Functional foods: An effective tool in the management of xenobiotic-induced human health challenges

Global industrialization generates a variety of dangerous substances known as xenobiotics, which include both naturally occurring poisons and manmade contaminants. These toxins often exist in concentrations surpassing normal physiological levels, leading to high-level toxicities among living organisms. Their pervasive presence underscores the urgent need for effective strategies to mitigate their adverse effects on human health. Functional foods are macronutrient-rich, readily available, and microbially processed, significantly supplemented with essential biofunctional dietary nutrients. These nutrients are crucial for gastronomic delectation and survival and offer substantial health benefits in preventing and managing chronic ailments. This review manuscript seeks to spotlight the biofunctional nutrient potentials inherent in functional foods obtained from botanicals, using these in combating xenobiotic noxiousness, while also elucidating their underlying mechanisms to optimize bioavailability and delivery systems for improving human health.