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Functional Ingredients and Natural Extractions in Foods: Sources, Health Benefits...
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Functional Ingredients and Natural Extractions in Foods: Sources, Health Benefits and Disease Prevention

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 10890

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Qiong Wang

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
Dr. Yanli Wang

E-Mail
Guest Editor Assistant
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,

The dietary extracts and pure compounds from plant foods possess key human health benefits. The functional approach in deciphering the role of functional food in promoting health benefits 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 food 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 their 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. So, this Special Issue will be dedicated to further highlight the importance of functional food research toward the betterment of human health.

Dr. Qiong Wang
Guest Editor

Dr. Yanli Wang
Guest Editor Assistant

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.

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-blind 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

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 7621 KiB  
Article
Gastrodia elata, Polygonatum sibiricum, and Poria cocos as a Functional Food Formula: Cognitive Enhancement via Modulation of Hippocampal Neuroinflammation and Neuroprotection in Sleep-Restricted Mice
by Yiwen Zhang, Fang Chen, Xueyan Li, Yanfei Xu, Xinmin Liu, Muhammad Qasim Barkat, Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Qi Chang and Ning Jiang
Foods 2025, 14(7), 1103; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14071103 - 22 Mar 2025
Viewed by 586
Abstract
Gastrodia elata, Polygonatum sibiricum, and Poria cocos are traditional Chinese herbs commonly used as both medicinal and food ingredients, traditionally believed to improve liver and kidney functions, replenish vital energy (qi) and blood, and mitigate stress-induced damage. These herbs are combined [...] Read more.
Gastrodia elata, Polygonatum sibiricum, and Poria cocos are traditional Chinese herbs commonly used as both medicinal and food ingredients, traditionally believed to improve liver and kidney functions, replenish vital energy (qi) and blood, and mitigate stress-induced damage. These herbs are combined in the Compound Gastrodia elata Formula (CGEF), a functional food formulation. Amidst growing interest in functional foods, this study explores the cognitive-enhancing effects of CGEF, focusing on cognitive function improvement. Cognitive impairment was induced in ICR mice via chronic sleep restriction. Behavioral assessments including the Y-maze test, object recognition test, Morris water maze test, and Passive avoidance test, were conducted to evaluate CGEF’s effects. Serum levels of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress were quantified while in rat hippocampus tissue expressions of inflammatory, apoptotic, and neuroprotective-related protein markers were analyzed by Western blotting. Neurotransmitter concentrations in both the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were determined by LC-MS/MS. CGEF significantly alleviated cognitive impairments across all behavioral tests. The underlying mechanisms likely involve a reduction in oxidative stress and peripheral inflammatory factors, and suppression of the TLR2/MyD88/NF-κB signaling cascade in the hippocampus, thereby mitigating neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis. Furthermore, CGEF modulated the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway, potentially contributing to neuronal integrity and synaptic plasticity maintenance. CGEF also restored neurotransmitter balance and regulated tryptophan metabolism, further alleviating cognitive deficits associated with sleep disruption. These findings suggest CGEF’s potential as a functional food for reversing cognitive impairments caused by chronic sleep restriction, primarily through its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Ingredients and Natural Extractions in Foods: Sources, Health Benefits and Disease Prevention)
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17 pages, 695 KiB  
Article
Effect of Environmentally Friendly Betalain Extraction Methods on Antioxidant Compounds of Tunisian Opuntia stricta Fruit
by Nadia Smirani, Souhir Bouazizi, Emna Bettaieb, Rachel Torkhani and Moktar Hamdi
Foods 2025, 14(5), 851; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14050851 - 1 Mar 2025
Viewed by 837
Abstract
This study focuses on the extraction of betalain compounds from Opuntia stricta as a natural alternative to synthetic colorants and sustainable environmentally friendly technology solutions. Non-conventional extraction technologies including microwave (MW) and ultrasound (US) were used alone or in combination. The extraction process [...] Read more.
