Emergence of nutraceuticals as the alternative medications for pharmaceuticals

Abstract

Nutraceuticals are the food or a part of it that have some health beneficial effects with or without nutritional values. For past several decades, these nutraceuticals have been gaining importance as the alternative or supplemental medications along with pharmaceuticals for prevention or treatment of wide-range of diseases. These nutraceuticals have been an attractive option over the conventional therapies due to their less or no side effects and nutritional values. Although the effectiveness of nutraceuticals as complementary medications has proven in several Pre-/clinical trials, a significant scientific debate is going on their medical benefits. So, there is an emerging need to demonstrate the health benefits (in alone or combination) of nutraceuticals and provide their detailed molecular mode of action. In this mini review, I have attempted to summarize the beneficial effects and uses of several nutraceuticals (dietary supplements, phytochemicals, nutrients, and herbals) against some of the chronic ailments including cancer, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases.