Plant Antioxidants, Inflammation, and Chronic Disease

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Outcomes of Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 7904

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Bio-Nano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam-si 13120, Republic of Korea
2. Gachon Advanced Institute for Health Science and Technology (GAIHST), Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Republic of Korea
3. Institute for Aging and Clinical Nutrition Research, Gachon University, Seongnam-si 13120, Republic of Korea
Interests: bioactive compounds; phytochemicals; antioxidants; inflammation; brown cell; chronic diseases; in vitro mechanism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Food and Nutrition, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Republic of Korea
Interests: human nutrition; antioxidants; plant extracts; human health; inflammation; brain–gut axis; mucosal immunology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant antioxidants are abundantly present in various plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. These antioxidants include vitamins such as vitamin C and vitamin E, minerals such as selenium, phytochemicals such as carotenoids, and polyphenols.

Plant antioxidants play a crucial role in the natural defense mechanism by neutralizing free radicals, reducing oxidative stress, supporting immune function and skin/eye health, improving cognitive function, and delaying aging, thus preventing the onset of chronic conditions.

This Special Issue highlights the importance of a diet rich in plant-based antioxidants to bolster immune function, thereby lowering the risk of chronic disease development and improving long-term health outcomes.

Prof. Dr. Hae-Jeung Lee
Dr. Jin Ah Cho
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • plant antioxidants
  • free radicals
  • oxidative stress
  • polyphenol
  • carotenoids
  • vitamin C
  • vitamin E
  • selenium
  • inflammation
  • chronic disease
  • cardiovascular diseases
  • diabetes
  • cancer, neurodegenerative disorders
  • immune function

