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Nutrients
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Bioactive Food Compounds and Human Health
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Bioactive Food Compounds and Human Health

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 December 2025 | Viewed by 6551

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Weiwei Cui

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Interests: nutritional epidemiology; multi-omics; gut microbes; vitamins; phytochemicals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yan Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Food Science and Nutritional Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
Interests: natural plant pigments; chlorophyll; anthocyanin; bioactivity; phytochemicals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Amidst the growing health consciousness globally, bioactive food compounds have garnered significant attention for their potential in promoting human health. These compounds, naturally occurring in plants, animals, and their processed products, exhibit diverse biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects, contributing significantly to the prevention and management of chronic diseases. With advancements in molecular biology, genomics, and metabolomics, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the health benefits of bioactive food compounds has significantly deepened.

This Special Issue aims to provide a contemporary understanding of the multifaceted relationships between diverse bioactive compounds in food and human health, encompassing their health-promoting effects and potential health risks. These bioactive compounds encompass nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, non-nutrient bioactive constituents like phytochemicals and functional peptides, as well as special bioactive compounds including probiotics, prebiotics, and a range of natural plant extracts.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, reviews, and short communications are welcome. We invite researchers, scientists, and industry experts from food and nutritional sciences to share their expertise and contribute to this Special Issue.

Dr. Weiwei Cui
Prof. Dr. Yan Zhang
Guest Editors

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

  • bioactive food compounds
  • functional foods
  • novel food
  • precision nutrition
  • polyphenols
  • flavonoids
  • vitamins
  • bioactive peptides
  • multi-omics
  • chronic disease prevention
  • functional ingredients
  • antioxidants
  • gut microbiota

