Health benefits of onion

Reshmi K. Vijayan, M. Mohamed Essa*, Amani S. Al-Rawahi, Gilles J. Guillemin, Subash Selvaraju, Manivasagam Tamilarasan, Annadurai Anandhan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is one of the most widely used vegetable crops, belonging tothe Liliaceae family. It is found across a wide range of latitudes and altitudes in Europe,Asia, North America, and Africa. Onions are rich in health promoting dietary flavonoidsand the alk(en)yl cysteine sulfoxides (ACSOs). The anthocyanins in onion impart ared/purple color to some varieties and flavonols, such as quercetin and its derivatives, areresponsible for the yellow and brown skins of many other varieties. Promising resultshave been obtained from both in vitro and in vivo investigations. Thus far, potentialhealth benefits include antibacterial, antithrombotic, antiplatelet, and anti-asthmaticactivities. Onions also exhibit immune modulatory, cardio-protective, nephro-protective,and anti-diabetic effects. This chapter reviews the spectrum of health protective effectsand the related mechanisms of action of onion phytonutrients.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationFood as Medicine
PublisherNova Science Publishers, Inc.
Pages95-108
Number of pages14
ISBN (Print)9781624177477
Publication statusPublished - 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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