Antioxidants, Nutraceuticals, and Functional Food in Animals

Dear Colleagues,

Since ancient times, humans have paid particular attention to nutrition, attributing health and medicinal properties to it. Hippocrates, who lived 2400 years ago, proclaimed: "Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food", noting how much nutrition plays a key role in determining the quality and length of life.

However, the concept of nutrition as medicine dates back to 1534 BC. A document from ancient Egypt first reported the beneficial effects of the garlic plant, used to treat cardiovascular disorders, parasites and infections. The benefits of this plant have been confirmed by modern science and attributed to one of its components, allyl sulfide, a powerful antioxidant and bactericide. Research on nutraceuticals and functional foods is very careful and active, especially in light of the benefits given by their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, detoxifying, anticancer, antimicrobial, antiviral, antihypertensive, and hypocholesterolemic capacities.

Therefore, nutraceuticals and functional foods present themselves as interesting tools for achieving the goal of optimized nutrition.

The topic of the present Special Issue is summarized in its title: "Antioxidants, Nutraceuticals, and Functional Food in Animals". It was chosen for the relevance of these issues, and to promote the health and well-being of humans and animals under the aegis of One Health, through a conscious and sustainable use of natural resources such as plants and their products—this is the challenge we must face in this century. For this Special Issue, we welcome the submission of scientific contributions on topics such as nutritional medicine; the roles of free radicals and antioxidants in oxidative stress onset; the analysis of the integrated mechanisms activated by nutraceuticals, phytotherapy, and phytonutrients in the control of the maintenance and/or restoration of cellular and systemic homeostasis; the investigation of potential biotechnological applications; and the evaluation of the behavioral responses and welfare statuses of animals included in studies.

Dr. Francesca Ciani
Guest Editor

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