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Recent Advances in Bioactive Compounds in Human Health
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Recent Advances in Bioactive Compounds in Human Health

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: 20 October 2026 | Viewed by 5764

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Dorota Gumul

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Carbohydrate Technology and Cereal Processing, Faculty of Food Technology, University of Agriculture in Krakow, ul. Balicka 122, 30-149 Krakow, Poland
Interests: antioxidants; bioactive compounds; utilization of by-products; innovative food with use waste; modified starches; encapsulation by extrusion; food science and technology; food and nutrition; food composition and analysis; functional foods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a new Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences entitled “Recent Advances in Bioactive Compounds in Human Health”. The growing interest in bioactive compounds, particularly those derived from food and by-products, is transforming our understanding of how diet impacts human health. Bioactive compounds such as antioxidants, polyphenols, and modified carbohydrates play critical roles in preventing chronic diseases, enhancing immune function, and promoting overall health. Innovative technologies, such as encapsulation and food fortification, are rapidly evolving to maximize the stability and efficacy of these compounds in functional foods.

This Special Issue invites contributions exploring the molecular aspects of bioactive compounds, focusing on their isolation, characterization, and potential health benefits. We particularly encourage submissions on the utilization of food by-products, novel food processing techniques, and advancements in food chemistry and technology. Submissions may include original research, reviews, or perspectives that advance our molecular understanding of bioactive compounds and their applications in food and nutrition science.

This Special Issue is supervised by Dr. Dorota Gumul and assisted by Dr. Marek Kruczek (University of Agriculture in Krakow).

Dr. Marek Kruczek, Assistant Professor at the University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland, specializes in functional food technology. He holds a Master of Science degree in Biology from Jagiellonian University and earned his Ph.D. in Food Technology from the University of Agriculture in Krakow. His research focuses on utilizing by-products to enrich food products with health-promoting compounds such as polyphenols and antioxidants. An author of numerous scientific publications in prestigious journals, he is committed to developing innovative and sustainable solutions for the food industry.

Prof. Dr. Dorota Gumul
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 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. 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.

Keywords

  • bioactive compounds
  • antioxidants
  • food by-products
  • functional foods
  • innovative food technologies
  • molecular food science

