**Preface XI**


Chapter 8 **Evaluation of Nutritional and Medicinal Properties of Opuntia elatior Mill 121**

Krishna N. Patel and Kalpeshkumar B. Ishnava


Ana-Alexandra Sorescu, Alexandrina Nuta, Rodica-Mariana Ion and Lorena Iancu

Preface

and vegetables.

lation in fruits and vegetables are discussed.

Phytochemicals are non-nutritive chemical compounds derived from plants and play a sig‐ nificant role in human disease prevention. Phytochemicals such as secondary metabolites and antioxidants have important medicinal properties. Allelochemicals released from plants also act as phytochemicals and show a significant ecological role. In this book the source of phytochemicals and their role in disease prevention, stress tolerance in plants, and accumu‐

The role of phytochemicals and their phytoconstituents in human disease recovery is dis‐ cussed in this book. They play an important role in antioxidative stress tolerance and the free radical scavenging process. Moreover, major phytochemicals such as anthocyanin, fla‐ vonoids, and carotenoids have anticancer and wound healing capacities. The above aspects are presented in detail along with the medicinal properties of specific phytochemicals present in specific plant species. The book also includes the impact of modern agricultural practices and novel processing technologies on the accumulation of phytochemicals in fruits

Interesting research work and reviews on the sources of phytochemicals and their role in disease prevention, as well as pharmaceutically important medicinal plants, are collected to‐ gether in this book. Publication of this book would have been impossible without the contri‐ bution of many researchers around the world. Our sincere acknowledgment goes to the

**Dr. Toshiki Asao**

Department of Agriculture

**Dr. Md Asaduzzaman** Horticulture Research Centre

Gazipur, Bangladesh

Faculty of Life and Environmental Science Shimane University, Matsue, Japan

Bangladesh Agriculture Research Institute

authors who contributed their valuable research work in this edition.


Vishal Ganessingh, Raeesah Sahibdeen and Rohanie Maharaj
