Anti-inflammatory activity of betalains: A comprehensive review: A comprehensive review

Betalains are nitrogen-based natural pigments present in some species of Caryophyllales plants and some higher-order fungi. Betalains are divided into betacyanins (red-colored) and betaxanthins (yellow-colored). It is well known that betalains have beneficial health properties and provide high antioxidant scavenging, anticancer and chemopreventive potential. These properties open a field that has recently gained attention: anti-inflammatory research. Experiments in vitro and in vivo and clinical trials have demonstrated the high potential of betalains as natural anti-inflammatory agents, concluding that betalains have strong health-promoting potential and can be used as an adjunctive therapy. Although red beetroot is the main source of betalains, other sources should be studied, such as cactus plants. This paper summarizes the current research on the anti-inflammatory properties of betalains. The accumulated evidence suggests that it is necessary to study the anti-inflammatory activity of betalains in depth.