Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties of Bioactive Compounds from Foods
A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Quality and Safety".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 26 June 2026 | Viewed by 1381
Special Issue Editors
Interests: food and feed safety; antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibiofilm activities of natural bioactive compounds; development of innovative and eco-friendly strategies for controlling pathogens
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: food and feed safety; antimicrobial properties of essential oils and plant extracts; natural and sustainable solutions for reducing antimicrobial drug use in veterinary and human medicine
Interests: insects as food and feed; bioactive peptides (antioxidative and antimicrobial activity); isolation and techno-functional properties of proteins
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The growing demand for safe, high-quality, and minimally processed foods has intensified interest in natural bioactive compounds with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. These compounds, derived from plant, animal, fungal, and microbial sources, support oxidative stability, inhibit pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms, and contribute to human health. Major classes include phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, peptides, polysaccharides, essential oils, and organic acids, all showing strong potential for use in food preservation and functional food development.
This Special Issue aims to present recent advances in the identification, characterization, and application of natural bioactive compounds in the food sector. Emphasis is placed on structure-activity relationships, synergistic interactions, and incorporation into innovative delivery systems such as nanoemulsions, edible coatings, and active packaging. Sustainable extraction and valorization of bioactive molecules from agricultural residues and food industry by-products, aligned with circular economy and zero-waste principles, are also encouraged.
Topics of interest include mechanisms of action against foodborne pathogens and oxidative stress, stabilization and encapsulation strategies, the influence of processing and storage on compound stability, novel analytical techniques, and health-promoting effects.
This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and comprehensive reviews aimed at advancing scientific knowledge and promoting nature-based solutions that enhance food safety, quality, and overall well-being for consumers.
Dr. Ivana Čabarkapa
Guest Editor
Dr. Dragana Tomanić
Dr. Danka Dragojlović
Guest Editor Assistants
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-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
- bioactive compounds
- natural antimicrobials
- antioxidants
- food safety
- nutraceuticals
- food preservation
- phytochemicals
- polyphenols
- essential oils
- peptides
- edible coatings
- active packaging
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.
