Abstract

In daily life, nutrition is crucial in maintaining health in all parts of the world. Utilizing foods with medicinal characteristics simultaneously can change the body's pathological and physiological processes. Inflammation is a consequence of a pathophysiological process that leads to cellular damage with the release of inflammatory mediators. Several foods containing bioactive constituents such as phenolics, flavanoids, catechins, tannins, vitamins and non-sodium minerals were reported to possess pharmacological activity that improves the health status of an individual. A range of plant-derived foods such as turmeric (Curcuma longa), green tea (Camellia sinensis), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), chili pepper (Capsicum annum) and nuts such as almond (Prunus dulcis) and hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) showed the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. In this review article, the knowledge regarding food-derived plants are compiled and systematically presented in terms of morphological characters, major active constituents and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Because bioactive constituents show low bioavailability, emphasising nanotechnology in the administration has been made in the recent past to improve targeted drug delivery. These foods may be consumed in a routine balanced diet and also be a good choice that may lead to our healthiness.