Bioactive Compounds Targeting Metabolic Disorders: Molecular Mechanisms and Translational Applications
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Bioactives and Nutraceuticals".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Metabolic disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), and metabolic syndrome are major global health challenges associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Emerging research highlights that dietary and plant-derived bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, peptides, terpenoids, and lipids, can modulate key molecular pathways involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function. Understanding their mechanisms of action at the cellular and molecular levels, and translating these findings into clinically meaningful outcomes, is critical for developing effective nutritional therapeutic strategies. This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews that advance our understanding of how bioactive compounds regulate metabolic health through molecular, cellular, and systems-level mechanisms. Submissions should highlight mechanistic insights, experimental and clinical evidence, and translational applications relevant to metabolic disorders.
Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Mechanistic studies of plant- or food-derived compounds targeting obesity, diabetes, MASH, or dyslipidemia.
- Regulation of insulin signaling, glucose homeostasis, and lipid metabolism by natural products.
- Mitochondrial bioenergetics, oxidative stress, and redox regulation.
- Inflammatory and endocrine signaling pathways modulated by bioactive compounds.
- Gut microbiota and metabolite-mediated metabolic effects, as well as the underlying molecular crosstalk between gut, liver, brain, adipose tissue, and muscle.
- Translational and clinical studies evaluating bioactive compounds for metabolic health
- Computational and network-based analyses of bioactive–target interactions
- Development of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements for metabolic disorders and related cellular or molecular mechanisms.
Prof. Dr. Dongmin Liu
Guest Editor
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 compounds
- obesity
- type 2 diabetes
- insulin resistance
- adipose tissue
- gut microbiota
- inflammation
- oxidative stress
- nutraceuticals
- molecular nutrition
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