Nutraceuticals and Human Health and Disease

Numerous illnesses, including cancer, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders, are primarily caused by the disruption of cellular metabolism. A useful and essential tool for developing new therapeutic approaches that are more effective and guarantee a higher quality of life is the knowledge and study of the mechanisms involving the alteration of energy metabolism, the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS), the imbalance between proliferation and cell death, and the interaction between enzymes and substrates. Nutraceutical supplementation is considered a valid approach for the prophylaxis and treatment of these diseases, although several pathophysiological implications of its use remain unclear. Therefore, it is particularly important for the international scientific community to share information on the molecular mechanisms and novel targets of known or novel natural compounds to expand knowledge on the prevention of, as well as the reduction in the risk and progression of, diseases associated with metabolic imbalances, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Bioactive molecules found in nature, linked to potential therapeutic effects, as well as increased tolerability and bioavailability, are an excellent substitute for synthetic drugs. Therefore, the detailed study of potential natural mediators of cellular metabolism, both endogenous and exogenous (derived from animal and plant sources), presents an intriguing research direction. The purpose of this Reprint is to make some of this information available.