Antioxidants from Natural Sources: Current Status and Future Perspective
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Antioxidants derived from natural sources have attracted growing scientific and industrial interest due to their potential roles in health promotion, disease prevention, food preservation, and sustainable product development. Natural antioxidants—originating from plants, microorganisms, marine organisms, and agro-industrial by-products—exhibit diverse chemical structures and biological activities, including free radical scavenging, metal chelation, and modulation of redox-sensitive signaling pathways. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of research on natural antioxidants, covering their sources, extraction and purification strategies, chemical characterization, and biological evaluation using in vitro, in vivo, and preclinical approaches.
Particular emphasis will be placed on innovative technologies for antioxidant recovery, such as green extraction methods, biotechnological production, and valorization of food waste and by-products within a circular economy framework. Additionally, this Special Issue welcomes studies exploring the bioavailability, metabolism, and mechanisms of action of antioxidants, as well as their applications in functional foods, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food packaging. Future perspectives, including challenges related to standardization, safety assessment, regulatory aspects, and translation from laboratory research to industrial and clinical applications, will also be addressed. By bringing together multidisciplinary contributions, this Special Issue seeks to highlight emerging trends and identify knowledge gaps, fostering the development of effective, safe, and sustainable antioxidant solutions from natural sources.
Dr. Vasiliki Lagouri
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- natural antioxidants
- bioactive compounds
- plant extracts
- oxidative stress
- green extraction
- functional foods
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