This study focuses on the extraction of betalain compounds from Opuntia stricta as a natural alternative to synthetic colorants and sustainable environmentally friendly technology solutions. Non-conventional extraction technologies including microwave (MW) and ultrasound (US) were used alone or in combination. The extraction process was conducted for both undried Opuntia stricta (OS) and dried Opuntia stricta (DOS) plant material at two distinct drying temperatures, 40 °C and 60 °C, to assess the stability of betalain molecules. The colorant’s potential was evaluated by determining the betalain content, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. The MW (2 min) and MW (2 min) + US (10 min) extraction processes yielded the greatest betalain content in OS fresh weight (FW), with 48.54 ± 0.29 mg/100 g FW and 51.01 ± 0.16 mg/100 g FW, respectively. Furthermore, the results showed a considerable drop in betalain content when the plant material was dried at 40 °C and 60 °C, with reduction rates of 53.75% and 24.82%, respectively, compared to the betalain content before the drying process. The LC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis supported this result, revealing the presence of 17-decarboxy betanin, 17-decarboxy neobetanin, and Cyclo-dopa5-O-βglucoside in DOS at 40 °C. This study highlights the potential future in the sustainable green extraction of betalain compounds with less heat degradation to offer a stable natural colorant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Ingredients and Natural Extractions in Foods: Sources, Health Benefits and Disease Prevention)
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16 pages, 5139 KiB  
Article
Cichorium intybus L. Oligo-Polysaccharides (CIO) Exerts Antianxiety and Antidepressant Effects on Mice Experiencing Behavioral Despair and Chronic Unpredicted Mild Stress
by Yanqin Luo, Xueyi Bei, Yiwen Zhang, Xinran Sun, Yongzhi Zhao, Fang Chen, Ruile Pan, Qi Chang, Qinghu He, Xinmin Liu and Ning Jiang
Foods 2025, 14(1), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods14010135 - 6 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1047
Abstract
Cichorium intybus L. oligo-polysaccharides (CIOs), obtained from Cichorium intybus L., is a mixture of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. This study explores the antianxiety and antidepressant effects and mechanisms of CIOs by using acute behavioral despair and chronic unpredictable mild stress mice models and measuring [...] Read more.
Cichorium intybus L. oligo-polysaccharides (CIOs), obtained from Cichorium intybus L., is a mixture of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. This study explores the antianxiety and antidepressant effects and mechanisms of CIOs by using acute behavioral despair and chronic unpredictable mild stress mice models and measuring the levels of 5-HT and the expression of proteins related to the BDNF/ERK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways. Moreover, 56 male C57BL/6N mice were used to test behavioral despair. They were randomized into seven groups (Control, Citalopram, CIO 12.5 mg/kg, CIO 25 mg/kg, CIO 100 mg/kg, and CIO 200 mg/kg) based on body weight; they were administered with the corresponding medication daily for 7 days; and behavioral tests were conducted on them (forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST)) after 7 days. Seventy male C57BL/6N mice were adopted in the next part of the experiment and randomly divided into seven groups (Control, CUMS, Fluoxetine, MOO, CIO 25 mg/kg, and CIO 100 mg/kg) based on the sucrose preference index. Except for the control group, the other groups were subjected to 6 weeks of CUMS. From the fifth week of stress, the corresponding drugs were administered by gavage until the end of the behavioral tests. In the behavioral despair tests, the immobility time was significantly reduced in the FST and TST after the CIO (25 and 100 mg/kg) treatment of 7 days. After 6 weeks of chronic unpredicted mild stress (CUMS) treatment, CIO (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) administration significantly reduced the number of buried beads in the marble burying test (MBT), decreased the latency in the novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSFT), and shortened the immobility time in the FST and TST. CIO administration significantly increased the sucrose preference index in the sucrose preference test (SPT). Additionally, CIO treatment increased hippocampal 5-HT levels while upregulating the expression of BDNF, P-PI3K/PI3K, P-ERK/ERK, P-Akt/Akt, and P-mTOR/mTOR. In summary, CIO exerted promising antidepressant effects in behavioral despair and antianxiety and antidepressant effects in CUMS-induced depressive mice. Moreover, CIO therapy was facilitated by increasing the 5-HT content, alleviating the damage of hippocampal neurons, and upregulating the BDNF/ERK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR cascade. Thus, CIO is a substance with the potential to treat anxiety and depression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Ingredients and Natural Extractions in Foods: Sources, Health Benefits and Disease Prevention)
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24 pages, 3742 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Beneficial Effects of Probiotics on the Gut–Prostate Axis Using Prostatic Co-Culture Model
by Sara Ferrari, Rebecca Galla, Simone Mulè and Francesca Uberti
Foods 2024, 13(22), 3647; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13223647 - 16 Nov 2024
Viewed by 2499
Abstract
The link between the gut environment and the prostate has recently been proposed as a potential therapeutic approach for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Therefore, this study examined the advantages of a novel oral probiotic supplement to improve intestinal health and treat BPH. [...] Read more.
