Functional Foods and Natural Bioactive Compounds: Strategies to Face Metabolic Syndrome and Related Non-Communicable Diseases—2nd Edition

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 2 November 2026 | Viewed by 1274

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos (CERELA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Miguel de Tucumán T4000ILC, Tucumán, Argentina
Interests: functional foods; lactic acid bacteria; probiotics; postbiotics; symbiotics; metabolic syndrome; obesity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto de Bioprospección y Fisiología Vegetal (INBIOFIV), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET-UNT), San Miguel de Tucumán T4000ILC, Tucumán, Argentina
Interests: functional foods; fermented vegetable foods; fermented vegetable beverages; probiotics; lactic acid bacteria; Bacillus spp.; metabolic syndrome
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos (CERELA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), San Miguel de Tucumán T4000ILC, Tucumán, Argentina
Interests: functional foods; lactic acid bacteria; probiotics; postbiotics; symbiotics; metabolic syndrome; obesity; feruloyl esterase
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) encompass long-term, multifactorial, noninfectious health disorders that are causing new epidemics in developed societies and reducing life expectancy, becoming the leading cause of death globally. in addition to cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, The main types of NCDs include pathologies closely related to metabolic syndrome, a clinical condition associated with at least five metabolic risk factors: abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. The perpetuation of these types of metabolic dysfunction can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and some types of cancer, among other pathologies. Many of these NCDs have, as common factors, the prevalence of chronic low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress, and intestinal dysbiosis. The main therapeutic guidelines for metabolic syndrome include lifestyle changes, chiefly through nutrition interventions. Often, however, these metabolic derangements require pharmaceutical therapies that are not always welcome or available.

In this context, the bioactive compounds found in functional foods and other biofunctional products, including fermented (dairy and vegetable) foods and beverages, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics, can provide prophylactic and therapeutic alternatives in treating NCDs associated with metabolic syndrome. These biologically active ingredients are emerging as alternatives to alleviate metabolic syndrome and as prophylaxis for the amelioration of related NCDs. They represent multipurpose tools for addressing different aspects of metabolic disorders by reshaping the intestinal ecology and modulating metabolic homeostasis, gut barrier function, inflammatory response, and redox balance. This Special Issue will strengthen our knowledge concerning the role of bioactive compounds in functional foods and other biofunctional products to prevent or improve metabolic syndrome or NCDs. For this purpose, we welcome the contribution of original research articles or review papers exploring this key issue in human wellbeing.

Dr. Paola Gauffin-Cano
Dr. Sebastián Torres
Dr. Roxana Medina
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • functional foods
  • bioactive compounds
  • fermented foods
  • fermented beverages
  • fermented vegetable foods
  • probiotics
  • prebiotics
  • synbiotics
  • postbiotics
  • metabolic syndrome
  • non-communicable diseases

