A Critical Review of the Biological Significance and Synthesis Challenges of Phytonutrients

Abstract: These nutraceuticals are bioactive molecules derived from foods that are valuable for human and animal health. They are easy to find, inexpensive, and have fewer side effects than allopathic medicine, and are thus used to treat many diseases. Modern lifestyles, characterized by the high consumption of processed foods, alcohol use, and sedentary behavior, are primary drivers of chronic conditions, including diabetes, obesity, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Even present modern medical therapies have not been able to get rid of side effects and mortality due to therapy. Plant-rich diets, especially fruits and vegetables, are an important part of the development of these compounds, mostly as enhancers of immunity and overall well-being. Nutrition supplements are perceived as having a healthy profile, with safe, easy, and routine incorporation into everyday diets, driven by their growing popularity, rising public awareness, and scientific validation. Nonetheless, the extraction of bioactive compounds from natural sources has faced challenges such as low yields, seasonality, geographic dependence, and the extensive time required for cultivation. In addition, traditional extraction and purification methods for such compounds are slow, resource-intensive, and extremely damaging to the environment through the overuse of solvents and overharvesting of plants, endangering biodiversity. Emerging methods that leverage synthetic and semi-synthetic techniques are increasingly seeking to address challenges in the extraction of bioactive compounds for the large-scale production of high-quality, highly bioactive molecules. This review discusses nutraceutical compounds from various perspectives, including their biological significance and the challenges of extraction and synthesis. Nevertheless, limitations exist, including expensive production costs, complexity of synthesis, and difficulties in replicating natural structures and their activities.