Phytochemical and Antioxidant Analysis of Medicinal and Food Plants Towards Bioactive Food and Pharmaceutical Resources

Dear Colleagues,

In the scientific community, it has been well established that some medicinal and food plants have an important role in the prevention of some degenerative or cardiovascular diseases, resulting from their content in bioactive phytochemicals with several biological properties. In light of the biological properties revealed, the search for natural bioactive compounds has drawn attention to these materials, namely phenolic compounds that may have an added value to be used as an alternative to synthetic substances employed in distinct industries, such as the food, cosmetic, or pharmaceutical sectors.

Due to contemporary lifestyle issues, research on secondary metabolites with health-promoting effects in countering or slowing down chronic and degenerative diseases (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases) have recognized that phenols and polyphenols are beneficial for human health and are widespread and copious in dietary plant sources.

Taking all this into account, and considering the growing interest in the major therapeutic role that bioactive compounds from medicinal and food plants can play in disease prevention in humans, the main goal is the valorization of these plants as a source of bioactive compounds with the capacity to influence health-related conditions.

Contributions to this Special Issue may cover all research aspects related to medicinal and food plants, including those parts from plants discarded during the agricultural and industrial processing; characterization of their biological properties, including (but not limited to) methods for their extraction, purification, comprehensive profiling characterization, and quantification, as well as new technologies explored for more efficient extraction; beneficial biological properties that could potentially contribute to functional food and nutraceutical development; functional properties such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antitumor, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anticoagulant properties, among others; in vitro and in vivo model systems; clinical investigations; and biotechnological applications of plants, such as nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. Original research papers and review articles on these different areas are welcome.

Dr. Ana Barros
Dr. Irene Gouvinhas
Guest Editors

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