Food-Derived Opioids: Production and the Effects of Opioids on Human Health

Abstract

Traditional opioids have been used for the people who suffer from cancer, burns, surgery, HIV/AIDS, and other serious illness pains for years. However, numerous side effects like dizziness, apnea, physical dependence, tolerance, addiction, nau-sea, and vomiting push the researchers to look forward to the new opioid options. The opioid peptides which derived from foods provide significant advantages as the safe and natural alternative. The researchers reported that it is also promising a new functional food and nutraceutical. In this chapter, the type of food-derived opioids, their origins, possible receptors, their amino acid sequences, opioid effects, production techniques, and health benefits are reviewed.