Special Issue "Antioxidants"

Guest Editor
Dr. Renato Bruni
Department of Functional and Evolutive Biology, University of Parma, Viale G. Usberti 11a, 43100 Parma, Italy
E-Mail:
Interests: ethnopharmacology and ethnobotany; development of essays of biological (antioxidant, antibacterial, genotoxic/antigenotoxic) and pharmacological activity of plant secondary metabolites; pharmacognostic, chemical and biomolecular quality control in herbal drugs

Dear Colleagues,

Antioxidants of plant origin are likely one of the most studied class of natural, functional compounds and they play a relevant role in a variety of commercial uses, ranging from phytocosmetics to nutraceuticals, from medicinal plants to pharmaceuticals. Their key role in the prevention of the onset of a wide range of pathologies and conditions related to oxidative stress (inflammation and cardiovascular diseases, aging related disorders, mutagenesis, cancer prevention to name a few) make them an attractive class of phytochemicals for the promotion of human health. Moreover, their efficacy as safe preservatives for foods, fodder and cosmetic formulations broaden the horizon of their applications.

Contributions for this issue, both in form of original research and review articles, may cover all aspects of plant antioxidants chemistry, biochemistry and biology, e.g. quantification, variability and efficacy of dietary and non-dietary antioxidants from plant sources and agroindustrial waste material; development of new protocols and methods based on chemical or biological systems for the evaluation of in vivo and in vitro antioxidant capacity; clinical and nutritional trials focused on the antioxidant properties of plant secondary metabolites; pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of natural antioxidants; relationships between antioxidant properties and human health promotion; elucidation of antioxidant mechanisms; innovative techniques of antioxidants delivery and protocols for the extraction, isolation, structural characterization of new natural antioxidants will be welcomed, on condition that an adequate evaluation of their efficacy is provided. Papers regarding the relationships between natural antioxidant content and stabilization of cosmetic, fodder and food products will be also taken into consideration.

Dr. Renato Bruni
Guest Editor

Submission

• antioxidants metabolism
• antioxidants quantification
• dietary antioxidants
• lipid peroxidation
• natural antioxidants
• oxidative stress
• plant secondary metabolites
• radical scavengers
• total antioxidant capacity

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Inhibitory Effect of Plant Antioxidants on Pathogenesis of Influenza Virus Infection
Authors: Noboru Uchide and Hiroo Toyoda
Affiliation: Department of Clinical Molecular Genetics, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan; E-mail: uchide@toyaku.ac.jp (N.U.)
Abstract: We have been now experiencing a new influenza pandemic with the novel influenza A virus (H1N1). Many patients have died from severe complications associated with the influenza virus infection even though they have received intensive care. This suggests that a strategy for medical treatment of severe influenza complications is not established. It has been demonstrated that various plant antioxidants, such as (1) nordihydroguaiaretic acid, (2) thujaplicin, (3) resveratrol, (4) 5,7,4-trihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone and (5) catechins, exhibit inhibitory effects on the pathogenesis of influenza virus infection, including virus replication, viral macromolecule synthesis, hemagglutination and neuramidase activity. Moreover, superoxide anion has been shown to implicate in the severity of complications associated with influenza virus infection. These results suggest that the combination of plant antioxidants with current anti-influenza drugs can improve influenza chemotherapy. Therefore, we will review recent knowledge of the inhibitory effect of various plant antioxidants on the pathogenesis of influenza virus infection.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Pharmacogenomic Interaction between Antioxidant Vitamins and the Haptoglobin Genotype in the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Andrew P. Levy and Dan Farbstein
Affiliation: Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City, Haifa 32000, Israel; E-Mails: alevy@tx.technion.ac.il (A.P.L.); dfarb@tx.technion.ac.il (D.F.)
Abstract: The role of antioxidant supplementation in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been a topic of considerable recent interest andb controversy. Motivated by preclinical studies demonstrating an important role of oxidation in the atherogenicity of lipoproteins and observational epidemiological studies showing that serum antioxidant concentrations were inversely correlated with the risk of disease, antioxidant supplements were routinely prescribed by cardiologists for the primary and secondary prevention of CVD. However, over the past 10 years numerous placebo controlled randomized clinical trials have failed to demonstrate benefit from antioxidants on CVD risk. In this review we will discuss why these trials failed and review recent data showing that both the type of antioxidant as well as the patient population selected for antioxidant therapy is critical in order to demonstrate benefit from antioxidant therapy.