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 2972 KB  
Article
Cocoa Polyphenols Modulate the Mouse Gut Microbiome in a Site-Specific Manner
by Marcus Hayden, Eliza C. Stewart, Mohammed F. Almatani, Jeremy Case, Samuel Rice, Giovanni Rompato, Korry J. Hintze and Abby Benninghoff
Nutrients 2025, 17(17), 2876; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17172876 - 5 Sep 2025
Viewed by 990
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The dietary modulation of the gut microbiome is a promising strategy for mitigating gastrointestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Cocoa powder is rich in polyphenols, including (−)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin, which have been associated with beneficial [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The dietary modulation of the gut microbiome is a promising strategy for mitigating gastrointestinal diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Cocoa powder is rich in polyphenols, including (−)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin, which have been associated with beneficial effects on gut health and microbiome modulation. Importantly, changes in the bacterial populations associated with the gut mucosal layer may have different health impacts compared to changes in cecal or fecal microbiomes. This study investigated the effects of cocoa polyphenol supplementation on microbiome composition across the cecal, fecal, and mucosal compartments in a mouse model of colitis. Methods: Mice were fed either a healthy AIN93G diet (AIN) or a total Western diet (TWD), with or without 2.6% (w/w) CocoaVia™ Cardio Health Powder. Gut microbiomes from the cecum, feces, and colon mucosa were profiled using 16S rRNA sequencing at three time points: pre-, during, and post-colitis. Results: Microbiome composition varied substantially by site, with reduced richness and distinct taxa in the mucosal layer compared to cecal and fecal communities. The TWD significantly altered microbial composition, decreasing species evenness and shifting beta diversity. Cocoa polyphenol supplementation modulated microbial communities in a site-specific manner, increasing diversity and promoting rare taxa (e.g., Monoglobaceae, Eggerthellaceae, and RF39) primarily in cecal and fecal samples. Mucosa-associated communities were less responsive. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of the sampling site in gut microbiome research. Cocoa polyphenols exert site-selective effects, particularly in the gut lumen, highlighting the importance of considering anatomical context in dietary intervention studies aimed at improving gastrointestinal health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Food Compounds and Human Health)
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15 pages, 4042 KB  
Article
Soybean Lecithin–Gallic Acid Complex Sensitizes Lung Cancer Cells to Radiation Through Ferroptosis Regulated by Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 Pathway
by Xingyang Chen, Hongli Cui, Lijing Qin, Rongrong Liu, Fang Fang and Zhicheng Wang
Nutrients 2025, 17(7), 1262; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17071262 - 3 Apr 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1221
Abstract
Background: Radioresistance remains a significant obstacle in lung cancer radiotherapy, necessitating novel strategies to enhance therapeutic efficacy. This study investigated the radiosensitizing potential of a soybean lecithin–gallic acid complex (SL–GAC) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and explored its underlying ferroptosis-related [...] Read more.
Background: Radioresistance remains a significant obstacle in lung cancer radiotherapy, necessitating novel strategies to enhance therapeutic efficacy. This study investigated the radiosensitizing potential of a soybean lecithin–gallic acid complex (SL–GAC) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and explored its underlying ferroptosis-related mechanisms. SL–GAC was synthesized to improve the bioavailability of gallic acid (GA), a polyphenol with anticancer properties. Methods: NSCLC cell lines (A549 and H1299) and normal bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were treated with SL–GAC, ionizing radiation (IR), or their combination. Through a series of in vitro experiments, including cell viability assays, scratch healing assays, flow cytometry, and Western blot analysis, we comprehensively evaluated the effects of SL-GAC on NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis induction. Results: SL–GAC combined with IR synergistically suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation and migration, exacerbated oxidative stress via elevated ROS and malondialdehyde levels, and induced mitochondrial dysfunction marked by reduced membrane potential and structural damage, whereas no significant ROS elevation was observed in BEAS-2B cells. Mechanistically, the combination triggered ferroptosis in NSCLC cells, evidenced by iron accumulation and downregulation of Nrf2, SLC7A11, and GPX4, alongside upregulated ACSL4. Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), a ferroptosis inhibitor, reversed these effects and restored radiosensitivity. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that SL–GAC enhances NSCLC radiosensitivity by promoting ferroptosis via the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis, highlighting its potential as a natural radiosensitizer for clinical translation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Food Compounds and Human Health)
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21 pages, 7550 KB  
Article
Anticancer and Antioxidant Effects of Bioactive Peptides from Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens)
by Kwanchanok Praseatsook, Arpamas Vachiraarunwong, Sirinya Taya, Phatthawin Setthaya, Kenji Sato, Hideki Wanibuchi, Rawiwan Wongpoomchai, Pornngarm Dejkriengkraikul, Min Gi and Supachai Yodkeree
Nutrients 2025, 17(4), 645; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17040645 - 11 Feb 2025
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3206
Abstract
Background: Protein hydrolysates from insects are recognized for their biological activities. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) have drawn attention due to their antioxidant protein hydrolysates. However, research on bioactive peptides derived from these hydrolysates, particularly their cancer chemopreventive potential, remains limited. This study [...] Read more.
Background: Protein hydrolysates from insects are recognized for their biological activities. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) have drawn attention due to their antioxidant protein hydrolysates. However, research on bioactive peptides derived from these hydrolysates, particularly their cancer chemopreventive potential, remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and anticancer activities of BSFL-derived bioactive peptides and explore the molecular mechanisms. Methods: Alkali-soluble BSFL protein (ASBP) was extracted and hydrolyzed using Alcalase and bromelain under optimized conditions. Antioxidant activity was assessed via FRAP, ABTS, and DPPH assays. The hydrolysate with the highest antioxidant activity was fractionated into molecular weight (MW) groups (>30, 10, and <3 kDa). The bioactivity of fractionated peptides was evaluated through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory (nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells), antimutagenic (Ames test), and anticancer (CCK-8 assay on HCT 116, COLO205, Cw-2, and Caco-2 cells) assays. Mechanistic insights were obtained via microarray and Western blot analyses. Peptides were identified by LC-MS/MS. Results: The ASBP-Alcalase hydrolysate (ASBP-AH) showed optimal antioxidant activity at 3% (w/w) for 4 h. The ASBP-AH 30 (MW > 30 kDa) fraction exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity. In contrast, the ASBP-AH3 (MW < 3 kDa) fraction exhibited significant antimutagenic effects, reduced nitric oxide production, and decreased COLO205 cell viability. Treatment with ASBP-AH3 at its LC50 dose modulated the SKP2/p21/cyclin D1 pathways. Mostly peptides from ASBP-AH3 were composed of hydrophobic and charged amino acids. Conclusions: BSFL-derived bioactive peptides exhibit potential as multifunctional agents for cancer chemoprevention. In vivo studies are required to explore their clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Food Compounds and Human Health)
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