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Extraction, Purification, Structural Analysis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Mechanisms of Dietary Bioactive Compounds from Natural Resources

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 3767

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Dr. Chao Li

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Guest Editor

School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
Interests: phytochemicals ; hypoglycemic; anticancer; hypolipidemic; anti-inflammatory; gut microbiota; functional foods

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural resources are rich sources of bioactive compounds that possess various health benefits. This Special Issue seeks to explore the methods used to extract and purify bioactive compounds from different natural sources such as fruits, vegetables, algae, and medicinal plants. Additionally, we encourage submissions that investigate the composition and structural analysis of active components. Studies delving into the biological evaluation and molecular mechanisms underlying the health benefits associated with these bioactive compounds are highly encouraged.

Potential topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

Extraction and purification techniques for bioactive compounds from natural resources.
Identification and characterization of bioactive compounds from natural resources.
Structural analysis of active components from natural resources.
Bioavailability and bioaccessibility studies of bioactive compounds from natural resources.
Biological evaluation and molecular mechanisms underlying the health benefits of bioactive compounds.
Applications of bioactive compounds in functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Dr. Chao Li
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. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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

isolation and purification
bioactive compounds
bioactive
molecular mechanism
structure–activity relationship

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

29 pages, 1620 KiB

Open AccessArticle

LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS Identification and Characterization of Phenolic Compounds from Leaves of Australian Myrtles and Their Antioxidant Activities

by Akhtar Ali, Abdul Mueed, Jeremy J. Cottrell and Frank R. Dunshea

Molecules 2024, 29(10), 2259; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29102259 - 11 May 2024

Viewed by 430

Abstract

Phenolic compounds, present in plants, provide substantial health advantages, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which enhance cardiovascular and cognitive well-being. Australia is enriched with a wide range of plants with phytopharmacological potential, which needs to be fully elucidated. In this context, we analyzed leaves of aniseed myrtle (Syzygium anisatum), lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora), and cinnamon myrtle (Backhousia myrtifolia) for their complex phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential. LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS was applied for screening and characterizing these Australian myrtles’ phenolic compounds and the structure–function relation of phenolic compounds. This study identified 145 and quantified/semi-quantified 27 phenolic compounds in these Australian myrtles. Furthermore, phenolic contents (total phenolic content (TPC), total condensed tannins (TCT), and total flavonoids (TFC)) and antioxidant potential of phenolic extracts from the leaves of Australian myrtles were quantified. Aniseed myrtle was quantified with the highest TPC (52.49 ± 3.55 mg GAE/g) and total antioxidant potential than other selected myrtles. Catechin, epicatechin, isovitexin, cinnamic acid, and quercetin were quantified as Australian myrtles’ most abundant phenolic compounds. Moreover, chemometric analysis further validated the results. This study provides a new insight into the novel potent bioactive phenolic compounds from Australian myrtles that could be potentially useful for functional, nutraceutical, and therapeutic applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Purification, Structural Analysis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Mechanisms of Dietary Bioactive Compounds from Natural Resources)

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14 pages, 6288 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemical Profile and Bioactivity of Bound Polyphenols Released from Rosa roxburghii Fruit Pomace Dietary Fiber by Solid-State Fermentation with Aspergillus niger

by Qing Chen, Juan Su, Yue Zhang, Chao Li and Siming Zhu

Molecules 2024, 29(8), 1689; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29081689 - 9 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 496

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical profile, bioactivity, and release mechanism of bound polyphenols (BPs) released from Rosa roxburghii fruit pomace insoluble dietary fiber (RPDF) through solid-state fermentation (SSF) with Aspergillus niger. The results indicated that the amount of BPs released from RPDF through SSF was 17.22 mg GAE/g DW, which was significantly higher than that achieved through alkaline hydrolysis extraction (5.33 mg GAE/g DW). The BPs released through SSF exhibited superior antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities compared to that released through alkaline hydrolysis. Chemical composition analysis revealed that SSF released several main compounds, including ellagic acid, epigallocatechin, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, quercetin, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid. Mechanism analysis indicated that the disruption of tight structure, chemical bonds, and hemicellulose was crucial for the release of BPs from RPDF. This study provides valuable information on the potential application of SSF for the efficient release of BPs from RPDF, contributing to the utilization of RPDF as a functional food ingredient. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Purification, Structural Analysis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Mechanisms of Dietary Bioactive Compounds from Natural Resources)

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13 pages, 3352 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Piceatannol Alleviates Deoxynivalenol-Induced Damage in Intestinal Epithelial Cells via Inhibition of the NF-κB Pathway

by Min Zhu, En-Qing Lu, Yong-Xia Fang, Guo-Wei Liu, Yu-Jie Cheng, Ke Huang, E Xu, Yi-Yu Zhang and Xiao-Jing Wang

