There had been a long history of using chicken broths to improve and treat diseases. In traditional medicine, chicken broths had the effects of warming up the body, elevating energy and vitality, strengthening organs and bones, etc. Recent researches proved that consuming chicken broths can relieve cold symptoms, tiredness, promoting metabolism and increasing immune functions. People found that chicken broths are rich in nutrients like proteins, various a-mino acids, minerals and trace elements, etc. Carnosine and anserine which are important nutrients in chicken broth, are histamine dipeptide compounds and antioxidative substances with multiple bioactivities. They act as precursors of central nervous histaminergic transmitters, which can regulate central nervous histamine level and activity of serotonin, and hence activate serotonin-related physiological activities. Results showed that chicken broth can improve sleeping qualities, lighten up mood and regulate rhythm of life. With the industrialization of chicken broth production, people are paying much more attention to functional foods like chicken essences. This article summarizes the researches on active components and physiological effects of chicken broths and elucidates the related mechanisms, which can provide consumers with more beneficial information, on the research and development of chicken broths.%传统医学认为,鸡汤具有温中益气、补虚填精、益五脏健脾胃及强筋骨等效果.近年来的研究证明鸡汤具有缓解感冒症状、消除疲劳、促进机体新陈代谢及增强免疫功能等作用.鸡汤中富合蛋白质、多种氨基酸、多种矿物质及微量元素等营养成分,其中肌肽和鹅肌肽是组胺酰二肽类化合物,不仅是鸡汤中的营养成分,同时也是具有多种生理活性的抗氧化物质.此外,肌肽等小分子化合物又作为中枢组织胺神经递质的前驱活性物质,可以通过组氨酸等代谢途径有效调节中枢组织胺神经水平和5-羟色胺活性、激活5-羟色胺依赖性生理活动,改善睡眠,提高情绪和调节生活节律等多种生理功能.随着鸡汤的工业化生产,以鸡精形式的功能食品受到人们的关注.作者综述近年来人们对鸡汤的活性成分及生理作用等研究的同时,也对其可能的作用机制加以总结,旨在对鸡汤的进一步研究开发提供有益的信息.
展开▼
