Functional Ingredients and Natural Extractions in Foods: Sources, Health Benefits and Disease Prevention—2nd Edition

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutraceuticals, Functional Foods, and Novel Foods".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2026 | Viewed by 2873

Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: functional food; food nutrition; herbs; traditional Chinese medicine; memory; depression; dementia; Alzheimer disease; Parkinson’s disease; inflammation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315832, China
Interests: starch; amylase; starch derivatives; peptides; functional food components

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Volume I of this Special Issue (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/foods/special_issues/BBEV4000CE) was a great success, and gained the attention and interest of many scholars, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their contributions and support. As the topic continues to gain the attention of scholars and play a pivotal role, we are looking forward to the launch of Volume II. I hope it will be as successful as Volume I and of benefit to the field.

Dietary extracts and pure compounds from plant foods possess key human health benefits, and functional approaches to deciphering the role functional foods play in promoting health benefits, and by curing multiple illnesses, is of prime importance. Extracts and pure compounds are derived from various sources such as plant foods, fruits, seeds, nuts, vegetable, microbes, etc. These sources provide a variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, polyphenols, prebiotics, dietary fibres, fatty acids, and probiotics with health-improving affects. The consumption of function foods has a variety of health-improving effects, such as antioxidant potential, immune booster properties, reduced blood pressure, as well as improved cardiovascular and neurological complication. Reports also suggest that functional foods play a role in preventing chronic diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, reduced brain function, digestive health support, etc. In conclusion, with the continuous development of food technology, functional ingredients and their extracts are expected to leverage unique advantages and make significant contributions to human health. Consequently, this Special Issue will be dedicated to further highlighting the importance of functional food research toward the betterment of human health.

Dr. Qiong Wang
Dr. Yanli Wang
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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Foods is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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

  • functional food
  • natural plant resources
  • extraction techniques
  • chemical compounds
  • prebiotic and probiotics
  • physiological functions
  • chronic diseases
  • antioxidants
  • immunity
  • neurodegeneration or neurological complication
  • cardiovascular diseases
  • metabolic diseases

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

22 pages, 3246 KB  
Article
Integrated Phytochemical, Anthocyanin, Organic Acid and Colour Profiling of Plant-Derived Syrups as Potential Natural Food Ingredients
by Ingmars Cinkmanis, Fredijs Dimins, Ingrīda Augšpole and Sanita Vucane
Foods 2026, 15(14), 2500; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15142500 - 15 Jul 2026
Viewed by 424
Abstract
Plant-derived syrups are traditional sugar-rich products that may serve as potential natural food ingredients, but their quality-related characteristics depend on raw material composition, acidity, phenolic constituents, pigments and colour attributes. This study characterised 15 plant-derived syrup products prepared from botanical and fungal raw [...] Read more.
Plant-derived syrups are traditional sugar-rich products that may serve as potential natural food ingredients, but their quality-related characteristics depend on raw material composition, acidity, phenolic constituents, pigments and colour attributes. This study characterised 15 plant-derived syrup products prepared from botanical and fungal raw materials collected in Latvia during the 2025 vegetation season. The syrups were analysed for pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total anthocyanin content (TAC) determined spectrophotometrically, smartphone-based CIELAB colour parameters and organic acid content by HPLC-DAD. Data were evaluated using correlation analysis, PCA and K-means clustering as exploratory tools. The syrup products differed in acidity, phenolic and flavonoid indices, TAC, colour characteristics and organic acid profiles. Fruit-derived syrups showed the widest variation in titratable acidity, while total soluble solids showed no significant linear association with titratable acidity. TPC correlated strongly with TFC in samples with quantifiable TFC values, whereas TAC was associated more closely with reduced lightness than with increased redness. Organic acid profiles provided additional product-level differentiation. Overall, the integrated analytical approach provides a compositional basis for the further evaluation of plant-derived syrups as potential natural food ingredients. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 979 KB  
Article
The Effect of Polysaccharides and Saponins from Polygonatum kingianum on Cognitive Dysfunction in an AlCl3-Induced Alzheimer’s Disease Zebrafish Model
by Jiawei Yu, Yike Jiang, Yang Li, Bei Fan, Cong Lu, Meng Tang, Wenbiao Luo, Yiqing Yang, Fengzhong Wang and Qiong Wang
Foods 2026, 15(10), 1785; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15101785 - 18 May 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 641
Abstract
Polygonatum kingianum (PK), a plant with established medicinal and nutritional applications, has shown potential neuroprotective activity in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Nevertheless, the effects of its major bioactive fractions remain unclear. This study examined the neuroprotective effects of PK polysaccharides (PKPs) and saponins (PKSs) [...] Read more.
Polygonatum kingianum (PK), a plant with established medicinal and nutritional applications, has shown potential neuroprotective activity in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Nevertheless, the effects of its major bioactive fractions remain unclear. This study examined the neuroprotective effects of PK polysaccharides (PKPs) and saponins (PKSs) using an AlCl3-induced zebrafish model. Chemical analyses revealed that PKP was dominated by a low-molecular-weight fraction (1890 Da, 83.8%), whereas LC-MS analysis detected 13 tentatively identified steroidal saponins within PKS, including diosgenin. Furthermore, behavioral assessments demonstrated that both PKP and PKS improved locomotor and cognitive functions. PKP exhibited a stronger effect on the cholinergic system; its acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity at 60 μg/mL was comparable to that of donepezil under the experimental conditions. Histopathological analysis indicated that PKP showed a stronger effect in reducing neuronal apoptosis, resulting in a 68% reduction in the number of apoptotic cells. Conversely, PKS displayed a greater effect on amyloid pathology, reducing amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregation by 62%. These findings suggest that PKP and PKS showed different neuroprotective profiles in the zebrafish model. Specifically, PKP was more closely associated with cholinergic regulation and neuronal survival, whereas PKS showed a stronger effect on Aβ aggregation. This study provides experimental support for the potential use of PK-derived fractions as food-derived bioactive components for alleviating AD-related pathological changes. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1050 KB  
Article
The Effects of Java Water-Dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) Extract on Alcohol Metabolism and Hangover Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Clinical Trial
by Young-Sik Kim, Chan-Hun Jung, Seon-Young Kim, Hyungyung Chai and Hongjun Kim
Foods 2026, 15(6), 1003; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15061003 - 12 Mar 2026
Viewed by 836
Abstract
Alcohol hangover is a significant health concern worldwide. Java water-dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) has been traditionally used in East Asia for treating hepatitis, jaundice, and alcohol hangovers. This study evaluated the effects of java water-dropwort extract formulation on alcohol metabolism and hangover [...] Read more.
Alcohol hangover is a significant health concern worldwide. Java water-dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) has been traditionally used in East Asia for treating hepatitis, jaundice, and alcohol hangovers. This study evaluated the effects of java water-dropwort extract formulation on alcohol metabolism and hangover symptoms. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial was conducted with 36 healthy adults aged 19–40 years. Participants received either java water-dropwort extract formulation (8.71 mL equivalent to 6.69 g raw material) or placebo 30 min before alcohol consumption (0.8 g/kg body weight, 20.1% soju). Blood alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations were measured at multiple time points up to 15 h post consumption. Hangover symptoms were assessed using the Alcohol Hangover Severity Scale and Acute Hangover Scale. A total of 36 participants were enrolled, and 33 completed the study per protocol. Blood alcohol area under the curve (AUC) was significantly lower in the java water-dropwort group (58.626 vs. 66.194 mmol·h/L, p = 0.008). Blood acetaldehyde AUC was also significantly reduced (69.794 vs. 88.205 mg·h/dL, p = 0.031). Hangover symptom scores in the test group were significantly lower than those in the placebo group (4.030 vs. 8.606, p = 0.026). No adverse events occurred. Java water-dropwort extract effectively enhanced alcohol metabolism and improved hangover symptoms, offering potential therapeutic value for hangover management. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

