Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.2
4.8
Journals
Nutrients
Special Issues
Effects of Phytochemicals on Human Health
nutrients-logo
Submit to Nutrients Review for Nutrients Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Effects of Phytochemicals on 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: closed (15 April 2025) | Viewed by 11331

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Shizhao Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
Interests: early-life nutrition; phytochemicals; DNA methylation; epigenome reprogramming; breast cancer; stem cell differentiation; bioinformatics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pytochemicals, in which “phyto” means “plant” in Greek, are secondary metabolites produced by living plants to protect themselves against environmental hazards. Increasing study demonstrated that phytochemicals provide considerable beneficial effects in many ways. For example, phytochemicals could serve as cofactors or inhibitors of enzymatic reactions, substrates for biochemical reactions, scavengers of reactive or toxic chemicals and growth factors for beneficial gastrointestinal bacteria. Some phytochemicals showed anticancer properties through reducing inflammation and blocking compounds from becoming carcinogens. In addition, certain phytochemicals can decrease oxidative damage to prevent various chronic diseases. Of great interest is that a number of bioactive dietary components have been shown to improve individual health through modifying the epigenome. In this context, a Special Issue summarizing recent advancement that focus on the relationship of phytochemicals with human health would be very interesting to the readers.

This Special Issue will provide new insights towards the understanding of the role of dietary phytochemical in human health. I encourage authors to submit their original research on this attractive topic. An up-to-data review describing the association of dietary phytochemicals with any aspect of human health improvement would also fit this Special Issue. Any other suggestions from experts in the field are more than welcome.

Dr. Shizhao Li
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

  • phytochemicals
  • human health
  • bioactive compounds
  • anticancer
  • chemoprevention
  • chronic disease
  • metabolism
  • epigenetics

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review, Other

19 pages, 2854 KiB  
Article
Associations of Flavonoid Intakes with Mortality among Populations with Hypertension: A Prospective Cohort Study
by Kang Wang, Taotao Lu, Rukai Yang and Shenghua Zhou
Nutrients 2024, 16(10), 1534; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16101534 - 20 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2734
Abstract
Background: The effect of flavonoid consumption on all-cause and special-cause mortality remains unclear among populations with hypertension. Methods: A total of 6110 people with hypertension from three NHANES survey cycles (2007–2008, 2009–2010, and 2017–2018) were enrolled in this study. Cox proportional hazard models [...] Read more.
Background: The effect of flavonoid consumption on all-cause and special-cause mortality remains unclear among populations with hypertension. Methods: A total of 6110 people with hypertension from three NHANES survey cycles (2007–2008, 2009–2010, and 2017–2018) were enrolled in this study. Cox proportional hazard models were conducted to estimate the association between the intake of total flavonoids and flavonoid subclasses and all-cause, cancer-related, and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality. Nonlinear relationships were identified using restricted cubic splines (RCS). Results: During 43,977 person-years of follow-up, 1155 participants died from any cause, 282 participants died from CVD, and 265 participants died from cancer. After adjusting for relevant confounders, including demographic, lifestyle, and dietary intake, a higher intake of total flavonoids was significantly associated with lower all-cause mortality but not CVD-related and cancer-related mortality among the population with hypertension. Compared with extreme quartiles, the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 0.74 (0.56–0.97) for all-cause mortality, 0.77 (0.40–1.46) for CVD-related mortality, and 0.62 (0.35–1.08) for cancer-related mortality. In terms of all-cause mortality, this inverse association was optimized at total flavonoid consumption of approximately 375 mg/day. In addition, the negative association between total flavonoid consumption and all-cause mortality was more pronounced in non-obese (BMI < 30 kg/m2) compared to obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) populations. Higher intakes of anthocyanidin, flavan-3-ol, flavonol, and isoflavone were significantly associated with lower all-cause mortality (HR (95%CI): 0.70 (0.55–0.89); 0.76 (0.59–0.96); 0.66 (0.46–0.94); 0.79 (0.67–0.93), respectively). Higher intakes of anthocyanidin, flavan-3-ol, and flavonol were significantly associated with lower cancer-related mortality (HR (95%CI): 0.55 (0.32–0.93); 0.51 (0.31–0.82); 0.52 (0.28–0.96), respectively). Conclusion: This study suggests that a heightened consumption of total flavonoids and some flavonoid subclasses was linked to lower mortality, which supports the proposal of increasing flavonoid intake as part of healthy diets in patients with hypertension. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Phytochemicals on Human Health)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

