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Bioactive Ingredients in Plants Related to Human Health—2nd Edition
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Bioactive Ingredients in Plants Related to Human Health—2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2026 | Viewed by 846

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Paola Coccetti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
2. National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), 90133 Palermo, Italy
Interests: amino acid metabolism; metabolomics; cell cycle; signal transduction; aging; protein aggregation; ubiquitination; phosphorylation; nutrition; neurodegeneration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Paola Fusi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
2. National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), 90133 Palermo, Italy
Interests: metabolism; cancer; environmental carcinogenesis; cadmium; neurodegeneration; protein aggregation; food and nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Based on the success of first volume of special issue Bioactive Ingredients in Plants Related to Human Health (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients/special_issues/UE42WUB1A1), We hereby announce Bioactive Ingredients in Plants Related to Human Health—2nd Edition. This Special Issue explores the impact of natural products, originating from plants, on human wellness.

Plants contain secondary metabolites that are very specific and represent a fascinating library of bioactive compounds with a broad activity in the context of human health.

As society strives to transition towards more sustainable development pathways, it is important to investigate the link between biodiversity, nutritional status, and human well-being.

Nutrients, supplements, and herbal bioactive compounds have shown promise as complementary tools in the treatment and prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as obesity, type II diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Consistent with the journal Nutrients, we welcome original research articles, reviews, and commentaries that aim to elucidate the role of nutrients, supplements, and herbal compounds in counteracting pathogenetic factors inducing NCDs, with a special emphasis on disease prevention.

Dr. Paola Coccetti
Dr. Paola Fusi
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

  • sustainability
  • prevention
  • healthy nutrition
  • chemical characterization
  • plant-based diets
  • bioactive compounds
  • non-communicable diseases
  • metabolism
  • oxidative stress
  • molecular mechanisms

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3121 KB  
Article
Anti-Obesity Effects of Acid-Processed Citrus reticulata Blanco Peel Extract Enriched in Highly Bioactive Polymethoxyflavones: Inhibition of 3T3-L1 Adipocyte Differentiation and Therapeutic Efficacy in ob/ob Mice
by Hiyoung Kim, Mi-Gi Lee and Myoung-Sook Shin
Nutrients 2025, 17(21), 3322; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213322 - 22 Oct 2025
Viewed by 290
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Chronic diseases linked to obesity represent a major global health challenge. Although pharmaceutical treatments show efficacy, their use is often limited by side effects. Methods: This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of acid-processed Citrus reticulata Blanco peels extract (CRBE) prepared [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Chronic diseases linked to obesity represent a major global health challenge. Although pharmaceutical treatments show efficacy, their use is often limited by side effects. Methods: This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of acid-processed Citrus reticulata Blanco peels extract (CRBE) prepared through reflux extraction with 50% ethanol, followed by acid treatment using 3 M hydrogen chloride and neutralization. Results: Following acid treatment, the composition of the extract showed a marked increase in the 5-demethylated forms of polymethoxyflavones, particularly 5-demethylnobiletin (31.86 mg/g) and 5-demethyltangeretin (34.68 mg/g), whereas the concentrations of the typical citrus polymethoxyflavones, nobiletin (14.82 mg/g) and tangeretin (10.61 mg/g), decreased. Using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, CRBE inhibited adipogenesis concentration dependently, substantially decreasing the expression of adipogenic transcription factors and lipid metabolism-related proteins. In ob/ob mice, oral CRBE substantially suppressed body weight gain without affecting food intake, while normalizing liver function indicators and improving serum lipid profiles by reducing total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein. Conclusions: Acid-processed CRBE effectively inhibits adipocyte differentiation and exhibits anti-obesity effects in vivo, offering potential as a natural agent for obesity management with minimal side effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Ingredients in Plants Related to Human Health—2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 4442 KB  
Article
A Polysaccharide-Rich Ingredient from Hypericum perforatum L. Ameliorates Depression-like and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-like Symptoms in Mouse Models
by Zi-Jia Jin, Shuai-Ming Zhu, Fu-Yao Luo, Yue Sun, Chun-Xue Gao, Ting Feng, Hao Ma, Rui Xue, Chang-Wei Li, Lei An and You-Zhi Zhang
Nutrients 2025, 17(20), 3222; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17203222 - 14 Oct 2025
Viewed by 330
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Hypericum perforatum L. (H. perforatum), commonly known as St. John’s wort, has been widely used in clinical practice to treat mental disorders. Previous studies and clinical applications have primarily focused on its alcohol-soluble ingredients. Our research was designed to [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Hypericum perforatum L. (H. perforatum), commonly known as St. John’s wort, has been widely used in clinical practice to treat mental disorders. Previous studies and clinical applications have primarily focused on its alcohol-soluble ingredients. Our research was designed to investigate the physicochemical properties, antidepressant-like effects, and anti-post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like effects of the alcohol-insoluble polysaccharide-rich ingredients from H. perforatum. Meanwhile, the underlying mechanisms were elucidated. Methods: The physicochemical properties of two polysaccharide-rich ingredients, designated as HPP1 and HPP2, were characterized using colorimetric assay, capillary electrophoresis, high-performance gel permeation chromatography, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Behavioral despair tests were conducted to rapidly assess and compare their antidepressant-like effects in mice. Subsequently, behavioral despair mice and foot-shock mice were established to thoroughly explore the impact of HPP2 on depression-like and PTSD-like symptoms. The effects of HPP2 on cerebral pathological changes, neurotrophic factors, and gut microbiota in foot-shock mice were detected through hematoxylin & eosin staining, immunofluorescence staining, and 16S rDNA (V3 + V4 regions) gene sequencing. Results: HPP1 and HPP2 are predominantly composed of arabinose, glucose, galactose, mannose, and galacturonic acid. The molecular weight distribution of HPP1 ranges from 1133 to 67,278 Da, whereas that of HPP2 extends from 1493 to 38,407 Da. Acute pre-treatment with HPP1 or HPP2 (200 mg/kg, i.g.) could reduce mice’s immobility in behavioral despair tests, with HPP2 exhibiting superior efficacy. Additionally, both acute and sub-chronic pre-treatment with HPP2 (50, 200, and 800 mg/kg, i.g.) effectively alleviated depression-like symptoms in behavioral despair mice. Prolonged pre-treatment with HPP2 (200 mg/kg, i.g.) also mitigated the slow increase in body weight and behavioral abnormalities in foot-shock mice. Furthermore, HPP2 (200 mg/kg) successfully restored hippocampal histomorphological abnormalities, neurotrophic disturbance, and dysregulation of the gut microbiota in foot-shock mice. Conclusions: HPP2 exerts noteworthy antidepressant-like and anti-PTSD-like impact in mouse models via multiple targets, indicating a potential therapeutic candidate in depression and PTSD therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Ingredients in Plants Related to Human Health—2nd Edition)
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Review

