ACTA SCIENTIFIC MEDICAL SCIENCES (ISSN: 2582-0931) Volume 3 Issue 9 September 2019 Role of Bioactive Compounds in Human Health Aanchal Walia 1 , Amit Kumar Gupta 2 * and Vatsala Sharma 1 1 Freelance Dietician, Also Worked as Personal Health Coach (Dietician) at HCL Healthcare India, Corporate Office, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India 2 Freelance Consultant (Public Health), Also Working as Trainer – Clinical Excellence at HCL Healthcare India, Corporate Office, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India *Corresponding Author: Amit Kumar Gupta, Freelance Consultant (Public Health), Also working as Trainer – Clinical Excellence at HCL Healthcare India, Corporate Office, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. Review Article Received: July 23, 2019; Published: August 06, 2019 Abstract Bioactive compounds are defined as components of food that have an impact on physiological or cellular activities in the humans or animals that consume such compounds. They include flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, betalains, carotenoids, plant sterols, and glucosinolates. They are mainly found in fruits and vegetables; have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic effects; and can be protective against various diseases and metabolic disorders. Such beneficial effects make them good candidates for devel- opment of new functional food with potential protective and preservative properties. Various fruits and vegetables provide a range of nutrients and different bioactive compounds including phytochemicals (phenolics, flavonoids, and carotenoids). Most importantly, flavonoids have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory health benefits, positive effects on cardiovascular health, and anti-cancer proper- ties. Anthocyanins have positive cardiovascular health effects, though it is needy of further evaluation. Carotenoids exert protective effects against several kinds of cancers, in addition to benefits to vision and skin. Glucosinolates have protective roles against cancers and dementia. However, there is a great variation in the literature on the role of different bioactive compounds in human health, which calls for further research and better understanding in order to maximize potential health benefits. Keywords: Anthocyanins; Betalains; Bioactive Compounds; Carotenoids; Flavonoids; Glucosinolates; Plant Sterols; Tannins A bioactive compound is a compound having some biological activity. As the name suggests (Greek ‘bios’ means life and Latin ‘activus’ means dynamic or full of energy), a bioactive compound (or substance) has its direct physiological or cellular effects on a living organism. Such effects may be positive or negative depend- ing on the nature of the substance, its dose, and its bioavailability. Accordingly, bioactive food components are components in foods or dietary supplements, other than those necessary to meet the basic nutritional needs, which can change the health status of the humans or animals that consume them. Several definitions attri- bute the term ‘bioactive compound’ directly to compounds derived from foods (products, or present in food, or part of the food chain) in such a way that it is presented as synonymous with ‘bioactive food’, and even more specifically, limited to plants or food crops [1]. In plants, nutrients are generally not included in the term “plant bioactive compound”. Typically, bioactive compounds in plants are produced as secondary metabolites that are not necessary for the daily functioning of the plant (such as growth); however, they play an important role in the competition, defense, attraction, and sig- naling. These compounds can then be defined as secondary plant metabolites eliciting pharmacological or toxicological effects in hu- mans and animals [2]. Abbreviations AMD: Age-Related Macular Degeneration; CVD: Cardiovascular Disease; LDL: Low-Density Lipoprotein; UV: Ultraviolet. Introduction Citation: Aanchal Walia., et al. “Role of Bioactive Compounds in Human Health". Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 3.9 (2019): 25-33.