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Nutrients
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Natural Active Compounds in Inflammation and Metabolic Diseases
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Natural Active Compounds in Inflammation and Metabolic Diseases

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemicals and Human Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2025 | Viewed by 1442

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Kijoon Kim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
2. Kim Kijoon BOM Clinic, Seoul 05554, Republic of Korea
3. BOM Institute of Nutrition and Natural Medicine, Seoul 05554, Republic of Korea
Interests: flavonoids; nutrition; human nutrition; nutrition assessment; nutritional epidemiology; nutrition education; nutritional medicine; child nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of various metabolic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. Recent advances in research have highlighted the potential of natural active compounds, derived from plants, herbs, and other natural sources, to modulate inflammatory pathways. These compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids, and terpenoids, have demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory properties, which can mitigate the development and progression of metabolic diseases.

This Special Issue, titled Natural Active Compounds in Inflammation and Metabolic Diseases, aims to gather high-quality research that investigates the mechanistic roles of these natural compounds in inflammation and their therapeutic potential in the context of metabolic disorders. By exploring the interactions between natural compounds and inflammatory processes, we seek to foster a deeper understanding of their impact on metabolic health and provide insights into novel preventive and therapeutic strategies.

We welcome submissions that explore the anti-inflammatory effects of specific compounds, their molecular targets, and their clinical relevance in managing metabolic diseases.

Prof. Dr. Kijoon Kim
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. Nutrients 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 2900 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

  • natural compounds
  • inflammation
  • metabolic diseases
  • polyphenols
  • flavonoids
  • terpenoids
  • anti-inflammatory
  • therapeutic

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 745 KB  
Article
Effects of Raspberry Leaf Tea Polyphenols on Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Responses in Healthy Adults
by Hind Mesfer S. Alkhudaydi and Jeremy P. E. Spencer
Nutrients 2025, 17(17), 2849; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17172849 - 1 Sep 2025
Viewed by 356
Abstract
Background: Dietary polyphenols, particularly flavonoids, have been associated with improved glycemic control and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Raspberry leaf (RL) is a rich but underexplored source of such bioactives, including ellagitannins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. While raspberry fruit has received some [...] Read more.
Background: Dietary polyphenols, particularly flavonoids, have been associated with improved glycemic control and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Raspberry leaf (RL) is a rich but underexplored source of such bioactives, including ellagitannins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. While raspberry fruit has received some attention in nutritional science, the metabolic effects of raspberry leaf—especially its influence on postprandial glucose and insulin responses—remain largely unstudied. Objective: This study is the first to investigate the acute effects of RL tea consumption on postprandial blood glucose and insulin levels in healthy individuals following intake of common dietary carbohydrates (sucrose and glucose). Methods: In a randomized crossover study, 22 healthy adults (12 males, 10 females) consumed 50 g of glucose or sucrose with or without 10 g of RL tea in four separate sessions. Blood glucose and insulin levels were measured at fasting and at 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min post-ingestion. A total of 37 polyphenolic compounds were identified in the RL infusion using LC–MS, following a 5-minute hot water extraction. The contents of ellagitannins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids were 38 mg, 7 mg, and 4 mg per 10 g of RL, respectively, contributing to a total polyphenol content of 50 mg per 10 g. Results: When RL tea was consumed with sucrose, postprandial blood glucose levels were significantly reduced at 15 and 30 min by 1.19 ± 0.88 mmol/L (25.59% reduction, p = 0.001) and 2.03 ± 1.05 mmol/L (43.57% reduction, p = 0.0004), respectively. Insulin concentrations were also significantly lower at 15 min (113.90 ± 59.58 pmol/L, p = 0.019), 30 min (161.76 ± 91.96 pmol/L, p = 0.0008), and 60 min (139.44 ± 75.96 pmol/L, p = 0.025). No significant differences were observed with glucose ingestion. Conclusions: This study provides the first clinical evidence that RL tea can blunt early postprandial glycemic and insulinemic responses to sucrose in healthy individuals. The data suggest that these effects are likely mediated by relatively low levels of polyphenols—particularly ellagic acid—through inhibition of carbohydrate-digesting enzymes such as α-glucosidase and β-fructofuranosidase. These findings support the potential of RL tea as a simple, dietary approach to modulate glucose metabolism and warrant further investigation in populations at risk for metabolic disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Active Compounds in Inflammation and Metabolic Diseases)
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25 pages, 8728 KB  
Article
Trans-Sodium Crocetinate Ameliorates High-Altitude Acute Lung Injury via Modulating EGFR/PI3K/AKT/NF-κB Signaling Axis
by Keke Liang, Yanlin Ta, Liang Xu, Shuhe Ma, Renjie Wang, Chenrong Xiao, Yue Gao and Maoxing Li
Nutrients 2025, 17(15), 2406; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152406 - 23 Jul 2025
Viewed by 580
Abstract
Objectives: Saffron, a traditional Chinese medicine, is renowned for its pharmacological effects in promoting blood circulation, resolving blood stasis, regulating menstruation, detoxification, and alleviating mental disturbances. Trans-crocetin, its principal bioactive component, exhibits significant anti-hypoxic activity. The clinical development and therapeutic efficacy of [...] Read more.
Objectives: Saffron, a traditional Chinese medicine, is renowned for its pharmacological effects in promoting blood circulation, resolving blood stasis, regulating menstruation, detoxification, and alleviating mental disturbances. Trans-crocetin, its principal bioactive component, exhibits significant anti-hypoxic activity. The clinical development and therapeutic efficacy of trans-crocetin are limited by its instability, poor solubility, and low bioavailability. Conversion of trans-crocetin into trans-sodium crocetinate (TSC) enhances its solubility, stability, and bioavailability, thereby amplifying its anti-hypoxic potential. Methods: This study integrates network pharmacology with in vivo and in vitro validation to elucidate the molecular targets and mechanisms underlying TSC’s therapeutic effects against high-altitude acute lung injury (HALI), aiming to identify novel treatment strategies. Results: TSC effectively reversed hypoxia-induced biochemical abnormalities, ameliorated lung histopathological damage, and suppressed systemic inflammation and oxidative stress in HALI rats. In vitro, TSC mitigated CoCl2-induced hypoxia injury in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) by reducing inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and ROS accumulation while restoring mitochondrial membrane potential. Network pharmacology and pathway analysis revealed that TSC primarily targets the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling axis. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations demonstrated stable binding interactions between TSC and key components of this pathway. ELISA and RT-qPCR confirmed that TSC significantly downregulated the expression of EGFR, PI3K, AKT, NF-κB, and their associated mRNAs. Conclusions: TSC alleviates high-altitude hypoxia-induced lung injury by inhibiting the EGFR/PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby attenuating inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and restoring mitochondrial function. These findings highlight TSC as a promising therapeutic agent for HALI. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Active Compounds in Inflammation and Metabolic Diseases)
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