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Biochemical and Physiological Importance of Plant Polyphenols

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Food Factors for Cancer Prevention

Summary

We have recently been much interested in endogenous plant polyphenols that are expected to inhibit lipid peroxidation and protect against oxidative damage to membrane functioning. Based on the hypothesis that plant polyphenols must play an important role in protection from oxidative stress, we made an intensive search of novel types of antioxidative polyphenols from cereal, bean, and oil seeds. We then examined in detail the biological and pharmacological activity of lignan-type antioxidants isolated from sesame seeds. We also focused on theaflavins, the polyphenolic red pigments in black tea, and the beta-diketone (β-diketone) type of polyphenols, curcuminoids, which are present in spices. The biological activity and functions of these plant polyphenols are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Biological Sciences, Nagoya University, Chikusa, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-01, Japan

    Toshihiko Osawa

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  1. Toshihiko Osawa
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Science and Technology Faculty of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Oiwake-cho, Kitashirakawa, Kakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-01, Japan

    Hajime Ohigashi Ph.D. (Professor) (Professor)

  2. Department of Applied Biological Sciences Faculty of Agriculture, Nagoya University, Furocho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-01, Japan

    Toshihiko Osawa Ph.D. (Professor) (Professor)

  3. Lipid Science Laboratory, National Food Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2-1-2 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305, Japan

    Junji Terao Ph.D. (Head) (Head)

  4. Nutrition and Epidemiology, Department of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156, Japan

    Shaw Watanabe M.D. (Professor) (Professor)

  5. First Department of Internal Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602, Japan

    Toshikazu Yoshikawa M.D. (Associate Professor) (Associate Professor)

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© 1997 Springer Japan

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Osawa, T. (1997). Biochemical and Physiological Importance of Plant Polyphenols. In: Ohigashi, H., Osawa, T., Terao, J., Watanabe, S., Yoshikawa, T. (eds) Food Factors for Cancer Prevention. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-67017-9_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-67017-9_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-67019-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-67017-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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