title: Phytochemical Content, Health Benefits, and Toxicology of Common Edible Flowers: A Review (2000-2015).
abstract: Edible flowers contain numerous phytochemicals which contribute to their health benefits, and consumption of edible flowers has increased significantly in recent years. While many researchers have been conducted, no literature review of the health benefits of common edible flowers and their phytochemicals has been compiled. This review aimed to present the findings of research conducted from 2000 to 2015 on the species, traditional application, phytochemicals, health benefits, and the toxicology of common edible flowers. It was found in 15 species of common edible flowers that four flavonols, three flavones, four flavanols, three anthocyanins, three phenolic acids and their derivatives were common phytochemicals and they contributed to the health benefits such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-obesity, and neuroprotective effect. Toxicology studies have been conducted to evaluate the safety of common edible flowers and provide information on their dosages and usages.
authors.affiliation: a Zhejiang University, College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Fuli Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-Food Processing, Zhejiang R & D Center for Food Technology and Equipment, Key Laboratory for Agro-Food Risk Assessment of Ministry of Agriculture , Hangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Baiyi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: a Zhejiang University, College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Fuli Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-Food Processing, Zhejiang R & D Center for Food Technology and Equipment, Key Laboratory for Agro-Food Risk Assessment of Ministry of Agriculture , Hangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Maiquan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: b Cornell University , Department of Food Science , Ithaca , New York USA.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000737:chemistry; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D064209:Phytochemicals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols
keywords: Flavonoids; anthocyanins; bioactivity; phenolic acids; safety