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Nutrients
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Therapeutic Potential of Dietary Bioactives: From Bioavailability to Chronic Diseases...
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Therapeutic Potential of Dietary Bioactives: From Bioavailability to Chronic Diseases Prevention and Treatment

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 January 2026) | Viewed by 6410

Editors

Prof. Dr. Carlos Adam Conte Júnior

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Food Analysis (NAL-LADETEC), Department of Biochemistry, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. Horácio Macedo, Polo de Química, Bloco C, 1281, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro 21941-598, RJ, Brazil
Interests: animal science; molecular biology; biochemistry; molecular techniques; food science; food microbiology; animal-based food; bovine tuberculosis; antimicrobial resistance; analytical method development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Italo Rennan Sousa Vieira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, RJ, Brazil
Interests: green chemistry; nanotechnology; nanomaterials; bioactive compounds; natural products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Dietary bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, omega-3 fatty acids, phytosterols, probiotics/prebiotics, glucosinolates, lignans, saponins, alkaloids, and sulfur compounds, play an essential role in modulating oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. In this context, extensive research, preclinical studies, and clinical trials have been conducted to investigate their potential in preventing and treating chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, recent advances in micro- and nanoencapsulation techniques have been explored to enhance the stability and bioavailability of these compounds, thereby maximizing their therapeutic potential. This Special Issue of Nutrients, entitled “Therapeutic Potential of Dietary Bioactives: From Bioavailability to Chronic Diseases Prevention and Treatment”, invites submissions of high-quality original studies and review articles. Topics of interest include dietary bioactive compounds, oxidative stress, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, molecular mechanisms underlying inflammation-mediated metabolic diseases, and innovative approaches to their application in promoting human health.

Prof. Dr. Carlos Adam Conte Júnior
Dr. Italo Rennan Sousa Vieira
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-anonymized 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

  • chronic inflammation
  • free radical scavenging
  • functional foods
  • immunomodulation
  • inflammatory biomarkers
  • lipid metabolism
  • metabolic diseases
  • nanotechnology
  • nutraceuticals
  • neuroinflammation
  • oxidative stress
  • phytochemicals
  • plant-based compounds
  • redox balance
  • systemic inflammation

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1498 KB  
Article
Bioenhancer Assessment of Black Pepper with Turmeric on Self-Reported Pain Ratings in Adults: A Randomized, Cross-Over, Clinical Trial
by Leandra Durham, Robert A. Oster, Matthew Ithurburn, Chelsi Reynolds, James O. Hill and Daniel L. Smith, Jr.
Nutrients 2026, 18(2), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18020223 - 10 Jan 2026
Viewed by 3626
Abstract
Background: Chronic pain, which affects over 50 million adults in the United States, has stimulated growing interest in natural and nutrition-based remedies as adjuncts to pharmacologic therapies. Evidence suggests that turmeric and related extracts (i.e., curcuminoids) may provide pain relief, albeit often at [...] Read more.
Background: Chronic pain, which affects over 50 million adults in the United States, has stimulated growing interest in natural and nutrition-based remedies as adjuncts to pharmacologic therapies. Evidence suggests that turmeric and related extracts (i.e., curcuminoids) may provide pain relief, albeit often at levels above dietary ranges, while piperine from black pepper exhibits bioenhancer characteristics of relevance with dietary exposures. Objective: To test the effectiveness of dietarily relevant amounts of turmeric with and without black pepper on self-reported pain ratings among adults with chronic pain. Methods: A randomized, crossover clinical trial tested the effectiveness of turmeric only (one of three amounts within culinary ranges) or turmeric with black pepper to influence pain in adults ≥ 40 years of age. Participants (n = 30, with moderate pain: 4–7 on 0–10-point scale) were enrolled in a 21-day trial, and an experience sampling methodology approach was used. Participants were prompted to report current pain using the numeric pain rating scale (NPRS; 0–10) via text message three times per day for the full study period. Data were averaged and analyzed via linear mixed effects models for repeated measurements. Results: Pain ratings from baseline to week 3 were reduced and statistically significant (p < 0.001) but not statistically different between groups. The provided turmeric, both with and without black pepper, and varying amounts of turmeric (300 mg, 1 g, and 3 g, n = 10 participants/amount) did not show statistically significant differences in pain ratings (p = 0.157 and p = 0.338, respectively). Conclusions: Consuming dietarily relevant amounts of turmeric, either alone or with black pepper, appears to improve average pain ratings. This result suggests a feasible dietary option for further study of nutritional interventions for chronic pain management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Potential of Dietary Bioactives: From Bioavailability to Chronic Diseases Prevention and Treatment)
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15 pages, 574 KB  
Article
Polyphenol Intake from Herbs and Spices
by Cynthia Blanton
Nutrients 2025, 17(15), 2445; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17152445 - 27 Jul 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1650
Abstract
Background: Culinary herbs and spices are potent sources of bioactive compounds such as (poly)phenols that confer health benefits to consumers. Observational studies have quantified (poly)phenol intake levels from foods and beverages but not herbs and spices. Hence, the contribution of herbs and [...] Read more.
Background: Culinary herbs and spices are potent sources of bioactive compounds such as (poly)phenols that confer health benefits to consumers. Observational studies have quantified (poly)phenol intake levels from foods and beverages but not herbs and spices. Hence, the contribution of herbs and spices to (poly)phenol intakes is unclear. Methods: The current study measured herb and spice total (poly)phenol consumption in a convenience sample of adults (n = 212) using a validated online herb and spice questionnaire. Respondents reported the frequency and amount of consumption of 27 herbs and spices during the past month. Total (poly)phenol concentration (mg) for each herb and spice was calculated using the online database Phenol-Explorer. Results: Responses showed monthly intakes of 679.92 (1134.06) (median, IQR) mg total (poly)phenols from 47.44 (60.71) g herbs and spices. Cinnamon, black pepper and cloves were the largest contributors to total (poly)phenol intakes from herbs and spices. Conclusions: These findings suggest that herbs and spices contribute potentially meaningful amounts of (poly)phenols to total dietary (poly)phenol intakes and that existing reports of (poly)phenol consumption for populations may underestimate actual levels by 3–12%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Potential of Dietary Bioactives: From Bioavailability to Chronic Diseases Prevention and Treatment)
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Review