Molecules 2024, 29(4), 855; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29040855 - 14 Feb 2024

Viewed by 767

Abstract

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common mycotoxin that is widely found in various foods and feeds, posing a potential threat to human and animal health. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of the natural polyphenol piceatannol (PIC) against DON-induced damage in porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2 cells) and the underlying mechanism. The results showed that PIC promotes IPEC-J2 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, it not only significantly relieved DON-induced decreases in cell viability and proliferation but also reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Further studies demonstrated that PIC alleviated DON-induced oxidative stress damage by increasing the protein expression levels of the antioxidant factors NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) and glutamate–cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), and the mRNA expression of catalase (CAT), Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1), peroxiredoxin 3 (PRX3), and glutathione S-transferase alpha 4 (GSTα4). In addition, PIC inhibited the activation of the nuclear factor-B (NF-κB) pathway, downregulated the mRNA expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) to attenuate DON-induced inflammatory responses, and further mitigated DON-induced cellular intestinal barrier injury by regulating the protein expression of Occludin. These findings indicated that PIC had a significant protective effect against DON-induced damage. This study provides more understanding to support PIC as a feed additive for pig production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Purification, Structural Analysis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Mechanisms of Dietary Bioactive Compounds from Natural Resources)

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14 pages, 7276 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization and Function Analysis of Soluble Dietary Fiber Obtained from Radish Pomace by Different Extraction Methods

by Xiqian Tan, Xiaoxiao Cheng, Bingyu Ma, Fangchao Cui, Dangfeng Wang, Ronghu Shen, Xuepeng Li and Jianrong Li

Molecules 2024, 29(2), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29020500 - 19 Jan 2024

Viewed by 812

Abstract

Soluble dietary fiber (SDF) benefits human health, and different extraction methods might modify the structure and functions of the SDFs. Radish is rich in dietary fiber. To assess the impact of various extraction techniques on the properties and functions of radish SDF, the SDFs were obtained from white radish pomace using alkaline, ultrasonic-assisted, and fermentation-assisted extraction methods. Analysis was conducted on the structure, physicochemical characteristics, thermal properties, and functional attributes of the SDFs. The study revealed that various extraction techniques can impact the monosaccharides composition and functionality of the SDFs. Compared with the other two extraction methods, the surface structures of SDFs obtained by fermentation-assisted extraction were looser and more porous, and the SDF had better water solubility and water/oil holding capacity. The adsorption capacities of glucose and cholesterol of the SDFs obtained from fermentation-assisted extraction were also improved. Wickerhamomyces anomalus YFJ252 seems the most appropriate strain to ferment white radish pomace to acquire SDF; the water holding, oil holding, glucose absorption capacity, and cholesterol absorption capacity at pH 2 and pH 7 have a 3.06, 1.65, 3.19, 1.27, and 1.83 fold increase than the SDF extracted through alkaline extraction method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Purification, Structural Analysis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Mechanisms of Dietary Bioactive Compounds from Natural Resources)

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24 pages, 2575 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of Phytochemical Profiles and Selected Biological Activities of Various Morphological Parts of Ligustrum vulgare

by Szymon Litewski, Izabela Koss-Mikołajczyk and Barbara Kusznierewicz

Molecules 2024, 29(2), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29020399 - 13 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 905

Abstract

Ligustrum vulgare (LV), widely cultivated in Europe and often used in hedges, has been historically recognized in folk medicine for its potential health benefits. This study focused on exploring the untargeted identification of secondary metabolites in ethanol extracts (70% v/v) from different morphological parts (young shoots, leaves, flowers and fruits) of LV at various stages of plant development, using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). Additionally, the selected biological activities (antioxidant activity, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition (COX-2), α-amylase inhibition and cytotoxicity) of the tested extracts were determined. Untargeted metabolomics showed that LV extracts were a rich source of phenylethanoid compounds, flavonoids, iridoids and their derivatives. The flowers of LV had the highest content of oleuropein (33.43 ± 2.48 mg/g d.w.). The lowest antioxidant activity was obtained for ripe and post-seasonal fruits, while in the case of other samples, the activity was at a similar level. All tested extracts showed α-amylase and COX-2 inhibitory activity. In addition, LV extracts showed strong antiproliferative properties in colorectal (HT29) and liver (HepG2) cancer cell lines. The obtained results show the difference in the content of bioactive compounds in various morphological parts of Ligustrum vulgare. These differences may influence the multifaceted medicinal potential of this plant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Purification, Structural Analysis, Biological Evaluation, and Molecular Mechanisms of Dietary Bioactive Compounds from Natural Resources)

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