Special Issue "Polyphenolics"

Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. Kelly Meckling
Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Canada
E-Mail:
Interests: vitamin D; omega-3 fatty acids; cancer; cell differentiation; breast cell maturation; polyphenolics; phytochemicals; chemotherapy; cell signalling

Dear Colleagues,

Polyphenols are a complex group of phytochemicals that have ubiquitous distribution in plants, some fungi and even some micro-organisms. Most are best known for their potent antioxidant potential, however this is only one of a plethora of activities that have been associated with polyphenols. Some have hormone-like activity, behaving as estrogens or estrogen antagonists (e.g. phytoestrogens), others are protein kinase inhibitors, anti-inflammatory agents, antimicrobials, anti-fungals, and even insect repellants or attractants. Others control cell cycle progression, cellular differentiation, senescence and apoptosis. They may modulate enzymes associated with eicosanoid metabolism and thereby affect cell signaling, lipid peroxidation, and DNA-damage. Some polyphenols are excellent chelating agents and can interfere with metal induced oxidative damage. As well as being antioxidants themselves, several polyphenols, particularly the flavonoids, have been shown to modulate the expression of endogenous antioxidant molecules and proteins such as glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase. Because of their wide-ranging activities, polyphenols are aggressively being studies for their activities as human and animal health promotion agents and effective disease preventive or treatment agents for a number of human ailments including: Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases, multiple sclerosis, and autoimmune disorders. Major issues continue to be identifying the “active metabolites” and their mechanisms of action as well as determining the barriers to bioavailability of polyphenols from foods, herbs and extracts, and determining the “recommended” levels that should be being consumed by humans for optimal health.

Prof. Dr. Kelly Meckling
Guest Editor

Submission

All manuscripts should be submitted to nutrients@mdpi.org with a copy to the Guest Editor. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. Papers will be published continuously (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are refereed through a peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed Open Access monthly journal published by MDPI.