NATIONAL FRUITS AND THEIR PHENOLIC CHARACTERIZATION

Oxidative stress plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases diabetes neurodegenerative diseases and different neoplasms. Exposure to high levels of pro-oxidant factors can cause structural defects in mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as well as functional alteration of catalytic processes of different enzymes and cell structures that lead to mutations in gene expression. This book will show the chemical composition (antioxidant compounds) of some national fruits (apple pear arbutus-berry sloe) that are and/or are being undervalued in the dietary pattern of the Portuguese population.