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Nutrients
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Plant-Based Diets Regulate Antioxidant-Inflammatory Balance
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Plant-Based Diets Regulate Antioxidant-Inflammatory Balance

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2026 | Viewed by 1192

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Dominik Szwajgier

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Human Nutrition, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Skromna 8, 20-704 Lublin, Poland
Interests: Alzheimer’s disease; aging of the brain; human nutrition; food processing; food analysis; prevention of dementia
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Ewa Baranowska-Wójcik

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biotechnology, Microbiology and Human Nutrition, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Skromna 8, 20-704 Lublin, Poland
Interests: human nutrition; food processing; food analysis; prevention of dementia; nanoparticles in food; aging of the brain
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this SI is to deepen understanding of the effect of plant-based diets on antioxidant and inflammatory activities in humans. It will focus on the link between unbalanced antioxidative and anti-inflammatory levels in body tissues and the role of nutraceuticals and nutritional component supplementation on the health status of individuals. 

Highly processed and low-processed (unprocessed) plant foods will be discussed as game changers, as well as methods of processing raw materials, especially those using the philosophy of “green chemistry”.

The digestive effects of all types of foods in the gastro-intestinal tract (raw, low-processed, highly transformed, etc.) on the antioxidant and inflammatory activity of food portions will be another topic of focus (using in vivo studies, as well as an in vitro model of the gastro-intestinal tract).

Original papers, comments, and reviews discussing the following are welcome for submission: the composition of plant-based diets in the prevention of all types of disorders and diseases in which antioxidant and inflammatory imbalances play a role; holistic approaches (using plant-based diets) to the prevention of all types of disorders/diseases caused by antioxidant–inflammatory imbalance (highlighting genetic predispositions, gene expression regulation, the physiological role in the body, interaction with microbiota/microbiome, the role of contaminating compounds, the role of food-borne toxins, metabolic syndrome, incorrect nutritional habits, etc.); and reliable laboratory and clinical models to study risk factors concerning antioxidant and anti-inflammatory measurements in humans.

Prof. Dr. Dominik Szwajgier
Prof. Dr. Ewa Baranowska-Wójcik
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • plant-based diets
  • antioxidant activity
  • inflammatory
  • nutraceuticals and supplementation in plant-based diets
  • processing of plant foods
  • green chemistry
  • effect of digestion on the antioxidant and inflammatory activity of food
  • in vitro model of the gastro-intestinal tract
  • holistic approach
  • models to study antioxidant and anti-inflammatory status in humans

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 317 KB  
Article
Potato Protein-Based Vegan Burgers: Discovering the Health-Promoting Benefits and Impact on the Intestinal Microbiome
by Przemysław Łukasz Kowalczewski, Małgorzata Gumienna, Paweł Jeżowski, Michał Świątek, Barbara Górna-Szweda, Iga Rybicka, Millena Ruszkowska, Maciej Ireneusz Kluz and Matteo Bordiga
Nutrients 2026, 18(1), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18010160 - 3 Jan 2026
Viewed by 503
Abstract
Introduction: The increasing global interest in plant-based diets has led to the development of innovative meat analogs that not only mimic the sensory properties of traditional products but may also offer potential health benefits. In this study, we investigated the nutritional characteristics and [...] Read more.
Introduction: The increasing global interest in plant-based diets has led to the development of innovative meat analogs that not only mimic the sensory properties of traditional products but may also offer potential health benefits. In this study, we investigated the nutritional characteristics and biological activity of potato protein-based vegan burgers (PBBs) enriched with plant-derived iron and fiber sources. Methods: The burgers were subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, followed by evaluation of their cytotoxic potential against human intestinal cancer cell lines (Caco-2 and HT-29) and normal colon epithelial cells (CCD 841 CoN). Additionally, their influence on the intestinal microbiota composition and enzymatic activity of β-glucosidase and β-glucuronidase was assessed. Results: PBBs demonstrated favorable nutritional profiles, high protein and fiber contents, and a balanced fatty acid ratio (n-6/n-3). After digestion, bioaccessible fractions showed selective cytotoxicity toward cancer cells, while maintaining safety for normal intestinal cells. Furthermore, PBBs modulated the gut microbiota by promoting the growth of beneficial genera (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium) and reducing potentially harmful Enterobacteriaceae, accompanied by decreased β-glucuronidase activity. Conclusions: These findings suggest that potato protein-based burgers could represent a functional plant-based alternative to conventional meat products, contributing to intestinal health and potentially reducing colorectal cancer risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Based Diets Regulate Antioxidant-Inflammatory Balance)
17 pages, 1241 KB  
Article
Polyphenol-Enriched Extracts from Leaves of Mediterranean Plants as Natural Inhibitors of Monoamine Oxidase (MAO)-A and MAO-B Enzymes
by Antonio D’Errico, Rosarita Nasso, Mario Ruggiero, Rosario Rullo, Emmanuele De Vendittis, Mariorosario Masullo, Filomena Mazzeo and Rosaria Arcone
Nutrients 2026, 18(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18010022 - 20 Dec 2025
Viewed by 451
Abstract
Background: Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are multifactorial disorders causing severe disability, rising with the increase in life expectancy. Currently, the identification of natural compounds useful against these disorders is becoming an urgent necessity. In this study, we used polyphenol-enriched extracts obtained [...] Read more.
Background: Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease are multifactorial disorders causing severe disability, rising with the increase in life expectancy. Currently, the identification of natural compounds useful against these disorders is becoming an urgent necessity. In this study, we used polyphenol-enriched extracts obtained from leaves of Mediterranean plants, which are important in animal feeding (Lotus ornithopodioides, Hedysarum coronarium, Medicago sativa) and in the human Mediterranean diet (Cichorium intybus). Objectives: The aims of this study were as follows: (i) tentative identification of the organic compounds present in the extracts; (ii) determination of their effect on the activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A and MAO-B, key enzymes involved in the metabolism of aminergic neurotransmitters, as well as on protein expression level of these enzymes in cell lines expressing basal MAO-A and MAO-B. Methods: The ability of plant polyphenol extracts to inhibit MAO-A and MAO-B activity was assessed by in vitro enzyme assays. The protein expression level was analyzed by Western blotting. Results: Our data demonstrate that all the extracts behaved as MAO-A and MAO-B inhibitors, although to a different extent and enzyme inhibition mechanism; among them, the extract from L. ornithopodioides induced a decrease in MAO-A protein level in human AGS gastric adenocarcinoma and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell lines. Conclusions: These data reinforce the hypothesis that a plant-based diet and/or integrative supplementation of pharmacological treatments can be considered for preventing and relieving symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Based Diets Regulate Antioxidant-Inflammatory Balance)
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