Sprouts and Microgreens as Functional Foods: Phytochemistry, Mechanisms of Action, and Biological Activity
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 119
Editor
Interests: functional foods; interaction between drugs and food; fortification of food; dietary supplements; brassica; legume; pseudocereals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Sprouts and microgreens are increasingly recognized as concentrated sources of bioactive compounds with significant potential in functional nutrition and preventive medicine. Owing to their early developmental stage, these plant materials are characterized by elevated levels of polyphenols and specialized metabolites such as sulfur compounds, which may contribute to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. In recent years, growing interest in plant-based diets and sustainable food systems has further highlighted their relevance as accessible and nutritionally dense food components.
An important and rapidly developing research area concerns the targeted modulation of phytochemical composition and biological activity through controlled abiotic stress. Strategies such as light spectrum modification (including LED technologies), light deprivation, altered gravity conditions, or elicitation during germination have been shown to significantly influence the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. These approaches create new opportunities to design sprouts and microgreens with enhanced or tailored bioactivity, although their impact on safety, reproducibility, and biological relevance requires further investigation.
In parallel, expanding evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies suggests that these matrices may serve not only as dietary components but also as sources of biologically active extracts with potential applications beyond nutrition, including dermatology and cosmetology, particularly in the development of topical formulations.
This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the most recent advances related to the phytochemical modulation, biological activity, and applications of sprouts and microgreens. We will consider contributions addressing both mechanistic studies and translational approaches, including innovative cultivation strategies and novel applications.
Topics of interest for publication include original research and review papers, but are not limited to, the following:
- Phytochemical composition and variability of sprouts and microgreens;
- Modulation of bioactive compounds via abiotic stress (e.g., LED light, light deprivation, altered gravity, and fortification);
- Mechanisms of biological activity (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, anti-diabetic, etc.);
- In vitro and in vivo evidence;
- Bioavailability and metabolism of phytochemicals;
- Innovative applications (e.g., nutraceuticals, topical formulations, and cosmetology);
- Safety, standardization, and quality control of production.
Dr. Pawel Pasko
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- sprouts
- microgreens
- phytochemicals
- abiotic stress
- LED light
- bioactive compounds
- antioxidant activity
- in vitro studies
- functional foods
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