15 pages, 274 KiB  
Review
Clinical Insights into Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and the Therapeutic Potential of Flavonoids: An Update
by Aleksandra Kozłowska
Nutrients 2025, 17(6), 956; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17060956 - 9 Mar 2025
Viewed by 874
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered a significant global health issue related to serious metabolic disorders. However, effective pharmacological treatments are still limited. Flavonoids, a wide group of polyphenol substances, exert anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering effects in preclinical data. Thus, implementing these research [...] Read more.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered a significant global health issue related to serious metabolic disorders. However, effective pharmacological treatments are still limited. Flavonoids, a wide group of polyphenol substances, exert anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering effects in preclinical data. Thus, implementing these research findings in clinical practice could significantly help manage NAFLD and its consequences. This narrative review assesses the therapeutic potential of flavonoids in managing NAFLD. The research collected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses of RCTs from the past five years concerning the impact of flavonoids on NAFLD. A total of 20 studies were selected according to predetermined inclusion criteria, comprising thirteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and seven meta-analyses. The research underscores the beneficial effects of flavonoids in the management of NAFLD through the enhancement of lipid metabolism, the reduction in hepatic steatosis, and the provision of anti-inflammatory actions. Clinical trials demonstrate that interventions rich in flavonoids, including quercetin, epigallocatechin gallate, naringenin, and isoflavones, substantially reduce liver fat content and enhance liver enzyme profiles, with certain compounds exhibiting superior efficacy in particular subgroups, such as older adults and females. Nonetheless, whereas these therapies significantly diminish hepatic steatosis, their effect on fibrosis is constrained. To sum up, flavonoids exhibit significant potential as supplementary treatments for NAFLD by enhancing liver function, lipid metabolism, and inflammation. Additional extensive controlled clinical trials are necessary to create uniform treatment methods and ascertain their long-term therapeutic advantages. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Phytochemicals on Human Health)
62 pages, 4356 KiB  
Review
Potential Strategies for Overcoming Drug Resistance Pathways Using Propolis and Its Polyphenolic/Flavonoid Compounds in Combination with Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy
by Nada Oršolić and Maja Jazvinšćak Jembrek
Nutrients 2024, 16(21), 3741; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16213741 - 31 Oct 2024
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2703
Abstract
Conventional cancer treatments include surgical resection, chemotherapy, hyperthermia, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, and locally targeted therapies such as radiation therapy. Standard cancer therapies often require the use of multiple agents, which can activate nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in tumor cells, leading to reduced [...] Read more.
Conventional cancer treatments include surgical resection, chemotherapy, hyperthermia, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, and locally targeted therapies such as radiation therapy. Standard cancer therapies often require the use of multiple agents, which can activate nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in tumor cells, leading to reduced cell death and increased drug resistance. Moreover, the use of multiple agents also contributes to added toxicity, resulting in poor treatment outcomes. Cancer cells gradually develop resistance to almost all chemotherapeutics through various mechanisms, such as drug efflux, alterations in drug metabolism and transport, changes in signal transduction pathways, enhanced DNA repair capacity, evasion of apoptosis, increased mutations, reactivation of drug targets, interaction with the cancer microenvironment, cancer cell-stroma interactions, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-mediated chemoresistance, epigenetic modifications, metabolic alterations, and the effect of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Developing new strategies to improve chemotherapy sensitivity while minimizing side effects is essential for achieving better therapeutic outcomes and enhancing patients’ quality of life. One promising approach involves combining conventional cancer treatments with propolis and its flavonoids. These natural compounds may enhance tumor response to treatment while reducing toxicity. Propolis and its components can sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents, likely by inhibiting NF-κB activation, reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs; an M2-like phenotype), and thereby reducing the release of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, cytokines, chemokines, and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). By reducing TAMs, propolis and its components may also overcome EMT-mediated chemoresistance, disrupt the crosstalk between macrophages and CSCs, inhibit the maintenance of stemness, and reverse acquired immunosuppression, thus promoting an antitumor response mediated by cytotoxic T-cells. This review highlights the potential of flavonoids to modulate the responsiveness of cancer to conventional treatment modalities. The evidence suggests that novel therapeutic strategies incorporating flavonoids could be developed to improve treatment outcomes. The positive effects of combining propolis with chemotherapeutics include reduced cytotoxicity to peripheral blood leukocytes, liver, and kidney cells. Therefore, polyphenolic/flavonoid components may hold potential for use in combination with chemotherapeutic agents in the clinical treatment of various types of cancers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Phytochemicals on Human Health)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

