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Bioactive Compounds in the Prevention of Chronic Diseases

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 June 2025 | Viewed by 4994

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology B and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Murcia, Regional Campus of International Excellence “Campus Mare Nostrum”, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Interests: inmune response; inflammation; immunonutrition; chronic diseases
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Guest Editor
Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Puebla 74360, Mexico
Interests: cancer; metabolism; autophagy; reactive oxygen species; phytochemicals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In order to resolve the need for a balanced and varied diet that is rich in bioactive compounds to combat the rising incidence of diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and osteoporosis, we are interested in breakthrough experimental and technical progress of broad interest in biology, chemistry, and medicine on Bioactive Compounds in the Prevention of Chronic Diseases.

The bioactive compounds and their known metabolites including, but not limited to, polyphenols, fatty acids, proteins, dietary fibers, etc., play a crucial role in modulating inflammation and oxidative stress, which are key factors in chronic disease development. Additionally, the search for safer and more effective therapeutics for life-threatening diseases like cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases is ongoing. We encourage authors to focus on results at the molecular level and to submit their contributions to help the scientific community and society by extension to fully understand the effectiveness of the bioactive compounds in disease management.

Dr. Diego A. Moreno
Dr. Antonio J. Ruiz-Alcaraz
Dr. Paola Maycotte
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • bioactives
  • chronic disease
  • inflammation
  • oxidative stress
  • obesity
  • diabetes
  • cancer

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2921 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activity of Mangiferin in Murine Model for Myocarditis: Perspectives and Challenges
by Alexandra Popa, Lia-Oxana Usatiuc, Iuliu Calin Scurtu, Raluca Murariu, Alexandra Cofaru, Romelia Pop, Flaviu Alexandru Tabaran, Luciana Madalina Gherman, Dan Valean, Alexandru Cristian Bolundut, Rares Ilie Orzan, Ximena Maria Muresan, Andreea Georgiana Morohoschi, Sanda Andrei, Cecilia Lazea and Lucia Agoston-Coldea
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(18), 9970; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25189970 - 16 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1580
Abstract
Myocarditis is a major cause of heart failure and death, particularly in young individuals. Current treatments are mainly symptomatic, but emerging therapies focus on targeting inflammation and fibrosis pathways. Natural bioactive compounds like flavonoids and phenolic acids show promising anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. [...] Read more.
Myocarditis is a major cause of heart failure and death, particularly in young individuals. Current treatments are mainly symptomatic, but emerging therapies focus on targeting inflammation and fibrosis pathways. Natural bioactive compounds like flavonoids and phenolic acids show promising anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Corticosteroids are frequently employed in the treatment of autoimmune myocarditis and appear to lower mortality rates compared to conventional therapies for heart failure. This study aims to explore the effects of Mangiferin on pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, nitro-oxidative stress markers, histopathological alterations, and cardiac function in experimental myosin-induced autoimmune myocarditis. The effects were compared to Prednisone, used as a reference anti-inflammatory compound, and Trolox, used as a reference antioxidant. The study involved 30 male Wistar–Bratislava rats, which were randomly divided into five groups: a negative control group (C−), a positive control group with induced myocarditis using a porcine myosin solution (C+), three groups with induced myocarditis receiving Mangiferin (M), Prednisone (P), or Trolox (T) as treatment. Cardiac function was evaluated using echocardiography. Biochemical measurements of nitro-oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were conducted. Finally, histopathological changes were assessed. At echocardiography, the evaluation of the untreated myocarditis group showed a trend toward decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) but was not statistically significant, while all treated groups showed some improvement in LVEF and left ventricular fraction shortening (LVFS). Significant changes were seen in the Mangiferin group, with lower end-diastolic left ventricular posterior wall (LVPWd) by day 21 compared to the Trolox group (p < 0.001). In the first week of the experiment, levels of interleukins (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α were significantly higher in the myosin group compared to the negative control group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.01), indicating the progression of inflammation in this group. Treatment with Mangiferin, Prednisone, and Trolox caused a significant reduction in IL-1β compared to the positive control group (p < 0.001). Notably, Mangiferin resulted in a superior reduction in IL-1β compared to Prednisone (p < 0.05) and Trolox (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Mangiferin treatment led to a statistically significant increase in total oxidative capacity (TAC) (p < 0.001) and a significant reduction in nitric oxide (NOx) levels (p < 0.001) compared to the negative control group. Furthermore, when compared to the Prednisone-treated group, Mangiferin significantly reduced NOx levels (p < 0.001) and increased TAC levels (p < 0.001). Mangiferin treatment significantly lowered creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels on day 7 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively) and reduced CK levels on day 21 (p < 0.01) compared to the untreated group. In the nontreated group, the histological findings at the end of the experiment were consistent with myocarditis. In the group treated with Mangiferin, only one case exhibited mild inflammatory infiltrates, represented by mononucleated leukocytes admixed with few neutrophils, with the severity graded as mild. Statistically significant correlations between the grades (0 vs. 1–2) and the study groups have been highlighted (p < 0.005). This study demonstrated Mangiferin’s cardioprotective effects in autoimmune myocarditis, showing reduced oxidative stress and inflammation. Mangiferin appears promising as a treatment for acute myocarditis, but further research is needed to compare its efficacy with other treatments like Trolox and Prednisone. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds in the Prevention of Chronic Diseases)
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Review

