Mediterranean shrubs as potential antioxidant sources.
Several Mediterranean shrubs, both autochthonous and naturalized, have been traditionally used as food, flavouring and/or spicing agents, and as phytopharmaceuticals. The interest around 'natural' and 'biological' products is steadily increasing in developed countries. Therefore, it seems reasonable to screen some shrubs with regard to the actual information about their content of phytochemicals, in relation to both real and putative beneficial properties, and with particular concern to their 'antioxidant' power. Moreover, striking molecules from the examined shrubs are compared according to their occurrence in the various genera. Also, their structures and structure/activity relationship are discussed in the light of possible practical application.
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biomediche, Cattedra di Chimica Biologica, Universita di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy. sanjust@unica.it
Enrico
E
Sanjust
Giuseppe
G
Mocci
Paolo
P
Zucca
Antonio
A
Rescigno
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D031484:Capparis / Q000737:chemistry; D029791:Ericaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D031651:Myrtus / Q000737:chemistry; D029747:Opuntia / Q000737:chemistry; D027826:Rosa / Q000737:chemistry; D027542:Rosmarinus / Q000737:chemistry
D000975:Antioxidants