Antioxidants and Enzyme Inhibitors of Natural Origin

Dear Colleagues,

Natural-origin substances are derived from plants, minerals, animals, or microorganisms. They have been used since ancient times for the treatment of different disorders, and they represent the origin of pharmacotherapy. Currently, a large portion of the therapeutic arsenal comes directly or indirectly from nature. In developing countries, they still represent a first-line therapeutic strategy, and in developed countries, there is a tendency to use these types of more natural substances.

Natural products and extracts, especially those from plants, are attracting interest, as these phytochemicals have interesting bioactive properties which could promote health. In addition, various studies have indicated that their natural origin facilitates their interaction with receptors and pathways of important physiological processes as opposed to other compounds of synthetic origin.

In this sense, this Special Issue is focused on the study of products of natural origin as antioxidant agents with the potential inhibitive activity of physiologically relevant enzymes. These activities are of great importance since oxidative stress is involved in numerous chronic pathologies, such as inflammation, metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, heart diseases, cancer, aging, and others. Today, the frenetic pace of life; pollution; and exposure to chemicals, toxins, and so on mean we are exposed to numerous potentially oxidizing substances. In addition, many enzyme-catabolized physiological reactions produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) as reaction residues. Therefore, the study of substances with antioxidant capacity is very important to protect this damage caused by ROS and thus prevent aging and other associated pathologies.

In addition, products of natural origin have also demonstrated an ability to reduce the pro-oxidant residues of these enzymatic reactions of organisms. Many are also capable of inhibiting these enzymes themselves, producing important changes in the body and being potential treatments for different pathologies.

We are pleased to invite you to present original research and review articles regarding new advancements in the development and application of bioactive compounds and extracts of natural origin.

This Special Issue aims to contribute to the knowledge of different substances of natural origin in their antioxidant capacity and potential enzymatic inhibitors of relevant enzymes in the body.

• Suggested themes and article types for submissions

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Antioxidant capacity in both non-cellular and cellular systems;
• In vitro and in vivo models of oxidative stress;
• Natural products as inhibitors of enzymes present in the digestive tract (such as amylase, lipase, glucosidase, and others);
• Natural products as inhibitors of enzymes related to inflammatory processes;
• Natural products as inhibitors of enzymes related to the nervous system;
• Natural products as inhibitors of enzymes related to cardiovascular and metabolic disorders;
• Natural inhibitors of other physiologically relevant enzymes.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Francisco Les
Dr. Víctor López
Dr. Guillermo Cásedas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• natural products
• phytochemicals
• plant extracts
• medicinal plants
• functional foods
• essential oils
• polyphenols
• bioactive compounds
• antioxidants
• oxidative stress
• enzyme inhibition