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 1690 KB  
Article
Unveiling the Antidiabetic Potential of Parmentiera edulis: From Polyphenols to Molecular Interaction
by Alexis Emus Medina, Cress L. Santos-Ballardo, Carlos B. Castro-Tamayo, Ramón I. Castillo-López, Miguel A. Angulo-Escalante, Jesús J. Portillo-Loera and J. Basilio Heredia
Metabolites 2026, 16(2), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo16020146 - 22 Feb 2026
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Parmentiera edulis, traditionally called “cuajilote”, is a medicinal plant used to treat infections, indigestion, kidney problems, and diabetes. Although all parts of the plant are utilized, there is little scientific evidence available on its phytochemical composition to explain its medicinal properties. [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Parmentiera edulis, traditionally called “cuajilote”, is a medicinal plant used to treat infections, indigestion, kidney problems, and diabetes. Although all parts of the plant are utilized, there is little scientific evidence available on its phytochemical composition to explain its medicinal properties. This exploratory study aims to characterize and identify phytochemicals in hydromethanolic extracts of leaves, stems, and fruits; determine their antioxidant capacity, and evaluate in vitro and in silico inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase, enzymes involved in glycemic control. Methods: Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined, and antioxidant capacity was evaluated using different assays. Phenolic acids were tentatively identified by UPLC-qTOF-MS/MS. Enzyme inhibition assays against α-glucosidase and α-amylase were performed in vitro, and molecular docking was used to explore enzyme–ligand interactions. Results: The total phenolic content was significantly higher in the fruit (552.9 mg GAE/100 g dw), while flavonoids were more abundant in leaves (119.84 mg QE/100 g dw). Antioxidant capacity varied among plant parts, depending on the assay used. Caffeic, chlorogenic, coumaric, ferulic, gallic, and quinic acids were identified. The highest concentrations were observed for chlorogenic, ferulic, and quinic acids. Among the analyzed parts, leaf extracts showed the most potent inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase (IC50: 0.85 mg/mL) and α-amylase (IC50: 1.38 mg/mL). Molecular docking revealed that chlorogenic and quinic acids interacted with the catalytic sites of α-amylase (Glu233, Asp197, and Asp300), whereas in α-glucosidase, interactions were observed at allosteric sites. Conclusions: These results suggest that Parmentiera edulis possesses bioactive compounds that could explain its therapeutic use. Full article
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Review

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29 pages, 3281 KB  
Review
Ganoderma lucidum as a Functional Bioactive Candidate for Glycemic Regulation: Mechanisms, Preclinical Evidence, and Clinical Translation
by Bogdan Florea, Doru Morar, Corina Marina Kracunovic, Simina Velescu, Vlad Iorgoni, Paula Nistor, Janos Degi, Ionica Iancu, Maria-Larisa Ardelean (Rusu), Romeo Teodor Cristina, Alexandra Pocinoc and Eugenia Dumitrescu
Metabolites 2026, 16(5), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo16050334 - 15 May 2026
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Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major global health challenge that has intensified interest in multi-target nutraceuticals with potential adjunctive benefits. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi/Reishi) is a medicinal mushroom traditionally used in East Asia and is increasingly investigated for its role in glycemic [...] Read more.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major global health challenge that has intensified interest in multi-target nutraceuticals with potential adjunctive benefits. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi/Reishi) is a medicinal mushroom traditionally used in East Asia and is increasingly investigated for its role in glycemic regulation and metabolic disturbances. This review critically synthesizes current evidence on its hypoglycemic effects, focusing on bioactive compounds, molecular mechanisms, and translational limitations. Unlike broader reviews on Ganoderma bioactivity and health-related benefits, this review specifically evaluates the alignment between taxonomic authentication, chemical standardization, preclinical mechanisms, and human clinical evidence in the context of glycemic regulation. This narrative review was based on a targeted literature search conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus for studies published up to October 2025, supplemented by Google Scholar. The included studies comprised in vitro experiments, in vivo animal models, and human clinical trials evaluating glycemic and metabolic outcomes of Ganoderma preparations. In vitro and animal studies indicate that polysaccharides, including β-(1→3)/(1→6)-glucans and proteoglycans such as FYGL, may improve insulin sensitivity via AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) and PI3K/Akt pathways, promote GLUT4 (glucose transporter type 4) translocation, suppress hepatic gluconeogenesis, protect pancreatic β-cells, and modulate gut microbiota. In enzyme assays and preclinical models, lanostane-type triterpenoids act primarily by inhibiting α-glucosidase and α-amylase, thereby potentially reducing postprandial glucose excursions. Despite consistent preclinical evidence, clinical findings remain heterogeneous, with the largest randomized controlled trial reporting no significant glycemic benefit. Overall, Ganoderma lucidum shows strong mechanistic plausibility but insufficient clinical evidence for antidiabetic efficacy. Future research should prioritize species authentication, chemical standardization, and adequately powered clinical trials. Full article
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