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15 pages, 1109 KiB  
Review
Research Progress on Anti-Inflammatory Mechanism of Inula cappa
by Ningning Wu, Siqi Wang, Yuqian Zhang and Siming Wang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(5), 1911; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26051911 - 23 Feb 2025
Viewed by 547
Abstract
The incidence of various inflammatory diseases has remained high. Inula cappa is a kind of Chinese herbal medicine with a wide range of pharmacological uses and application value. It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and other pharmacological activities. The monomeric compounds that have [...] Read more.
The incidence of various inflammatory diseases has remained high. Inula cappa is a kind of Chinese herbal medicine with a wide range of pharmacological uses and application value. It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and other pharmacological activities. The monomeric compounds that have been confirmed to have anti-inflammatory effects are luteolin, chrysoerilol, artemetin, chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, cryptchlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid B, isochlorogenic acid C and 1,3-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid. This article introduces the relationship between Inula cappa and inflammation, the anti-inflammatory components of I. cappa, the modulation of each component on the inflammatory transduction signal pathway, and the TLR2/MyD88/NF-KB anti-inflammatory signaling pathway, providing a theoretical basis for anti-inflammatory research on and clinical medication using Inula cappa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds in the Prevention of Chronic Diseases)
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26 pages, 3353 KiB  
Review
Potential Use of Selected Natural Compounds with Anti-Biofilm Activity
by Dagmara Fydrych, Jagoda Jeziurska, Jana Wełna and Joanna Kwiecińska-Piróg
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(2), 607; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26020607 - 13 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1460
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance in microorganisms is an escalating global concern, exacerbated by their formation of biofilms, which provide protection through an extracellular matrix and communication via quorum sensing, enhancing their resistance to treatment. This situation has driven the search for alternative approaches, particularly those [...] Read more.
Antibiotic resistance in microorganisms is an escalating global concern, exacerbated by their formation of biofilms, which provide protection through an extracellular matrix and communication via quorum sensing, enhancing their resistance to treatment. This situation has driven the search for alternative approaches, particularly those using natural compounds. This study explores the potential of phytochemicals, such as quercetin, apigenin, arbutin, gallic acid, proanthocyanidins, and rutin, known for their antibacterial properties and ability to inhibit biofilm formation and disrupt mature biofilms. The methods used in this study included a comprehensive review of current literature assessing the bioavailability, distribution, and effective concentrations of these compounds in treating biofilm-associated infections. The results indicate that these phytochemicals exhibit significant antibacterial effects, reduce biofilm’s structural integrity, and inhibit bacterial communication pathways. Moreover, their potential use in combination with existing antibiotics may enhance therapeutic outcomes. The findings support the conclusion that phytochemicals offer promising additions to anti-biofilm strategies and are capable of complementing or replacing conventional treatments, with appropriate therapeutic levels and delivery mechanisms being key to their effectiveness. This insight underscores the need for further research into their clinical applications for treating infections complicated by biofilms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds in the Prevention of Chronic Diseases)
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