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41 pages, 721 KB  
Review
Harnessing Botanical Extracts for Asthma Therapy: A Scoping Review of Molecular Mechanisms and the Strategic Utility of Experimental Models (2005–2025)
by Jae-Won Lee, Chang Hyeon Jeon, Soo-Jin Park, Hee Jae Lee, Hyung Won Ryu and Su Ui Lee
Nutrients 2026, 18(10), 1604; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18101604 - 18 May 2026
Viewed by 466
Abstract
Asthma represents a chronic inflammatory condition of the respiratory tract, where long-term bronchial inflammation serves as a primary driver of progressive airway remodeling. This complex pathology emerges from the intricate synergy between host genetic susceptibility and diverse environmental triggers, ultimately impairing pulmonary function. [...] Read more.
Asthma represents a chronic inflammatory condition of the respiratory tract, where long-term bronchial inflammation serves as a primary driver of progressive airway remodeling. This complex pathology emerges from the intricate synergy between host genetic susceptibility and diverse environmental triggers, ultimately impairing pulmonary function. At the cellular level, asthmatic responses are orchestrated by a dynamic crosstalk among various immune and structural populations, including airway epithelial cells, T-lymphocytes, eosinophils, and mast cells, which collectively perpetuate the inflammatory milieu. Although inhaled corticosteroids are the conventional cornerstone of therapy, their clinical application is frequently hindered by potential systemic toxicity and the emergence of steroid-resistant phenotypes. Consequently, botanical extracts derived from both aerial and underground plant organs have gained attention as versatile multi-target candidates capable of modulating the multifaceted pathophysiological networks of asthma. This scoping review critically synthesizes the pharmacological efficacy of these plant-based interventions in regulating pivotal signaling cascades, such as MAPK, NF-κB, STAT3/6, and GATA3. Based on a systematic literature search covering the period from 2005 to 2025, this study provides a focused quantitative analysis of preclinical literature from the last decade (2016–2025) to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo models employed to validate these therapeutic effects. The assessment reveals that the vast majority of current research continues to rely on crude botanical preparations, with only a limited subset of studies utilizing enriched fractions or fully characterized isolated compounds. This predominance of unrefined extracts underscores a significant gap in chemical standardization and highlights the necessity for more rigorous mechanistic validation. Ultimately, this paper outlines strategic pathways for translating preclinical findings into clinical practice, offering a robust framework for the development of standardized plant-derived interventions in asthma management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Potential of Dietary Bioactives: From Bioavailability to Chronic Diseases Prevention and Treatment)
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