Endogenous plant antioxidants are capable of
inhibiting lipid peroxidation in foods and offer protection
against oxidative damage to membrane functions in biological
systems. Lipid peroxidation in vivo and dietary lipid oxidation
products have been proved to be the primary cause
of many diseases, i.a. atherosclerosis cancer to name the
most important, and aging process. Medical sciences’
researchers are becoming aware of the value of preventive
therapies. Terms like functional foods, designer foods, therapeutic
foods, nutraceuticals and the like are widely used in
food industry and human nutrition.