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 3220 KiB  
Article
Metabolic Profiling of Fermented Products of the Ethanolic Extract of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus Fruit and Evaluation of Its Immune Enhancement Effect in RAW 264.7 Macrophages and BV2 Microglia
by Kwan-Woo Kim, Bo-Ram Choi, Woo-Cheol Shin, Jin-Kyu Jang, Young-Seob Lee, Dahye Yoon and Dae Young Lee
Antioxidants 2025, 14(4), 397; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14040397 - 27 Mar 2025
Viewed by 356
Abstract
In this study, we sought to evaluate the potential availability of 30% ethanol extract of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus fruit (ASE) as a prebiotic and compare the immune enhancement effect of ASE and its fermented products, which were fermented with three probiotic bacteria, namely, Lactobacillus [...] Read more.
In this study, we sought to evaluate the potential availability of 30% ethanol extract of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus fruit (ASE) as a prebiotic and compare the immune enhancement effect of ASE and its fermented products, which were fermented with three probiotic bacteria, namely, Lactobacillus plantarum (ASE-LPF), Streptococcus thermophilus (ASE-STF), and Lactobacillus helveticus (ASE-LHF). RAW264.7 and BV2 cells were treated with various concentrations of ASE and its fermented products. The level of nitric oxide was evaluated using a Griess reagent, and the levels of inflammatory cytokines were determined through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot analysis was employed to determine the expression of various proteins related to immune responses. Our results show that fermentation with ASE significantly improved the probiotic growth of S. thermophilus and L. helveticus. Compared with ASE, treatment with only ASE-LHF increased the level of nitric oxide. Compared with ASE, treatment with ASE-LHF augmented the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and the production of inflammatory cytokines. It was confirmed that these enhancement effects were due to the activation of the nuclear factor kappa B and extracellular signal-regulated kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Additionally, secondary metabolite profiling of ASE and its fermented products was performed using UPLC-QTOF/MS to identify ASE’s promising compounds. Through metabolomic analysis, 23 metabolites showing significant differences between ASE and its fermented products were compared. Therefore, this study demonstrates the possibility of ASE-LHF as a potential material for immune-enhancing agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Antioxidants, Inflammation, and Chronic Disease)
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21 pages, 4699 KiB  
Article
Phenolics from Ilex rotunda Possess Antioxidative Effects and Block Activation of MAPK and NF-κB Signaling by Inhibiting IL-2 Production in CD3/CD8 Activated Jurkat T Cells
by Ducdat Le, Vinhquang Truong, Thinhulinh Dang, Soojung Yu, Thientam Dinh and Mina Lee
Antioxidants 2025, 14(3), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14030281 - 27 Feb 2025
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Abstract
Ilex rotunda, an evergreen tree in the holly family, is a traditional medicine with a high phenolic content and various pharmacological effects. This study aimed to investigate phenolic constituents from enriched fractions guided by a total phenolic assay along with a feature-based [...] Read more.
Ilex rotunda, an evergreen tree in the holly family, is a traditional medicine with a high phenolic content and various pharmacological effects. This study aimed to investigate phenolic constituents from enriched fractions guided by a total phenolic assay along with a feature-based molecular network. Nine compounds were isolated and identified using multiple chromatography and spectroscopic techniques. These isolates exhibited significantly high antioxidative effects in both free radical scavenging and ROS assays. They also remarkedly alternated interleukin (IL)-2 production in CD3/CD28-stimulated Jurkat T cells. The Western blotting assay suggested that these active compounds might decrease IL-2 production by blocking the activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways by downregulating the phosphorylation of p38 and p65 proteins as well as ERK and JNK kinases. Molecular docking data confirmed the above-mentioned biological properties of those active compounds by evaluating their binding affinities for target proteins. Our findings offer guidance for assessing the potential of phenolic chemicals from I. rotunda as pharmacological products to improve oxidative stress and enhance immune response in more in-depth studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Antioxidants, Inflammation, and Chronic Disease)
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19 pages, 3898 KiB  
Article
High Rosmarinic Acid Content Melissa officinalis L. Phytocomplex Modulates Microglia Neuroinflammation Induced by High Glucose
by Giacomina Videtta, Chiara Sasia and Nicoletta Galeotti
Antioxidants 2025, 14(2), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14020161 - 29 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1005
Abstract
Diabetic patients experience hyperglycemia, which can affect multiple organs, including brain function, leading to disabling neurological complications. Hyperglycemia plays a key role in promoting neuroinflammation, the most common complication in diabetic individuals, through the activation of microglia. Attenuating hyperglycemia-related neuroinflammation in microglia may [...] Read more.
Diabetic patients experience hyperglycemia, which can affect multiple organs, including brain function, leading to disabling neurological complications. Hyperglycemia plays a key role in promoting neuroinflammation, the most common complication in diabetic individuals, through the activation of microglia. Attenuating hyperglycemia-related neuroinflammation in microglia may reduce diabetes-associated neurological comorbidities. Natural remedies containing phenolic compounds have shown efficacy in mitigating microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of a Melissa officinalis L. (MO) phytocomplex, obtained from plant cell cultures and enriched in its main polyphenolic constituent, rosmarinic acid (RA), in attenuating hyperglycemia-induced neuroinflammation in microglia. A time-course morphological analysis of BV2 microglial cells exposed to high glucose (HG) levels showed a shift towards a proinflammatory phenotype, peaking after 48 h, which was reversed by pretreatment with MO. Biochemical assays revealed increased expression of the microglial marker CD11b (187%), activation of the NF-κB pathway (179%), expression of iNOS (225%), enhanced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 (180%), and increased expression of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 (173%). Pretreatment with MO prevented the aberrant expression of these proinflammatory mediators and restored SIRT1 levels. Exposure of neuronal SH-SY5Y cells to the conditioned medium from HG-exposed microglia significantly reduced cell viability. MO counteracted this effect, exhibiting neuroprotective activity. RA showed efficacy comparable to that of MO. In conclusion, MO and RA attenuated microglia-mediated oxidative imbalance and neuroinflammation under HG exposure by inhibiting the morphological shift toward a proinflammatory phenotype induced by HG and abrogating the subsequent activation of the downstream ERK1/2–NF-κB–iNOS pathway. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Antioxidants, Inflammation, and Chronic Disease)
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17 pages, 2847 KiB  
Article
Bioactivities of Quinic Acids from Vitex rotundifolia Obtained by Supercritical Fluid Extraction
by Duc Dat Le, Young Su Jang, Vinhquang Truong, Soojung Yu, Thientam Dinh and Mina Lee
Antioxidants 2024, 13(10), 1235; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13101235 - 14 Oct 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1180
Abstract
Acyl-quinic acids (AQAs), present in various plants with many health benefits, are regarded as therapeutic agents in the prevention and treatment of chronic and cardiovascular diseases. The molecular network-guided identification of ten AQA compounds, two new (5 and 7) and eight [...] Read more.
Acyl-quinic acids (AQAs), present in various plants with many health benefits, are regarded as therapeutic agents in the prevention and treatment of chronic and cardiovascular diseases. The molecular network-guided identification of ten AQA compounds, two new (5 and 7) and eight known compounds, were isolated from V. rotundifolia L. f. by using a newly applied extraction method. Their structures were determined through spectroscopic means, reaction mixtures, and modified Mosher and PGME techniques. These compounds were assessed for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities. Notably, compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9 exhibited notable DPPH radical scavenging activity. In LPS-induced HT-29 cells, compounds 27 significantly inhibited IL-8 production. Furthermore, compounds 35 and 7 markedly suppressed NO production, while compounds 110 effectively inhibited IL-6 production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Western blot analyses revealed that compounds 35, and 7 reduced iNOS and COX-2 expression, and compounds 25, 7, and 8 also diminished the expression levels of p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Docking studies demonstrated the active compounds’ binding affinity with the IL-8, iNOS, COX-2, and p38 MAPK proteins through interactions with essential amino acids within the binding pockets of complexes. The findings suggest that compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9, and compounds 35, and 7, hold promise as potential therapeutic agents for treating antioxidative and inflammatory diseases, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Antioxidants, Inflammation, and Chronic Disease)
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16 pages, 2591 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition Analysis and Assessment of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Crude Extract of Flueggea leucopyrus on Carrageenan-Induced Paw Edema in Wistar Albino Rats
by Vijayakumar Mayakrishnan, Anand Thirupathi, Kavitha Ramamoorthy, Kaliappan Annadurai, Radha Prakasam, Yaodong Gu, Choon Young Kim, Mahadevi Ramasamy, Habeebmon Karimpanchola, Priya Kannappan, Natesan Vijayakumar, Bhuvaneshwari Venkatesan Kumari and Anand Singaravelu
Antioxidants 2024, 13(8), 976; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13080976 - 12 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1955
Abstract
A member of the Phyllanthaceae family, Flueggea leucopyrus is a well-known plant in the tribal areas of Sri Lanka, India’s Shaurastra region, Australia, and Malaysia. This study provides information about Flueggea leucopyrus, a plant with a wide range of therapeutic uses in [...] Read more.
A member of the Phyllanthaceae family, Flueggea leucopyrus is a well-known plant in the tribal areas of Sri Lanka, India’s Shaurastra region, Australia, and Malaysia. This study provides information about Flueggea leucopyrus, a plant with a wide range of therapeutic uses in India. Different extracts from the leaves and roots of Flueggea leucopyrus were evaluated for their physical and chemical properties, preliminary phytochemical parameters, and pharmacological activities in the current study, followed by their fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The aqueous extract of Flueggea leucopyrus leaves and roots have more different phytochemical elements than other solvent extracts, according to physico-chemical tests and phytochemical screening. As a result, the FT-IR, GC–MS, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of an aqueous extract were tested. Studies on hind paw edemas caused by carrageenan in albino rats examined the mean increase in paw volume and the percentage inhibition in paw volume at various time points following the injection of carrageenan (1% w/v). In comparison to the norm, these inhibitions were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The aqueous extract of Flueggea leucopyrus leaves and roots have both antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, indicating that it has the potential to be used in the formulation of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory medications in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Antioxidants, Inflammation, and Chronic Disease)
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Review

