Molecular Interactions and Biological Functions of Bioactive Compounds in Food and Health

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry and Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 141

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Institute of Agro-Product Processing, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
2. School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
3. College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Interests: food function; nutrition; phenolics; flavonoids; anthocyanins; antioxidant; anti-inflammatory
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Guest Editor
Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
Interests: food science; plant-based foods; antioxidants; phytochemicals; biological activities; functional foods; bioavailability; nutraceuticals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioactive compounds in foods (e.g., anthocyanins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, flavanols, catechins, polyphenols, and tannins) significantly influence human nutrition and health. There has been heightened interest in uncovering molecular compounds and elucidating their mechanisms since they constitute a substantial part of the diet and are a potential source of functional foods and nutraceuticals. Modern advances have facilitated the integration of nutrition and medicine, alongside developing more efficient and cost-effective healthcare solutions that utilize food for prevention and therapy.

Therefore, we invite authors to submit articles for this Special Issue exploring the metabolism of nutrients and bioactive dietary compounds, leading to a better understanding of mechanisms of action through biological research. This Special Issue encompasses several topics, including cell biology, biochemical activities, metabolic processes, omics, bioavailability, and food matrix interactions, emphasizing the importance of improving health and disease prevention.

Prof. Dr. Wuyang Huang
Dr. Daniela D. Herrera-Balandrano
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • bioactive compounds
  • nutraceuticals
  • food function
  • healthy effects
  • antidiabetic action
  • anti-inflammatory properties
  • antioxidants

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 1195 KiB  
Article
Phytochemical Profiling, Antioxidant Capacity, and α-Amylase/α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Effects of 29 Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Varieties from China
by Ying Li, Zhihua Wang, Chengkai Mei, Wenqi Sun, Xingxing Yuan, Jing Wang and Wuyang Huang
Biology 2025, 14(8), 982; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14080982 (registering DOI) - 2 Aug 2025
Abstract
Faba bean (Vicia faba L.), a nutrient-rich legume beneficial to human health, is valued for its high L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) and phenolic content. This study investigated phytochemical diversity and bioactivity across 29 Chinese faba bean varieties. Phenolics were profiled using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography [...] Read more.
Faba bean (Vicia faba L.), a nutrient-rich legume beneficial to human health, is valued for its high L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) and phenolic content. This study investigated phytochemical diversity and bioactivity across 29 Chinese faba bean varieties. Phenolics were profiled using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) and quantified via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Antioxidant capacity was evaluated, including DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), along with α-amylase/α-glucosidase inhibitory effects. Twenty-five phenolics were identified, including L-DOPA (11.96–17.93 mg/g, >70% of total content), seven phenolic acids, and seventeen flavonoids. L-DOPA showed potent enzyme inhibition (IC50 values of 22.45 μM for α-amylase and 16.66 μM for α-glucosidase) but demonstrated limited antioxidant effects. Lincan 13 (Gansu) exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity (DPPH, 16.32 μmol trolox/g; ABTS, 5.85 μmol trolox/g; FRAP, 21.38 mmol Fe2+/g), which correlated with it having the highest flavonoid content (40.51 mg rutin/g), while Yican 4 (Yunnan) showed the strongest α-amylase inhibition (43.33%). Correlation analysis confirmed flavonoids as the primary antioxidants, and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed geographical trends (e.g., Jiangsu varieties were particularly phenolic-rich). These findings highlight faba beans’ potential as functional foods and guide genotype selection in targeted breeding programs aimed at enhancing health benefits. Full article
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