Edible Flowers: Super Foods with Potential Health Benefits
Yachna Sood, Manmohan Lal, Ayush Kalia, Sakshi Verma
International Journal of Plant & Soil Science · pp. 213–221 · Published 9 Feb 2024
10.9734/ijpss/2024/v36i34417Abstract
Edible flowers have become popular in recent years as a unique and visually tempting addition to culinary creations. This review article explores the assorted world of edible flowers, focusing on their potential health benefits, bioactive compounds, and associated toxicological risks, with particular attention to the anti-nutritional compounds and toxic flowers. Edible flowers from different plant species provide a variety of bioactive compounds that contribute to their flavor, aroma, and potential health benefits. These bioactive compounds, including antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, make edible flowers not only beautiful but also nutritious. Incorporating them into your diet can improve the overall nutritional content of your meals. However, consuming edible flowers is not without risks. Some flowers contain anti-nutrient compounds, such as oxalates and phytates, which can interfere with the absorption of essential minerals and lead to nutritional deficiencies over time. Therefore, it is important to practice moderation when consuming certain edible flowers, especially for those with pre-existing medical conditions or prone to mineral imbalances. However, it is essential to pay attention to anti-nutritional compounds that can affectmineral absorption and the potential toxicity of certain flowers. When used judiciously and safely, edible flowers can be a delicious and healthy addition to a balanced diet. Careful selection and proper preparation are essential to reap the benefits while minimizing the risks associated with these beautiful flowers. This review serves as a valuable resource for consumers, chefs and nutritionists, providing insight into the world of edible flowers and their bioactive compounds as well as considerations regarding anti-nutritional compounds and their toxicity.
References (30)
- 1 Antioxidant Phytochemicals for the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases [DOI]
- 2 Phytochemical Content, Health Benefits, and Toxicology of Common Edible Flowers: A Review (2000–2015) [DOI]
- 3 Immunosuppressive activity of an aqueous Viola tricolor herbal extract [DOI]
- 4 Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Calendula officinalis L. Flower Extract [DOI]
- 5 A REVIEW OF CHRYSANTHEMUM, THE EASTERN QUEEN IN TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE WITH HEALING POWER IN MODERN PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES [DOI]
- 6 Physiological Effects and Human Health Benefits of Hibiscus sabdariffa: A Review of Clinical Trials [DOI]
- 7 Lamium Plants—A Comprehensive Review on Health Benefits and Biological Activities [DOI]
- 8 Lavandula Species, Their Bioactive Phytochemicals, and Their Biosynthetic Regulation [DOI]
- 9 Efficacy of Viola odorata in Treatment of Chronic Insomnia [DOI]
- 10 Cytotoxic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant Properties and Effects on Cell Migration of Phenolic Compounds of Selected Transylvanian Medicinal Plants [DOI]
- 11 Determination of polyphenol contents in Papaver rhoeas L. flowers extracts (soxhlet, maceration), antioxidant and antibacterial evaluation [DOI]
- 12 Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds
- 13 Evaluation of bioactive compounds from Jasminum polyanthum and its medicinal properties [DOI]
- 14 Health benefits of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 15 Comparative Study on the Total Phenolics, Total Flavonoids, and Biological Activities of Papaver rhoeas L. Extracts from Different Geographical Regions of Morocco [DOI]
- 16 In vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of red clover Trifolium pratense dry extract [DOI]
- 17 EDIBLE FLOWERS: NEW CROPS WITH POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS [DOI]
- 18 Chemical Composition and Bioactive Characterisation of Impatiens walleriana [DOI]
- 19 Comparative Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Haemostatic Studies of Preparations from Selected Vegetables from Cucurbitaceae Family [DOI]
- 20 Tsukemono – crunchy pickled foods from Japan: A case study of food design by gastrophysics and nature [DOI]
- 21 Biological effect of gamma and electron beam to target turning X-ray irradiation on two varieties of freesia in M3 generation [DOI]
- 22 Antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of Lamium album and Lamium maculatum species from wild populations in the Romanian Eastern Carpathians [DOI]
- 23 International Journal of Molecular Sciences [DOI]
- 24 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine [DOI]
- 25 Journal of Drug Delivery and Therapeutics [DOI]
- 26 Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal [DOI]
- 27 Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology [DOI]
- 28 Beneficial Effects of Natural Bioactive Compounds from Hibiscus sabdariffa L. on Obesity [DOI]
- 29 International Journal of Physiology, Nutrition and Physical Education [DOI]
- 30 International Conference on Quality Management in Supply Chains of Ornamentals [DOI]
Cited by 10
Firoozeh Pourzarnegar, Davood Hashemabadi, Mohammad Sadegh Allahyari · Ornamental Horticulture · 2025
D. E. Jimenez-Sánchez, E. J. Delgado-Núñez, A. Francisco-Palemon · Edible Flowers: Source of Phytonutrients, Valorization and Technological Advancements · 2025
Tomás Rivas-García, Felipe Ascencio-Valle Felipe, Ana Gisela Reyes-Alvarado · Edible Flowers: Source of Phytonutrients, Valorization and Technological Advancements · 2025
Patrícia Duarte de Oliveira Paiva, Anderson Condé da Silva, Renato Paiva · Ornamental Horticulture · 2025
Muhammad Afzaal, Muhammad Bilal Hussain, Farhan Saeed · Edible Flowers: Source of Phytonutrients, Valorization and Technological Advancements · 2025
Maciej Książkiewicz, Michalina Karczewska, Filip Nawrot · Molecules · 2025
Janne Santos de Morais, Tatiana Colombo Pimentel, Marcos dos Santos Lima · Methods and Protocols in Food Science · 2025
Muhammad Aizaz, Lubna, Syed Salman Hashmi · Plants · 2025
Aditi Gupta, Shivangi Sharma, Devyani Rajput · Discover Food · 2024
Elena Coyago-Cruz, Alejandro Alarcón, Aida Guachamin · Antioxidants · 2024
Related research
- Liver Profile of Artemether-lumefantrine-tinidazole in Healthy and Parasitized Mice — shares topic coverage
- Detection of Multiple Cry Genes in Bacillus thuringiensis Isolated from Different Soil Types in Zaria — shares topic coverage
- Bioavailability and Toxicity of Plastic Contaminants to Soil and Soil Bacteria — shares topic coverage
- Botulinum Toxin: A Friend or an Enemy? — shares topic coverage
- Inhibitory Effects of Phenolic Monomers on Methanogenesis in Anaerobic Digestion — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
12
Page views
0
PDF downloads
1
Outbound clicks
10
Citations
Views over time
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.