Phytochemicals and Antioxidants on Health and Disease Modulation

Dear Colleagues,

Phytochemicals are bioactive compounds that are naturally present in fruits, vegetables and herbs. They are increasingly recognised for their role in promoting health and preventing disease by affecting inflammation, oxidative stress and cellular signalling. Compounds such as flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids and glucosinolates are key dietary components and potential modulators of chronic disease processes, attracting significant research interest.

Antioxidants, whether dietary or endogenous, are essential for neutralising reactive oxygen species and maintaining cellular homeostasis, particularly in conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and neurodegeneration, where oxidative stress contributes to disease progression. This Special Issue emphasises molecular-level studies that explore the mechanisms, bioavailability, metabolism and synergistic effects of phytochemicals and antioxidants. Importantly, the exact active ingredient of the natural origin extract must be reported in the submitted research manuscript, as papers describing the effects of mixed extractions from natural origins do not fall within the scope of this journal.

Original research articles and reviews are welcome in this Special Issue. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

- Molecular mechanisms of phytochemicals in health and disease modulation, including signalling pathways
- Antioxidant activity and oxidative stress-related molecular pathways
- Bioavailability, metabolism and pharmacokinetics of plant-derived compounds
- Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of bioactive compounds via molecular signalling cascades.
- Flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids and other phytochemicals with defined molecular targets.
- Cellular and molecular pathways influenced by dietary compounds.
- Nutritional interventions and their molecular impact on chronic diseases.
- Synergistic effects of phytochemicals and antioxidants at the molecular and cellular level.
- Translational and clinical studies linking molecular findings to human health.

As a journal focusing on molecular research, IJMS can only process manuscripts that include molecular data. We invite original research, reviews and perspectives that advance the understanding of how these compounds modulate health and disease, thereby informing nutritional strategies and therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Natalia Kurhaluk
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.

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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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.