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 5226 KB  
Article
Agathisflavone Modulates the Kynurenine Pathway and Glial Inflammatory Responses with Implications for Neuroprotection
by Deivison Silva Argolo, Lucas Matheus Gonçalves Oliveira, Cleonice Creusa dos Santos, Lilian Vanessa da Penha Gonçalves, Erick Correia Loiola, Bruno Solano de Freitas Souza, George E. Barreto, Arthur Morgan Butt, Jorge Mauricio David, Alexsandro Branco, Isabella Mary Alves Reis, Annabel Azevedo-Silva, Silvia Lima Costa and Maria de Fátima Dias Costa
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(24), 11951; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262411951 - 11 Dec 2025
Viewed by 693
Abstract
The cells in the central nervous system (CNS) can adapt to injury and inflammation through structural and functional changes, many of which are mediated by the kynurenine pathway (KP). Studies using glia–neuron co-cultures showed that the biflavonoid agathisflavone (FAB), purified from the leaves [...] Read more.
The cells in the central nervous system (CNS) can adapt to injury and inflammation through structural and functional changes, many of which are mediated by the kynurenine pathway (KP). Studies using glia–neuron co-cultures showed that the biflavonoid agathisflavone (FAB), purified from the leaves of Cenostigma pyramidale Tul., a plant native to the Brazilian caatinga, exerts strong neuroprotective effects. This study evaluated whether agathisflavone (1 µM) modulates these responses in human and murine astrocytes and microglia exposed to inflammatory activation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 µg/mL), excitotoxic activation of NMDA receptors with quinolinic acid (QUIN, 500 µM), or inhibition of the KP rate-limiting enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) with 1-methyl tryptophan (1-MT, 1.5 μM). Co-treatment with FAB increased astrocyte viability relative to LPS, QUIN, or 1-MT alone, by up to 35% (p < 0.05), while reducing GFAP overexpression and other features of reactive astrogliosis. FAB decreased the proportion of Iba-1+ microglia, indicating anti-inflammatory effects. When combined with QUIN or 1-MT, FAB reversed the elevation of iNOS (p < 0.0001) and reduced IL1β upregulation. FAB also modulated KP activity in a cell type-specific manner. In astrocytes, FAB with QUIN or with 1-MT increased IDO activity, whereas in microglia, FAB alone reduced it. In microglia, kynurenine-3-monooxygenase (KMO) expression was significantly increased under FAB+QUIN or FAB+1-MT (p < 0.0001). Finally, astrocyte-conditioned medium from FAB-treated cells increased the viability of neuron-like PC12 cells by up to 40%. Collectively, these findings show that FAB confers cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory actions on glial cells, modulates KP signalling in a context-dependent manner, and supports neuronal survival under neuroinflammatory conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Bioactive Compounds in Human Health)
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17 pages, 1001 KB  
Article
The Effect of Freeze-Dried Cherry Pomace and Red Potato Pulp on the Content of Bioactive Substances in Pasta
by Dorota Gumul, Wiktor Berski, Eva Ivanišová, Joanna Oracz and Marek Kruczek
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(13), 6020; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26136020 - 23 Jun 2025
Viewed by 1003
Abstract
Pasta, due to its convenience, follows bread as the most common cereal product in the human diet. Typical wheat pasta is a high-energy product, since it contains a large amount of starch; at the same time, it is characterized by a low content [...] Read more.
Pasta, due to its convenience, follows bread as the most common cereal product in the human diet. Typical wheat pasta is a high-energy product, since it contains a large amount of starch; at the same time, it is characterized by a low content of health-promoting ingredients, such as dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins, and polyphenols. Food industry by-products, or even waste, can be applied as a source of many bioactive substances, thus enriching pasta with bioactive ingredients. Two by-products, Cherry Pomace (CP) and Red Potato Pulp (RPP) were applied as health-promoting supplements for wheat pasta, at three levels (10, 20, and 30%). The antioxidant potential of the resulting pasta was examined (by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and FOMO methods), and the antioxidant’s content was also tested. The amount of polyphenols determined by HPLC was higher in the case of CP than in RPP, and the main ones were 5-O-Caffeoylquinic acid and Cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside in CP, whereas for RPP it was Pelargonidin 3-(4‴-p-coumaroylrutinoside)-5-glucoside. Fortified pasta samples were characterized by a higher content of total polyphenols and phenolic acids, flavonoids, flavanols, and anthocyanins. In pasta with a share of CP, some polyphenols were unstable during pasta production. Pasta with a share of CP was characterized by very high antioxidant activity due to a high level of phenolic acids and anthocyanins acting synergistically. It was also characterized by a higher content of phytosterols. A 30% addition of CP into pasta is considered the most beneficial in terms of increasing the health-promoting properties of such a product. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Bioactive Compounds in Human Health)
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Review

