Potential of fruits and vegetables to treat inflammatory conditions

Abstract

Abstract In response to pathogens, injury or irritation, inflammation is a natural biological mechanism. The inflammation process is a difficult immune response that can be characterised as the synchronous activation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Inflammation seems to be significantly correlated with various types of diseases, such as arthritis, allergy, atherosclerosis and cancer. Some intermittent events, including redness, swelling, heat, and pain, often progressing to exudation and loss of function, typically describe inflammation. Some inflammatory cytokines that are important chemical substances found in the tissues of the body, including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, prostacyclin, lymphocytes, and chemokines such as interferon-alpha (IFN-α), IFN-γ, are involved in the inflammation phase. Vegetables and fruit-derived formulations have been used to treat inflammatory conditions and their associated disorders. Evidence shows that fruits like grapes, watermelon, orange and vegetable-rich diets like Allium cepa, Momordica charantia, Raphanus sativus etc. are beneficial against common chronic diseases, cancer, obesity and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, these fruits and vegetables provide vitamins, minerals and fibre in our diet. Anti-inflammatory compounds in onions help to lessen the clinical symptoms associated with conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Due to the presence of various phytochemicals in bitter melon, it is used in inflammation in bones and joints, inflammation in cancer and cardiovascular as well as neurodegenerative diseases and haemorrhoids. Lycopene in tomato also acts on cytokine channels in human adipose tissue, and inhibit the level of inflammatory biomarkers. This article focuses on such healthy foods and vegetables that have the capability to treat inflammatory disorders. From this we can conclude that fruits and vegetables are promising in limiting the inflammation.