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11 pages, 305 KB  
Review
Prickly Pear and Fibromyalgia: A Conceptual Protocol for Plant-Based Symptom Management
by Orly Sarid, Orli Grinstein-Cohen and Noemi Tel-Zur
Nutrients 2025, 17(21), 3441; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213441 (registering DOI) - 31 Oct 2025
Abstract
Nutrition is being increasingly recognized as a modifiable adjuvant factor in symptom management, yet few studies have examined the direct contribution of fruit consumption to chronic disease outcomes. The existing research largely emphasizes broad dietary patterns or isolated nutrients, rather than specific fruit [...] Read more.
Nutrition is being increasingly recognized as a modifiable adjuvant factor in symptom management, yet few studies have examined the direct contribution of fruit consumption to chronic disease outcomes. The existing research largely emphasizes broad dietary patterns or isolated nutrients, rather than specific fruit species and their complex bioactive profiles. This gap is particularly evident in conditions lacking disease-specific pharmacological treatments, such as fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), where patients often depend on lifestyle adjustments and complementary strategies for symptom relief. The therapeutic use of fruits presents methodological challenges, as their biochemical composition is strongly influenced by abiotic and biotic stresses, seasonal and regional variations, as well as post-harvest handling and storage. Such variability complicates reproducibility and obscures causal links in clinical research. While reductionist approaches that isolate single compounds offer dose control, they risk losing synergistic effects inherent to whole fruits. Conversely, whole-fruit consumption preserves integrative complexity but introduces variability. Overcoming these limitations requires rigorous standardization across agricultural, nutritional, and clinical domains, accurate species and cultivar identification, controlled cultivation conditions, chemical fingerprinting, and biomarker validation. In this context, cacti fruits such as Opuntia ficus-indica (prickly pear), which is rich in betalains and polyphenols, emerge as promise adjuvant agents for FMS symptom management. We propose a protocol designed to systematically evaluate their efficacy and feasibility in clinical application, aiming to strengthen the reliability and accuracy of research outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Ingredients in Plants Related to Human Health—2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 753 KB  
Review
Tracing the Path from Obesity to Diabetes: How S-Allyl Cysteine Shapes Metabolic Health
by Federica Geddo, Susanna Antoniotti, Giulia Querio and Maria Pia Gallo
Nutrients 2025, 17(21), 3394; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213394 - 29 Oct 2025
Viewed by 26
Abstract
Background: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a multifactorial condition characterized by insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and abdominal obesity, which collectively increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Lifestyle modification represents the first-line strategy in its management, whereas pharmacological interventions are [...] Read more.
Background: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a multifactorial condition characterized by insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and abdominal obesity, which collectively increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Lifestyle modification represents the first-line strategy in its management, whereas pharmacological interventions are complex and typically require long-term polypharmacotherapy. In this context, natural bioactive compounds with pleiotropic effects are gaining increasing attention. Among these, S-allyl cysteine (SAC), the major sulfur-containing compound derived from black garlic, has been identified as a promising candidate due to its well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Methods: This narrative review examines the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying MetS and summarizes current evidence on the protective role of SAC against key pathological features of this condition, including oxidative stress, inflammation, glucose and lipid dysmetabolism, endothelial dysfunction, and gut microbiota alterations. Results: Preclinical studies indicate that SAC counteracts lipid accumulation, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, and gut dysbiosis through multiple mechanisms, including hydrogen sulfide release, reactive oxygen species scavenging, inhibition of advanced glycation end products, and modulation of metabolic pathways. Conclusions: SAC emerges as a promising nutraceutical for the prevention and management of MetS and its complications. This underscores the broader relevance of nutraceuticals as promising tools in mitigating metabolic dysfunctions and reducing the burden of cardiometabolic diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Ingredients in Plants Related to Human Health—2nd Edition)
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