16 pages, 614 KB  
Review
Fixed Oil from Caryocar coriaceum: Chemical Composition, Nutritional Relevance, Biological Activities, and Current Translational Challenges—A Scoping Review
by Joice Barbosa do Nascimento, Natália Kelly Gomes de Carvalho and José Galberto Martins da Costa
Foods 2026, 15(12), 2185; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15122185 - 17 Jun 2026
Viewed by 359
Abstract
Caryocar coriaceum Wittm. (Caryocaraceae) is a native Brazilian species predominantly distributed in Cerrado areas and transitional regions with the Caatinga in Northeastern Brazil, whose fruits exhibit significant nutritional, technological, and biofunctional potential. This review systematizes and critically analyzes the available scientific evidence regarding [...] Read more.
Caryocar coriaceum Wittm. (Caryocaraceae) is a native Brazilian species predominantly distributed in Cerrado areas and transitional regions with the Caatinga in Northeastern Brazil, whose fruits exhibit significant nutritional, technological, and biofunctional potential. This review systematizes and critically analyzes the available scientific evidence regarding the fixed oil extracted from its fruits, addressing extraction methods, chemical composition, physicochemical parameters, nutritional value, technological applications, and the main bioactivities described in experimental models. Chromatographic and bromatological studies demonstrate that the oil presents a lipid profile characterized by the predominance of monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids, especially oleic acid and palmitic acid, in addition to the presence of carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and other bioactive lipophilic constituents. Available preclinical evidence indicates antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, gastroprotective, respiratory, anticonvulsant, and microbial resistance-modulating properties, suggesting potential applications in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and biotechnological fields. From the perspective of Food Science, the oil demonstrates characteristics compatible with lipid matrices of functional interest, although aspects related to oxidative stability, compositional standardization, sensory acceptability, and industrial scale-up remain insufficiently explored. Additionally, important limitations persist regarding the scarcity of systematic toxicological studies, the absence of clinical trials in humans, and the limited elucidation of the molecular mechanisms involved in the observed bioactivities. Although C. coriaceum presents promising biotechnological potential, its translational application still depends on further multidisciplinary studies integrating chemical standardization, toxicological safety, and technological development. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop