Exploring Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds: The Role of Peptides, Polysaccharides, and Antioxidants in Nutriceutical Development and Health Promotion

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 1628

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Synthetic Biology and Biomanufacturing, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
Interests: functional foods; separation and purification; preparation and processing technology; bioactivity evaluation; characterization and structure identification; downstream product development; food ecology and toxicology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant-derived bioactive peptides, polysaccharides, and other nutraceuticals are critical active components in traditional medicine and functional foods, offering multiple health benefits such as antioxidant effects, lipid metabolism regulation, tumor suppression, etc. They represent promising candidates for addressing key human health challenges, including oxidative stress, hyperlipidemia, cancer progression, and so forth.

The molecular structural diversity of peptides, polysaccharides, and other nutraceuticals endows them with unique biological functions and systematic studies on their structure–activity relationships (SARs), particularly in relation to the mechanisms underlying modern diseases (e.g., metabolic syndrome and cancer), can drive cross-scale insights from molecular architecture to mechanistic elucidation. This provides a theoretical foundation for functional food development and drug target design.

Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are central pathological mechanisms underpinning metabolic disorders (such as hyperlipidemia) and cancer progression. Peptides, polysaccharides, and other nutraceuticals can intervene in these processes by modulating signaling pathways. Mechanistic research supports their application in precision nutrition and precision medicine, including interventions for obesity, hyperlipidemia, or early-stage cancer management.

This Special Issue will publish original research articles and reviews focusing on the antioxidant, hypolipidemic, antitumor, and other potentials of plant-derived peptides and polysaccharides and other nutraceuticals. Contributions should emphasize elucidating the structure–activity relationships (SARs) and underlying molecular mechanisms of these bioactive compounds pertinent to addressing key health challenges, including oxidative stress, hyperlipidemia, tumor progression, etc.

Dr. Zhaohui Xue
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • plant-derived bioactive peptides
  • polysaccharides
  • structure–activity relationship (SAR)
  • molecular mechanisms
  • oxidative stress
  • hypolipidemic effects
  • antitumor capacity
  • apoptosis induction

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 1228 KiB  
Article
Processing of Tuna Head By-Products into Antioxidant Peptide Ingredients for Aquaculture Feeds
by Raúl Pérez-Gálvez, F. Javier Espejo-Carpio, Pedro J. García-Moreno, Antonio Guadix and Emilia M. Guadix
Antioxidants 2025, 14(7), 770; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14070770 - 23 Jun 2025
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Abstract
This study aimed to produce antioxidant peptide fractions from Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) head by-products through enzymatic hydrolysis and membrane filtration. Raw materials were sequentially hydrolyzed with Alcalase® (4 h) and Flavourzyme® (1 h), reaching a final degree of [...] Read more.
This study aimed to produce antioxidant peptide fractions from Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) head by-products through enzymatic hydrolysis and membrane filtration. Raw materials were sequentially hydrolyzed with Alcalase® (4 h) and Flavourzyme® (1 h), reaching a final degree of hydrolysis of 18.5 ± 0.9%. The crude hydrolysate was fractionated using ceramic membranes with molecular weight cut-offs of 8, 3, and 1 kDa. Some peptide fractions presented a relevant proportion of short-chain peptides (>50% w/w) and free amino acids (>10% w/w), as well as a high content of essential amino acids (>64% mol), supporting their value as dietary ingredients for aquafeeds. In vitro antioxidant activities were assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and ferrous ion chelation assays. Some fractions (e.g., F3R1 with IC50 = 1.04 ± 0.01 mg·mL−1 for metal chelating activity) displayed significantly improved (p < 0.05) antioxidant properties compared to the unfractionated hydrolysate (IC50 = 2.75 ± 0.08 mg·mL−1). This may be linked to their molecular weight profile and hydrophobic amino acid content. These results demonstrate the potential of the proposed approach to obtain bioactive peptide fractions with functional properties for aquafeeds. Zootechnical trials are needed to assess their effects on feed utilization and in vivo mitigation of oxidative stress. Full article
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35 pages, 5123 KiB  
Review
Prebiotic Oligosaccharides in Skin Health: Benefits, Mechanisms, and Cosmetic Applications
by Meijun Zeng, Yang Li, Jie Cheng, Jingyu Wang and Qiyu Liu
Antioxidants 2025, 14(6), 754; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14060754 - 18 Jun 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1059
Abstract
Prebiotic oligosaccharides have attracted significant interest in dermatology and skin health due to their ability to modulate the skin microbiome and microbiota–host interactions. This review offers a novel dual perspective, systematically examining the benefits of both oral intake and topical application of prebiotic [...] Read more.
Prebiotic oligosaccharides have attracted significant interest in dermatology and skin health due to their ability to modulate the skin microbiome and microbiota–host interactions. This review offers a novel dual perspective, systematically examining the benefits of both oral intake and topical application of prebiotic oligosaccharides, including well-established prebiotics (e.g., human milk oligosaccharides, galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides) and emerging prebiotic candidates (e.g., gluco-oligosaccharides, chitosan-oligosaccharides, agaro-oligosaccharides). First, cutting-edge synthetic processes for producing diverse oligosaccharides and their structural chemistry are introduced. Then, we discuss in vitro studies demonstrating their efficacy in promoting skin commensals, inhibiting pathogens, and conferring protective effects, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-melanogenic, and wound-healing properties. Furthermore, we emphasize in vivo animal studies and clinical trials revealing that prebiotic oligosaccharides, administered orally or topically, alleviate atopic dermatitis, enhance skin hydration, attenuate acne, and protect against photo-aging by modulating skin–gut microbiota and immune responses. Mechanistically, we integrate genetic and molecular insights to elucidate how oligosaccharides mediate these benefits, including gut–skin axis crosstalk, immune regulation, and microbial metabolite signaling. Finally, we highlight current commercial applications of oligosaccharides in cosmetic formulations while addressing scientific and practical challenges, such as structure–function relationships, clinical scalability, and regulatory considerations. This review bridges mechanistic understanding with practical applications, offering a comprehensive resource for advancing prebiotic oligosaccharides-based skincare therapies. Full article
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