Cutting-Edge Research on the Analysis of Small Biomolecules in Foods, Plants, and Biological Samples, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural and Bio-derived Molecules".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 3932

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Chemistry, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
Interests: mass spectrometry; liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS); lipidomics; bioactive food ingredients; study of organic reaction mechanisms by HRMS
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E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Chemistry, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
Interests: isolation, purification, and structure determination of natural products using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques; study of biological activity of natural products; instrumental methods of plants and food analysis; development of methods for quality determination, adulteration, and authenticity (botanical and geographical origin) of food
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Chemistry, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
Interests: instrumental chemical analysis of natural products (chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques); isolation, purification, and structure determination of natural products using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques; development of new techniques for separation, evaluation, and chemical analysis of main compounds of plants cultivated in Greece; development of methods based on spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, Raman) and chemometrics for differentiation natural products and microorganisms; food authenticity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following a very successful first run, we are pleased to announce the launch of the second edition of a Special Issue on ‘Cutting-Edge Research on the Analysis of Small Biomolecules in Foods, Plants, and Biological Samples’.

Small organic biomolecules that are contained in foods or derived from plants (natural products) are increasingly being recognized as biomolecules that can regulate and control cellular function. It is widely accepted that various foods and plant extracts are associated with effects against diseases, such as metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and cancer, due to the presence of bioactive primary and secondary metabolites. For example, polyphenols are plant secondary metabolites that are ubiquitous in fruits, vegetables, and cereals, which have been positively associated with numerous health benefits. Lipids constitute another example of small biomolecules, which may play a role in the protection and promotion of human health. Although the exact mechanisms of action of the food ingredients are mostly unclear and under continuous investigation, there is a great demand for analytical methods for the sensitive and precise determination of small bioactive molecules in food, plant, and biological samples.

Analytical approaches that employ mass spectrometry (MS) have been recognized as powerful and rapidly growing technologies that can be used in biomedical and natural product research not only to identify novel bioactive small molecules, but also to study disease mechanisms. MS combined with either liquid chromatography (LC–MS) or gas chromatography (GC–MS) is the major technique used for the detection and determination of small bioactive molecules in various matrices. In particular, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) offers the high sensitivity and high mass accuracy required for the detection and quantification of low-abundance small biomolecule species. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy are complementary techniques for the analysis of small biomolecules. The aim of the present Special Issue is to compile review articles and original research articles covering recent advances in the analysis of small bioactive molecules (primary and secondary metabolites) in foods, plants, and biological samples.

Dr. Maroula Kokotou
Prof. Dr. Petros Tarantilis
Dr. Christos Pappas
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Keywords

  • bioactive food ingredients (primary and secondary metabolites)
  • secondary metabolites—natural products liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
  • Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopic analysis
  • gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
  • high-resolution mass spectrometry
  • lipids—amino acids—carbohydrates
  • polyphenols–terpenes