The link between the gut environment and the prostate has recently been proposed as a potential therapeutic approach for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Therefore, this study examined the advantages of a novel oral probiotic supplement to improve intestinal health and treat BPH. A 3D intestinal barrier model that simulated oral intake was used to analyse the combined regulative abilities of Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium psychaerophilum. Then, a co-culture prostatic model was used to investigate the biological consequences of the combination under conditions mimicking BPH. The results show the connection between the gut microbiome and prostate disease since the probiotics successfully modulate the primary mechanism involved in the pathogenesis of BPH. Indeed, after the intestinal passage, the mediators released from B. longum and B. psychaerophilum induced a substantial decrease in reactive oxidative species of about 6 times and inflammation (about 5 times regarding interleukine-6 and 10) and a sharp increase in testosterone and serotonin levels (about 95%). Further, proliferation and BPH principal mediators (such as androgen and dihydrotestosterone) were highly affected and nearly restored to physiological levels. Thus, BPH can be directly affected by probiotic supplementation; specifically, B. longum and B. psychaerophilum, in combination, seem able to promote the mitigation of this disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Ingredients and Natural Extractions in Foods: Sources, Health Benefits and Disease Prevention)
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14 pages, 3814 KiB  
Article
Citrullus mucosospermus Extract Exerts Protective Effects against Methionine- and Choline-Deficient Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Mice
by Sun Young Park, Ji Eun Kim, He Mi Kang, Ki Ho Park, Byoung Il Je, Ki Won Lee, Dae Youn Hwang and Young Whan Choi
Foods 2024, 13(13), 2101; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13132101 - 1 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1803
Abstract
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in exploring the potential therapeutic advantages of Citrullus mucosospermus extracts (CME) for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of CME on NASH using a mice model. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) [...] Read more.
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in exploring the potential therapeutic advantages of Citrullus mucosospermus extracts (CME) for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of CME on NASH using a mice model. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to identify cucurbitacin E and cucurbitacin E-2-O-glucoside from the CME. Although CME did not significantly alter the serum lipid levels in methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) mice, it demonstrated a protective effect against MCD diet-induced liver damage. CME reduced histological markers, reduced alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartame transaminase (AST) levels, and modulated key NASH-related genes, including C/EBPα, PPARγ, Fas, and aP2. In addition, CME was found to restore hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) activity, both crucial for fat catabolism, and reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, CME demonstrated the potential to mitigate oxidative stress by maintaining or enhancing the activation and expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), both pivotal players in antioxidant defense mechanisms. These findings underscore the promising therapeutic potential of CME in ameliorating liver damage, inflammation, and oxidative stress associated with NASH. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Ingredients and Natural Extractions in Foods: Sources, Health Benefits and Disease Prevention)
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19 pages, 2046 KiB  
Review
Exploring the Potential of Anthocyanins for Repairing Photoaged Skin: A Comprehensive Review
by Xinmiao Guo, Linlin He, Jiaqiang Sun, Hua Ye, Cuiyuan Yin, Weiping Zhang, Hao Han and Wengang Jin
Foods 2024, 13(21), 3506; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13213506 - 1 Nov 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3105
Abstract
Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can result in skin photoaging, which is primarily characterized by dryness, roughness, pigmentation, and a loss of elasticity. However, the clinical drugs commonly employed to treat photoaged skin often induce adverse effects on the skin. Anthocyanins (ACNs) [...] Read more.
Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can result in skin photoaging, which is primarily characterized by dryness, roughness, pigmentation, and a loss of elasticity. However, the clinical drugs commonly employed to treat photoaged skin often induce adverse effects on the skin. Anthocyanins (ACNs) are water-soluble pigments occurring abundantly in various flowers, fruits, vegetables, and grains and exhibiting a range of biological activities. Studies have demonstrated that ACNs contribute to the repair of photoaged skin due to their diverse biological characteristics and minimal side effects. Evidence suggests that the stability of ACNs can be enhanced through encapsulation or combination with other substances to improve their bioavailability and permeability, ultimately augmenting their efficacy in repairing photoaged skin. A growing body of research utilizing cell lines, animal models, and clinical studies has produced compelling data demonstrating that ACNs mitigate skin photoaging by reducing oxidative stress, alleviating the inflammatory response, improving collagen synthesis, alleviating DNA damage, and inhibiting pigmentation. This review introduces sources of ACNs while systematically summarizing their application forms as well as mechanisms for repairing photoaged skin. Additionally, it explores the potential role of ACNs in developing functional foods. These findings may provide valuable insight into using ACNs as promising candidates for developing functional products aimed at repairing photoaged skin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functional Ingredients and Natural Extractions in Foods: Sources, Health Benefits and Disease Prevention)
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