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Bioactive Natural and Synthetic Products in Human Health and Diseases: Basic, Preclinical and Clinical Studies—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: 5 December 2025 | Viewed by 5281

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, College of Science Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University, 1400 JR Lynch St., Jackson, MS 39217, USA
Interests: molecular mechanisms of cancer development and metastasis; role of IGF2BP1 in the pathology of colorectal cancer and basal cell carcinoma; cancer cell fusion and breast tumor heterogeneity and metastasis; mRNA turnover and cancer development
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Co-Guest Editor
School of Clinical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana Monroe, 1800 Bienville Drive, Monroe, LA 71201, USA
Interests: pharmacy practice; laboratory pedagogy and teaching styles; pharmaceutical compounding; natural products and formulation; compounding novel dosage forms for drug delivery; pharmacy practice clinical; educational and natural product research; health screening in under-privileged communities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Biological Sciences and Chemistry, College of Sciences and Engineering, Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, RM# 205 A/C, JW Fisher Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70813, USA
2. Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, 408 Skip Bertman Drive, Rm# 3102, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
Interests: skin health and diseases; carcinogenesis; inflammation; dermatology; psoriasis; atopic dermatitis; bioactive natural products; antioxidants; polyphenols; flavonoids; tissue engineering; signaling pathways; pharmacology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Homeostasis of the human body is guaranteed throughout life and across all ages via nature’s blessed natural dietary products or in their modified format as synthetic scaffold products that aid in boosting immunity, maintaining health, treating ailments or preventing disease occurrences or recurrences, and thus ensuring normal wellbeing. Biologically active natural and plant-derived, including fruits and vegetables, product preparations and synthetic scaffold products are garnering interest as valid human health-promoting, disease prevention, and management entities. Several of these bio-actives are antioxidants, polyphenols and other major medicinal entities that regulate vital physiological processes, including gene expression, protein synthesis, metabolism, differentiation and growth via mechanisms that are not well understood. Through epidemiological and intervention studies, several of these bioactives have been claimed and/or proven to offer protection against aging and health, oxidative stress, infection and several chronic inflammatory diseases such as acne, atopic dermatitis, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, psoriasis, diabetes, diabetic ulcers, chronic wounds, various cancers, obesity and several associated risk factors. Moreover, cutting-edge research utilizing physiologically attainable doses in appropriate in vitro and preclinical model systems have provided some mechanistic insights on their benefits. Additionally, validating the health beneficial effects of nutraceuticals or pharmaceuticals and the detailed understanding of their intake, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, dose-response relationship and efficacy are thought-provoking, having complex relations, and such studies are warranted.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to update knowledge vis-à-vis the role of bioactive natural products from plants and dietary sources and synthetic scaffold compounds on human health and diseases such as the skin, other epithelial tissues like the breast, and other organ system diseases to shed light on the global relevance of scientific research findings on their usages. This may range from human health promotion, disease prevention and treatment, to reduction of adverse side effects, misuse and purposeless spending.

To help bridge the current knowledge gap, this Special Issue of Nutrients invites submission of manuscripts describing original research, communication, legislative documentations or quality reviews of scientific literature in skin and other organs’ health promotion and disease prevention and treatment. These conditions may include, but are not limited to, infection, oxidative stress, chronic inflammatory diseases including skin conditions such as acne, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, diabetic wounds and various kind of cancers. Submissions addressing a broad range of topics, including studies covering bioavailability, understanding physiological functional processes, molecular targets, pathways and mechanisms of action from in vitro, preclinical animal models, human population and dietary intervention studies to impacts on human health, disease prevention and management, and advice on intake and usage, and their outcomes are welcome.

We look forward to your exciting submissions.

Dr. Felicite Noubissi-Kamdem
Dr. Anthony L. Walker
Dr. Jean Christopher Chamcheu
Guest Editors

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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

  • acne, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis
  • antioxidants and phenolic compounds
  • breast cancer
  • chronic human diseases
  • bioavailability and bioactivity
  • skin beauty, aging and disease
  • infection, immunity and inflammation
  • cancer
  • natural dietary bioactives and food supplement
  • nutraceuticals and synthetic bioactive products
  • natural dietary product as alternative medicine
  • natural/synthetic bioactive agents for chemoprevention
  • human intervention trials
  • natural products, preclinical and clinical trials
  • natural and synthetic antimicrobials and immune-modulatory agents
  • phytonutrients for human health and disease