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 4518 KiB  
Article
Lupeol Attenuates Palmitate-Induced Hypertrophy in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes
by Vaithinathan Selvaraju, Shivani R. Babu, Robert L. Judd and Thangiah Geetha
Biomolecules 2025, 15(1), 129; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15010129 - 15 Jan 2025
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Abstract
Obesity is characterized by the enlargement of adipose tissue due to an increased calorie intake exceeding the body’s energy expenditure. Changes in the size of adipose tissue can lead to harmful consequences, with excessive fat accumulation resulting in adipocyte hypertrophy and promoting metabolic [...] Read more.
Obesity is characterized by the enlargement of adipose tissue due to an increased calorie intake exceeding the body’s energy expenditure. Changes in the size of adipose tissue can lead to harmful consequences, with excessive fat accumulation resulting in adipocyte hypertrophy and promoting metabolic dysfunction. These adiposity-associated pathologies can be influenced by dietary components and their potential health benefits. Lupeol, a pharmacologically active pentacyclic triterpenoid found in medicinal plants, vegetables, and fruits, has been shown to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the role of lupeol on adipocyte hypertrophy by evaluating key adipogenic regulators in vitro. First, 3T3-L1 MBX mouse embryonic cells were differentiated into adipocytes and hypertrophy was induced using 500 µM palmitic acid. The treated adipocytes showed a significantly increased lipid droplet size, confirming adipocyte hypertrophy. Both adipocytes and hypertrophied adipocytes were then treated with or without 60 µM lupeol, following a dose-dependent study. Lipid droplet size was assessed and validated by Oil Red O staining. Western blot analysis was performed to measure the expression of adipogenic and inflammatory markers. Differentiated adipocytes showed increased fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) expression and Oil Red O staining, indicating an increased lipid content. Western blot analysis revealed that lupeol treatment reduced the expression of FABP4, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), and adipokines. In conclusion, the results suggest that lupeol reverts the inflammatory and adipogenic markers that are enhanced in adipocyte hypertrophy. Through its anti-inflammatory effects, lupeol offers protective effects against adipocyte hypertrophy and contributes to reducing hypertrophic adiposity. Full article
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18 pages, 4510 KiB  
Article
Determination of Free Fatty Acids in Breast Milk Reveals the Presence of Hydroxypalmitic and Stearic Acids
by Maroula G. Kokotou
Biomolecules 2024, 14(12), 1602; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14121602 - 14 Dec 2024
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Abstract
Breast milk is a rich source of fatty acids (FAs) while being irreplaceable for the health and development of an infant. Herein, we present a fast and simple method for the direct detection and quantification of 37 free FAs (FFAs) in breast milk [...] Read more.
Breast milk is a rich source of fatty acids (FAs) while being irreplaceable for the health and development of an infant. Herein, we present a fast and simple method for the direct detection and quantification of 37 free FAs (FFAs) in breast milk samples, avoiding any derivatization step, and a study on the % variation of FA contents in samples collected from the same mother within five consecutive days. The average breakdown of FAs was 60.5% saturated and 39.5% unsaturated, in which polyunsaturated FAs were 13.3% and monounsaturated FAs 26.2%. The most abundant FFA in the breast milk samples was C12:0 (18.3%), followed by C10:0 (15.0%), suggesting that further attention must be paid to the presence and role of medium-chain FAs. Among unsaturated FAs, oleic acid (C18:1 n-9) (13.3%) and linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6) (10.1%) were the most abundant. Remarkable variations of FFA contents within the five consecutive days were observed for C8:0, C10:0, C12:0, C18:1 n-9, and C18:2 n-6. The two isomers α-linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3) and γ-linolenic acid (C18:3 n-6) were quantified in all breast milk samples. The ratio of γ-linolenic acid, which most recently is important for cardiac metabolic maturation, to α-linolenic acid was found to be 1:2. Most importantly, in the present study, we explored the presence of bioactive saturated monohydroxy fatty acids (SHFAs), demonstrating for the first time the existence of distinct hydroxypalmitic and hydroxystearic acids (HPAs and HSAs, respectively) in breast milk. Full article
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Review

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34 pages, 4801 KiB  
Review
Vaccinium Species—Unexplored Sources of Active Constituents for Cosmeceuticals
by Wirginia Kukula-Koch, Natalia Dycha, Paulina Lechwar, Magdalena Lasota, Estera Okoń, Paweł Szczeblewski, Anna Wawruszak, Dominik Tarabasz, Jane Hubert, Piotr Wilkołek, Maria Halabalaki and Katarzyna Gaweł-Bęben
Biomolecules 2024, 14(9), 1110; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14091110 - 3 Sep 2024
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Abstract
The genus Vaccinium is represented by shrubs growing in a temperate climate that have been used for ages as traditional remedies in the treatment of digestive problems, in diabetes, renal stones or as antiseptics due to the presence of polyphenols (anthocyanins, flavonoids and [...] Read more.
The genus Vaccinium is represented by shrubs growing in a temperate climate that have been used for ages as traditional remedies in the treatment of digestive problems, in diabetes, renal stones or as antiseptics due to the presence of polyphenols (anthocyanins, flavonoids and tannins) in their fruits and leaves. Recent studies confirm their marked potential in the treatment of skin disorders and as skin care cosmetics. The aim of this review is to present the role of Vaccinium spp. as cosmetic products, highlight their potential and prove the biological properties exerted by the extracts from different species that can be useful for the preparation of innovative cosmetics. In the manuscript both skin care and therapeutic applications of the representatives of this gender will be discussed that include the antioxidant, skin lightening, UV-protective, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and chemopreventive properties to shed new light on these underestimated plants. Full article
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