species and plant tissues. These compounds exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities, including antioxidants, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-aging, photoprotective, and neuropharmacological effects. The concentration and composition of these metabolites depend on species differences, plant organ specificity, and extraction methods. Cumulative evidence underscores the underutilized potential of orchids as phytochemical reservoirs for nutraceutical applications. However, further translational research on bioavailability, safety, and functional stability in complex food systems is essential to enable their practical application in consumer health products. This review advocates intensive multidisciplinary research on Orchidaceae to open up new opportunities in the functional food and health-promoting bioactive industries.
Syntiya Inanda Khoidir, Deksa Aldebaran, Nur Aniza Aprilia et al.· Current Applied Science and...· 0 citations
Tagetes erecta L. is an important industrial source of lutein and other phytochemicals with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and glucose- and lipid-metabolizing potential. This review analyzes its phytochemical composition, biological mechanisms, potential applications in the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases, and emerging uses of nanotechnology to enhance biomass and secondary metabolite production. A structured search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using terms related to T. erecta, carotenoids, flavonoids, metabolic health, nanoparticles, nanoelicitation, and agro-industrial valorization. The evidence indicates that lutein, zeaxanthin, quercetagetin derivatives, patuletin, quercetin, and phenolic acids can modulate oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, lipid accumulation, and cell protection. Furthermore, the flowers, leaves, and extraction residues can be used as reducing and stabilizing matrices for the sustainable synthesis of functional nanomaterials. Nanoelicitors, nanofertilizers, and nanoencapsulated systems could stimulate the methylerythritol phosphate pathway, chromoplast differentiation, and the expression of genes related to carotenoid biosynthesis. Taken together, T. erecta represents a promising platform for the development of nutraceuticals, nanobiotechnology, and circular bioeconomy applications; however, phytochemical standardization, clinical validation, mechanistic studies supported by omics sciences, and pilot-scale evaluations are still required.
Jeniffer Giovanna Estrada Pérez, Hugo González-Lara, H. Aguirre-Becerra et al.· Applied Sciences· 0 citations
Collectively, the available evidence indicates that C. colocynthis is a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical, veterinary, and ecological applications, although rigorous scientific validation is required before its safe and effective utilization can be recommended.
H. Al-Khalaifah, T. Al-Surrayai, S. Shreaz et al.· Biology· 0 citations
Callistemon citrinus (Myrtaceae), a traditional medicinal herb, has been
used to treat various disorders associated with metabolism, digestion, inflammation, and respiration.
Recent discoveries in pharmacology, together with the herb's diverse phytochemistry, have raised
the possibility of multiple targets for medicinal interventions. This review attempts to critically analyse
the phytochemical profile and pharmacology of C. citrinus.
PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases were used to do a systematic
literature search until 2025. PRISMA-based guidelines were used to screen and analyze
peer-reviewed research, including in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies. Information on biological
activity, mechanisms, safety profiles, and phytochemistry was retrieved.
Flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and sterols are just a few of the many bioactive
components found in C. citrinus. Pharmacological research demonstrates the antioxidant, antibacterial,
anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, gastroprotective, neuroprotective, and anticancer properties.
While other activities remain restricted to experimental models with inconsistent methodological
quality, antioxidant and antibacterial benefits are supported by rather consistent preclinical data.
Mechanistically, oxidative stress, inflammatory mediators, and metabolic pathways are all modulated.
However, there is little experimental confirmation; new in silico research points to multi-target
interactions. In acute and subacute models, toxicological research shows a favourable safety profile.
C. citrinus has various pharmacological properties due to its unique phytochemistry.
Although there is substantial research on its antioxidant and anti-microbial properties, all the information
is based on experimental data. There is a need for clinical trials to prove its potential therapeutic
benefits.
Although C. citrinus has remarkable therapeutic promise, the paucity of clinical studies
and pharmacokinetic data, and the lack of standardization hinder its clinical translation. Welldesigned
clinical trials, bioavailability improvement, and mechanistic validation should be the top
priorities for future research.
Shankul Kumar, Vedant Kumar Prajapati, A. Patel et al.· Current Chemical Biology· 0 citations
Citrus sinensis (sweet orange) peel, a major agricultural by-product of the juice processing industry, represents an underutilized source of bioactive phytochemicals with significant therapeutic potential. This comprehensive review critically examines the pharmacognostic characteristics, phytochemical composition, traditional medicinal applications, molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory activity, pharmacological properties, extraction technologies, and circular bioeconomy applications of orange peel. The peel contains diverse bioactive compounds including flavonoids (hesperidin, naringin, narirutin), polymethoxyflavones (nobiletin, tangeretin, sinensetin), phenolic acids, essential oils (primarily D-limonene), carotenoids, and limonoids. These phytochemicals exert potent anti-inflammatory effects through modulation of NF-κB, MAPK, COX/LOX, and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways, while simultaneously demonstrating antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, and gastroprotective activities. Recent advances in green extraction technologies, metabolomics, and systems pharmacology have facilitated comprehensive characterization of orange peel phytochemistry. Furthermore, valorization of citrus processing waste aligns with circular bioeconomy principles and sustainable development goals. Despite extensive preclinical evidence, challenges including limited clinical validation, poor bioavailability of key flavonoids, lack of standardized extracts, and insufficient long-term safety data must be addressed before large-scale therapeutic implementation. This review identifies critical research gaps and proposes future directions for translating citrus peel bioactives into evidence-based phytopharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and functional health products.
Abhishek Chandel, devprakash dahiya, Anjana Devi et al.· Current Pharmaceutical Resea...· 0 citations
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