Bioactive Properties and Chemical Composition of Wild Edible Species, 2nd Edition
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 1591
Special Issue Editor
Interests: vegetable production; fruit production; essential oils; bioactive compounds; antioxidant activity; polyphenols
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Wild edible species have been collected and consumed for thousands of years due to their ability to enhance the flavour and aroma of a wide range of foods; thus, they are often used in traditional and gourmet dishes. Wild edible species also offer valuable nutritional benefits, including a high content of macro- and micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, and numerous bioactive compounds.
Many of these species are key ingredients in dietary patterns worldwide, and although they are consumed in low amounts, they can play an important role in preventing common chronic diseases and improving well-being. Among the various known phytochemicals, polyphenols stand out due to their prominent bioactivities and significantly contribute to the overall health benefits of dietary products. Although they are not classified as nutrients, the regular dietary intake of these secondary metabolites is associated with various health-protective effects. They are found throughout the plant kingdom, playing a role in defence mechanisms against biotic and abiotic stressors or other plant processes, and they exhibit significant variation in their chemical structures. Apart from polyphenols, other phytochemicals include flavonoids, isoflavonoids, anthocyanidins, phytoestrogens, terpenoids, carotenoids, limonoids, phytosterols, glucosinolates, and fibres, which are equally important in terms of their bioactivity and beneficial health effects. Finally, wild edible species are also rich in several compounds, such as fatty acids, free sugars, tocopherols and other vitamins, and organic acids, which may contribute to human health through their intrinsic bioactive properties.
Considering the wide distribution of phytochemicals in plant tissues, this Special Issue focuses on analyzing the chemical composition of wild and/or underutilized edible species, including wild edible species; further identifying bioactive properties related to the composition of phytochemicals and biosynthesis; and revealing the mechanisms of action behind these activities. Moreover, this Special Issue aims to investigate the effect that pre- and post-harvest factors may have on the composition of phytochemicals and the bioavailability of the detected compounds and their possible practical applications for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical purposes and/or in functional food products. This Special Issue invites both reviews and research papers, encompassing a wide range of multidisciplinary topics, including crop production and plant physiology, analytical chemistry and biochemistry, food chemistry, food processing, and pharmacology, among others.
Dr. Spyridon Petropoulos
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- wild edible species
- bioactive properties
- polyphenols
- antioxidant activity
- antimicrobial properties
- carotenoids
- vitamins
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