17 pages, 945 KiB  
Systematic Review
Evaluating the Therapeutic Properties of Natural Products in Orthodontic and Surgical Treatment of Dentofacial Deformities: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials
by Serban Talpos Niculescu, Robert Avramut, Tareq Hajaj, Nicoleta Nikolajevic-Stoican, Raluca Maracineanu, Antonis Perdiou, Roxana Talpos Niculescu, Marius Pricop, Roxana Ghircau-Radu, Magda Mihaela Luca and Malina Popa
Nutrients 2024, 16(12), 1941; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16121941 - 19 Jun 2024
Viewed by 2402
Abstract
The use of natural products as alternatives to traditional pharmacological treatments in orthodontics is gaining interest due to their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of natural products in reducing inflammation and [...] Read more.
The use of natural products as alternatives to traditional pharmacological treatments in orthodontics is gaining interest due to their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of natural products in reducing inflammation and bacterial presence in orthodontic and orthognathic treatment settings. The database search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Embase up to January 2024. The review focused on randomized controlled trials only. The selected studies centered on the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant effects of natural products, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for data extraction. Nine studies, totaling 358 participants, were included. Significant findings demonstrated a reduction in gingival inflammation by over 40% with the use of Aloe vera compared to chlorhexidine. Another study noted a decrease in bleeding on probing by 13.6 points in the treatment group over placebo. Additionally, honey showed a rapid modulation of plaque pH and significantly reduced bacterial counts of Streptococcus mutans. Furthermore, the use of resveratrol emulgel was linked to substantial improvements in gingival health, with a reduction in the gingival index and probing pocket depth. The results indicate that natural products can significantly enhance orthodontic treatment outcomes by reducing inflammation and bacterial levels. These products offer effective alternatives to traditional treatments and show potential for integration into routine orthodontic care protocols. Further research is encouraged to standardize application methods and dosages to maximize clinical benefits and patient satisfaction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Phytochemicals on Human Health)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

8 pages, 412 KiB  
Brief Report
Effect of Acute Dietary Nitrate Supplementation on the Changes in Calf Venous Volume during Postural Change and Skeletal Muscle Pump Activity in Healthy Young Adults
by Anna Oue, Yasuhiro Iimura, Yuichi Miyakoshi and Masako Ota
Nutrients 2024, 16(11), 1621; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16111621 - 26 May 2024
Viewed by 1423
Abstract
Dietary nitrate (NO3−) supplementation is known to enhance nitric oxide (NO) activity and acts as a vasodilator. In this randomized crossover study, we investigated the effect of inorganic NO3− supplementation on the changes in calf venous volume during [...] Read more.
Dietary nitrate (NO3−) supplementation is known to enhance nitric oxide (NO) activity and acts as a vasodilator. In this randomized crossover study, we investigated the effect of inorganic NO3− supplementation on the changes in calf venous volume during postural change and subsequent skeletal muscle pump activity. Fifteen healthy young adults were assigned to receive beetroot juice (BRJ) or a NO3−-depleted control beverage (prune juice: CON). Two hours after beverage consumption, the changes in the right calf volume during postural change from supine to upright and a subsequent right tiptoe maneuver were measured using venous occlusion plethysmography. The increase in calf volume from the supine to upright position (total venous volume [VV]) and the decrease in calf volume during the right tiptoe maneuver (venous ejection volume [Ve]) were calculated. Plasma NO3− concentration was higher in the BRJ group than in the CON group 2 h after beverage intake (p < 0.05). However, VV and Ve did not differ between CON and BRJ. These results suggest that acute intake of BRJ may enhance NO activity via the NO3− → nitrite → NO pathway but does not change calf venous pooling due to a postural change or the calf venous return due to skeletal muscle pump activity in healthy young adults. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Phytochemicals on Human Health)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop