Natural products and primary and secondary metabolites of plants have
many biological functions, many of which are considered as health-beneficial for
mankind. This chapter will focus on biologically active ingredients in widely consumed
root vegetables, such as potato, celeriac, turnips, radish, beets, Hamburg parsley, taro,
yam, parsnip and salsify. A recent update of studies is presented regarding underground
parts of the mentioned vegetables – plant underground parts. Chemical constituents
responsible for such biological activities, with focus on recent findings for each root
vegetable separately are presented.
Keywords: Antidiabetic, Antihypertension, Antimicrobial, Antimutagenic,
Antioxidant, Biological activity, Cardioprotective, Chemical constituents,
Chemopreventive, Crops, Hepatoprotective, Lectins, Metabolites, Phenolics,
Pigments, Polysachrides, Root vegetables, Thnopharmacology, Vitamins.