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14 pages, 916 KB  
Review
Cross-Reactivity and Cross-Intolerance Among Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Clinical Patterns, COX-1-Mediated Mechanisms, and Implications for COX-2 Inhibitors and Paracetamol
by Wiktoria Andryszkiewicz, Martyna Lippik, Małgorzata Makieła, Bartosz Modrzyk and Krzysztof Gomułka
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(9), 3727; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27093727 - 22 Apr 2026
Viewed by 513
Abstract
Cross-reactivity among nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) creates a significant clinical difficulty, especially in patients with NSAID hypersensitivity. These reactions are based on cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) inhibition and non-immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated reactions. COX-1 inhibition leads to dysregulation of arachidonic acid metabolism, with decreased prostaglandin synthesis [...] Read more.
Cross-reactivity among nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) creates a significant clinical difficulty, especially in patients with NSAID hypersensitivity. These reactions are based on cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) inhibition and non-immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated reactions. COX-1 inhibition leads to dysregulation of arachidonic acid metabolism, with decreased prostaglandin synthesis and increased leukotriene production. Clinically, cross-intolerant reactions manifest in different phenotypes, including NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD), NSAID-induced urticaria/angioedema (NIUA), and NSAID-exacerbated cutaneous disease (NECD). In contrast, true allergic reactions—such as single-NSAID-induced urticaria/angioedema and anaphylaxis (SNIUAA) and single-NSAID-induced delayed hypersensitivity reactions (SNIDHR)—are immunologically mediated and drug-specific. These phenotypes differ in underlying conditions, clinical manifestations, and patterns of NSAID tolerance. Paracetamol is generally considered a safer alternative due to its weak COX-1 inhibition; however, reactions may still occur, particularly at higher doses. Selective COX-2 inhibitors are usually better tolerated, however their safety should be confirmed, preferably through controlled drug provocation testing due to sporadic reactions in cross-intolerant patients. Understanding the distinction between pharmacologically mediated cross-intolerance and true allergic reactions is essential for accurate diagnosis, risk stratification, and therapeutic decision-making. This review summarizes current evidence on the mechanisms underlying NSAID hypersensitivity, analyzes the tolerability of paracetamol and alternative analgesics, and discusses practical management strategies to reduce the risk of adverse reactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Bioactive Compounds in Human Health)
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55 pages, 3970 KB  
Review
Recent Progress on Polyphenols of Malaysian Honey and Their Molecular Mechanism Pathways in Cancer—A Comprehensive Review
by Mohd Hayrie Mohd Hatta, Nazirah Amran, Farah Hidayah Kamisan, Maryam Hannah Daud, Mariatul Farhana Abdul Manaf, Kanaga Kumari Chelilah and Norwahidah Abdul Karim
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(7), 3074; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27073074 - 27 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1013
Abstract
Cancer ranks as one of the top causes of death worldwide, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates an increase of up to 55% in cases over the next 15 years, reaching 300 million cases worldwide. Current approaches to the treatment of cancer, [...] Read more.
Cancer ranks as one of the top causes of death worldwide, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates an increase of up to 55% in cases over the next 15 years, reaching 300 million cases worldwide. Current approaches to the treatment of cancer, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, have been used with continuous significant advancements. However, these conventional methods have harmful side effects that can last a lifetime. Today, there is growing interest in developing alternative cancer therapies from natural products or complementary medicine. One of the natural sources that has shown promise as an anticancer agent is honey, which has long been applied as a complementary medicine, and its beneficial health effects on various diseases in both animal and human models have been widely studied. Malaysian honey, such as Tualang, pineapple, Gelam, Kelulut, and Acacia, possesses a rich composition of phytochemicals, including polyphenols and flavonoids, which are reported to have promising anticancer properties. Examples of the phytochemicals highlighted in this review are phenolic acid, syringic acid, salicylic acid, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid, benzoic acid, caffeic acid, chrysin and its derivatives, kaempferol, fisetin, catechin, apigenin, quercetin, acacetin, pinocembrin, pinobanksin, hesperetin, naringenin, vitexin, isoorientin, xanthohumol, and galangin. This review highlights the anticancer mechanisms and molecular pathways of the phytochemicals found in Malaysian honey, focusing on their antioxidant effects, induction of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis, and suppression of cancer cell proliferation. The findings of various studies published in the past five years are collated to understand their mechanisms of action. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Bioactive Compounds in Human Health)
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29 pages, 1073 KB  
Review
Roles of Selected Bioactive Compounds in Inhibiting the Development and Progression of Cancer—A Review
by Michaela Godyla-Jabłoński and Ewa Raczkowska
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(21), 10343; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110343 - 23 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1752
Abstract
Natural bioactive compounds play an important role in regulating inflammatory processes and mechanisms of carcinogenesis. In view of the growing interest in their therapeutic properties, particularly in the treatment of chronic inflammation, cancer, and related diseases, this study reviews the molecular mechanisms of [...] Read more.
Natural bioactive compounds play an important role in regulating inflammatory processes and mechanisms of carcinogenesis. In view of the growing interest in their therapeutic properties, particularly in the treatment of chronic inflammation, cancer, and related diseases, this study reviews the molecular mechanisms of action of selected groups of compounds, namely polyphenols and carotenoids. The analysis is based on current scientific literature and evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies, with particular attention being paid to their effects on the NF-κB, STAT3, and MAPK regulatory pathways, as well as their role in modulating pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. These findings indicate that bioactive compounds represent a promising group of substances with a broad spectrum of biological activity. Nevertheless, their potential in combination therapy and in preventive strategies against cancer and inflammation requires further clinical investigation to clarify their bioavailability, safety, and therapeutic effectiveness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Bioactive Compounds in Human Health)
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