Download or read book Chemistry and Biology of Ellagitannins written by Stephane Quideau and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2009 with total page 395 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is the first of its kind that focuses on the chemistry and biology of ellagitannins, a special class of naturally occurring polyphenols which have so far not received the attention they deserve. These polyphenolic substances are found in many plants, including numerous food sources. They not only exhibit unique structural features that fascinate most chemists who are aware of their existence, but also express remarkable biological activities that have yet to attract the interest of the pharmaceutical industry. This is surprising because ellagitannins have been identified as active principles in traditional Chinese medicines.