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38 pages, 3234 KiB  
Review
A Review on the Protecting Effects and Molecular Mechanisms of Berries Against a Silent Public Health Concern: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
by Anshul Sharma and Hae-Jeung Lee
Antioxidants 2024, 13(11), 1389; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13111389 - 14 Nov 2024
Viewed by 2149
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) poses a silent threat to human health, with prevalence rising at an alarming rate. The treatment and prevention of NAFLD depend on novel approaches as no effective treatment options are currently available. Berries are unique sources of phenolic [...] Read more.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) poses a silent threat to human health, with prevalence rising at an alarming rate. The treatment and prevention of NAFLD depend on novel approaches as no effective treatment options are currently available. Berries are unique sources of phenolic compounds that have proven roles in disease prevention and health promotion. However, a comprehensive review of the effects of different berries on NAFLD and related pathologies is lacking. Thus, the present review aims to summarize the effects of berry extracts, plant parts, and bioactive compounds from twenty-one different berries on NAFLD. The molecular mechanisms involved include the regulation of lipid homeostasis, modulation of oxidative stress and inflammation markers, and activation of different signaling pathways in different in vitro and in vivo NAFLD models. Furthermore, their modulatory effects on the gut microbiota have also been highlighted. Clinical intervention research on the benefits of berries in NAFLD is limited; nonetheless, this paper discusses clinical studies demonstrating the effects of different berries in people with NAFLD. Future research should focus on long-term clinical studies to compare the therapeutic potentials of different berries against NAFLD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Antioxidants, Inflammation, and Chronic Disease)
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