Next-Generation Insights into Anthocyanins and Phytopigments: Bioactivity, Bioavailability, and Health Impacts

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural and Synthetic Antioxidants".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 1076

Special Issue Editors


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Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Seville, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
Interests: analytical chemistry; food chemistry; food safety and quality; oxidation stability; sensory assessment; spectroscopic techniques; chemometrics
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success of our Special Issue, “Antioxidant Capacity of Anthocyanins and Other Vegetal Pigments: Properties, Intake and Health Benefits”, we are pleased to continue welcoming contributions that reflect the dynamic and multidisciplinary nature of current research in this field.

Recent studies have expanded the scope of these investigations beyond traditional antioxidant assessments, exploring innovative applications of anthocyanins, carotenoids, betalains, and other plant pigments in functional foods and beverages, such as fruit-based sour beers and vegetable drinks enriched with encapsulated bioactives. The revalorization of agro-industrial by-products as sources of antioxidant compounds is also gaining momentum, offering sustainable solutions for health-promoting formulations.

In parallel, biomedical research is uncovering the therapeutic potential of these compounds in diverse contexts, from improving neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest to enhancing oral health in osteoporotic patients. Investigations into novel flavonoids from ornamental plants and endemic species further highlight the untapped diversity of vegetal antioxidants.

This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge studies addressing the following topics:

  1. The development of functional foods and beverages using plant pigments.
  2. The bioavailability, metabolism, and health effects of anthocyanins and related compounds.
  3. Analytical techniques for evaluating antioxidant capacity and molecular interactions.
  4. The role of pigments in plant adaptation to environmental stressors.
  5. The therapeutic applications of polyphenols and proanthocyanidins in clinical and dental settings.

We invite researchers from diverse disciplines to contribute original articles and reviews that advance our understanding of these compounds and their multifaceted roles in health, nutrition, and sustainability.

We look forward to your valuable submissions and to continuing this collaborative effort in this field of growing scientific and societal relevance.

Prof. Dr. Agustín G. Asuero
Dr. Noelia Tena
Dr. Julia Martín
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

 

Keywords

  • anthocyanins
  • phytopigments
  • antioxidant activity
  • bioavailability
  • metabolic transformation
  • dietary supplements
  • chronic disease prevention

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 2541 KB  
Article
Pro-Oxidant Anthocyanins-Enriched Fraction Inhibits Androgen Synthesis by Transcriptional Repression of Cyp17a1 Through Nr0b2
by Giuseppe T. Patanè, Ruben J. Moreira, Ana D. Martins, Pedro F. Oliveira, Stefano Putaggio, Davide Barreca and Marco G. Alves
Antioxidants 2026, 15(5), 530; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15050530 - 23 Apr 2026
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Abstract
Anthocyanins are plant polyphenols widely regarded as antioxidants, yet they can exert concentration-dependent effects and act as pro-oxidants in specific contexts. Although their protective role in stressed testicular cells is established, their impact on Leydig cell steroidogenesis under non-pathological conditions remains poorly understood. [...] Read more.
Anthocyanins are plant polyphenols widely regarded as antioxidants, yet they can exert concentration-dependent effects and act as pro-oxidants in specific contexts. Although their protective role in stressed testicular cells is established, their impact on Leydig cell steroidogenesis under non-pathological conditions remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated how an anthocyanin-enriched fraction from Callistemon citrinus (0–1.00 μg/mL) affects androgen synthesis in murine TM3 Leydig cells. Cell viability, intracellular ROS, antioxidant capacity, mitochondrial function, androstenedione production, steroidogenic gene expression, and the exometabolome by 1H-NMR were assessed. The fraction exhibited biphasic, dose-dependent effects. At 0.01 μg/mL, it induced a mitohormetic response, upregulating mitochondrial complexes III and V. Conversely, higher concentrations (0.10–1.00 μg/mL) reduced metabolic activity, increased intracellular ROS, and significantly suppressed androstenedione synthesis independently of Star. These concentrations also induced dose-dependent repression of Cyp17a1, concomitant with upregulation of Nr0b2, encoding the transcriptional repressor Small Heterodimer Partner (SHP). Overall, the data support a redox-dependent mechanism whereby elevated ROS promotes Nr0b2 expression, leading to Cyp17a1 suppression and impaired androstenedione production. These findings challenge the view of anthocyanins as uniformly beneficial for male fertility and identify Callistemon citrinus as a sustainable source of bioactive anthocyanins capable of modulating redox–endocrine homeostasis in a dose-dependent manner under basal conditions. Full article
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Review

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19 pages, 1201 KB  
Review
Phyllobilins: Emerging Bioactive Chlorophyll Metabolites and Their Potential Impact on Human Health
by María del Rosario Serra, Antonio Pérez-Gálvez and María Roca
Antioxidants 2026, 15(5), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox15050629 - 15 May 2026
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Abstract
Phyllobilins are chlorophyll metabolites that belong to bilin-type linear tetrapyrroles. Chlorophyll, the omnipresent green pigment from algae to higher plants, is essential for life on Earth, underscoring the significance of its metabolites among phytochemicals. Once largely overlooked, phyllobilins are now gaining recognition for [...] Read more.
Phyllobilins are chlorophyll metabolites that belong to bilin-type linear tetrapyrroles. Chlorophyll, the omnipresent green pigment from algae to higher plants, is essential for life on Earth, underscoring the significance of its metabolites among phytochemicals. Once largely overlooked, phyllobilins are now gaining recognition for their widespread presence in the human diet through the consumption of fruits and vegetables. This, together with their favorable bioavailability, has heightened the importance of elucidating their bioactive properties. Numerous studies have demonstrated their antioxidant and anticancer activities in vitro, as well as their ability to target actin. The anti-inflammatory effects of phyllobilins have also been demonstrated by evaluating their ability to inhibit the COX-2 pathway or attenuate the activation of the tryptophan–kynurenine pathway. The objective of this review is to highlight the value of phyllobilins by compiling current knowledge, with a particular emphasis on their bioactivity and potential impact on human health. Full article
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