Caraway, Chinese Chives, and Cassia as Functional Foods Considering Nutrients and Health Benefits

The document reviews the health benefits and nutritional content of caraway, Chinese chives, and cassia, emphasizing their use historically as both flavoring agents and medicinal plants due to their secondary metabolites. Caraway is noted for its essential oils, particularly carvone and limonene, which have demonstrated various pharmacological benefits such as hypoglycemic activity and potential in managing obesity. Chinese chives are highlighted for their richness in vitamins, minerals, and sulfur compounds with antibiotic effects, and have been traditionally used to treat impotence and nocturnal emissions. The document also considers the role of these plants as functional foods and supplements that could contribute to health improvement and the prevention and treatment of diseases.