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The Role of Glycoalkaloids, Lipids, and Proteins in Tissue Inflammation

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Natural Inflammatory Molecules in Fruits and Vegetables

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Molecular Science ((BRIEFSCHEFO))

Abstract

This chapter discusses the importance of food glycoalkaloids, the naturally produced nitrogen-containing compounds occurring as steroidal glycosides, as secondary metabolites produced in various parts of Solanaceae vegetables. Despite possessing appreciable amounts of vitamins and minerals, and being known for several health benefits, nightshade vegetables can create problems for people who are allergic to the alkaloids. The adverse health effects due to consumption of nightshade vegetables have been in limelight since 1979 when an epidemic of potato poisoning in London was reported. However, Ayurvedic physicians in India had been advising every patient to avoid nightshade vegetables consumption for centuries with an understanding that potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers can generate excess heat and acidity in the body, aggravating both vata and pitta doshas leading to gout, nowadays called rheumatoid arthritis, high-level inflammation, and autoimmune diseases. In this chapter, an attempt is made to present a scenario of nutritional and detrimental effects of different nightshade vegetables, along with a mention of scientific opinion on the risk assessment of glycoalkaloids in feed and food. Finally, the Chapter concludes by highlighting the logic of dietary prohibitions suggested by Ayurvedic physicians to patients, and some introduction to the importance of proteins and lipids in tissue inflammation.

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Abbreviations

EC:

European Commission

EFSA:

European Food Safety Authority

GA:

Glycoalkaloid

IBD:

Inflammatory bowel disease

TPGA:

Total potato glycoalkaloid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Food Safety Consultant and Scientific Writer, Tilam Sangh Rajasthan, Bikaner, Rajasthan, India

    Ramesh Kumar Sharma

  2. Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “GF Ingrassia”, University of Catania, Catania, Italy

    Maria Anna Coniglio

  3. Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Pasqualina Laganà

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  1. Ramesh Kumar Sharma
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  2. Maria Anna Coniglio
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  3. Pasqualina Laganà
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Correspondence to Ramesh Kumar Sharma .

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Sharma, R.K., Coniglio, M.A., Laganà, P. (2022). The Role of Glycoalkaloids, Lipids, and Proteins in Tissue Inflammation. In: Natural Inflammatory Molecules in Fruits and Vegetables . SpringerBriefs in Molecular Science(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88473-4_3

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