Dietary synergy of active elements from the vegetable kingdom

(Lila, 2009. Bibliography study, North Carolina State University, USA)

Plants can produce metabolites in order to assure their defences from external attacks. The active elements in plants sometimes work side by side (additively) to protect the host plant, or in other cases, interact synergistically, increasing the efficacy of each other. 

When an animal eats specific plants, the ingested active elements can additively contribute to health protection, or synergistically provoke animal disease-resistance responses that are much greater than the additive effect of either chemical acting alone.

Botanical active elements behave differently from synthetic pharmaceuticals. The bioactive compound (whether consumed as a food or as an additive) are based on several mode of action, and on different active ingredients. The most prominent natural active element group known for health benefits is the polyphenolics.

Actually, additive and synergistic potentiating interactions between natural components in botanicals are protecting and enhancing animal health on multiple fronts simultaneously.