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 4023 KiB  
Article
The Effects of a Novel Astragalus-Based Extract (Keyfobell Powder (KFB)) on Longitudinal Bone Growth via IGF-1 Upregulation: A Potential Growth Hormone Alternative
by Myong Jin Lee, Daesik Jeong, Ji Hwan Lee, Jaeha Kang, Jihye Choi, Jaeok Seo, Hong Il Kim, Jisoo Seo, Kiseong Ko, Dong Hyuk Nam, Hye Lim Lee and Ki Sung Kang
Nutrients 2025, 17(3), 416; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17030416 - 23 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1691
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study evaluated the effects of a novel Astragalus extract (Keyfobell powder [KFB]) composed of Astragalus membranaceus, red ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer), and Cervi Parvum Cornu as a potential growth hormone (GH) alternative. The primary focus was placed [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This study evaluated the effects of a novel Astragalus extract (Keyfobell powder [KFB]) composed of Astragalus membranaceus, red ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer), and Cervi Parvum Cornu as a potential growth hormone (GH) alternative. The primary focus was placed on its impact on longitudinal bone growth through the upregulation of circulatory insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1. Methods: We performed in vitro and in vivo experiments using a hypothalamic cell line and Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. Quantitative RT-PCR was performed to determine growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and ghrelin mRNA expressions in GT1-7 cells. The treatment groups were administered KFB at various dosages, and the positive controls received recombinant human GH. Body weight, bone length, and density were assessed, along with serum levels of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3 and IGF-1. Results: KFB and somatropin exhibited no cytotoxic effect in GT1-7 cells and increased GHRH and ghrelin mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner. KFB administration resulted in a significant dose-dependent increase in body weight and bone growth (femur and tibia). Changes in IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were comparable to those observed in the GH-treated group. Based on network pharmacological analysis, multiple compounds in KFB ((20S)-20-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one, 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, caproic acid, daidzein, furfuryl alcohol, lauric acid, octanal, and salicylic acid) may synergistically regulate the PI3K-Akt, Ras, and Rap1 signaling pathways linked to growth control and cartilage formation, leading to a possible increase in height. Conclusions: Our results suggest that KFB can function as a GH-mimetic agent that promotes bone growth through IGF-1 upregulation. Full article
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15 pages, 2031 KiB  
Article
Development of a Population Pharmacokinetic Model Characterizing the Tissue Distribution of Resveratrol After Administration by Different Routes and Doses in Rats
by Cássia Cerqueira, Valdeene Santos, Jackeline Araújo, Laiz Pereira, Fabiana Batista, Denis Soares, Francine Azeredo and Ederlan Ferreira
Nutrients 2025, 17(1), 181; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010181 - 3 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1054
Abstract
Background: Studies have demonstrated that resveratrol exerts several pharmacological effects. However, the pharmacokinetic parameters are not completely established. Objectives: This study describes the plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of resveratrol after administration by different routes and doses in rats. Methods: A reliable, simple, [...] Read more.
Background: Studies have demonstrated that resveratrol exerts several pharmacological effects. However, the pharmacokinetic parameters are not completely established. Objectives: This study describes the plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of resveratrol after administration by different routes and doses in rats. Methods: A reliable, simple, and sensitive HPLC method using UV detection for the quantification of resveratrol in rat plasma and tissues was developed and validated. In addition, a pharmacokinetic analysis using non-compartmental and population modeling was performed. Results: The pharmacokinetic parameters of resveratrol after the administration of 5 mg/kg via i.v. bolus calculated by non-compartmental analysis were a constant of elimination (ke) of 0.09 h−1 ± 0.04, a half-life (t1/2) of 9.5 h ± 3.7, an apparent volume of distribution (Vd) of 5.8 L/kg ± 4.7, a clearance (Cl) of 0.39 L/h/Kg ± 0.26, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 6076 ng/h/mL ± 2959. The results obtained after the administration of 100 mg/kg p.o. were an elimination constant (ke) of 0.12 ± 0.07 h−1, a half-life (t1/2) of 7.9 ± 4.2 h, the apparent volume distribution (Vd) of 13.3 ± 3.3 L/kg, a clearance (Cl) of 1.76 ± 0.49 L/h/Kg ± 0.26, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 6519 ± 1592 ng/h/mL. For the tissue distribution analysis, 10 mg/kg of resveratrol was intravenously administered to rats and the molecule was quantified in the liver, lung, kidney, heart, stomach, spleen, adipose tissue, and brain of the animals. Conclusions: The population pharmacokinetic modeling showed that resveratrol has a two-compartment model in both routes of administration and has a higher volume of distribution when it is given orally. In addition, resveratrol showed a high brain concentration after iv administration, which indicates that this molecule is capable of crossing the blood–brain barrier of animals, a crucial capacity for its neuroprotective activity. Full article
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11 pages, 745 KiB  
Article
Increasing Natural Killer Cell Activity of Mineral Nanomaterial ALP1018 in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Comparative Clinical Trial
by Soon-Ae Kim, Seyl Kim, Hyungyung Chai, Junlae Cho and Yu-Jin Paek
Nutrients 2024, 16(6), 850; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16060850 - 15 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1857
Abstract
This randomized, double-blind, placebo comparative clinical trial aimed to determine the immune-enhancing effects and safety of a nanomaterial with iron and zinc (ALP1018) in healthy adults. Participants who met the inclusion criteria were recruited for this study (n = 80) and randomly [...] Read more.
This randomized, double-blind, placebo comparative clinical trial aimed to determine the immune-enhancing effects and safety of a nanomaterial with iron and zinc (ALP1018) in healthy adults. Participants who met the inclusion criteria were recruited for this study (n = 80) and randomly assigned to either the test group (n = 40), which was given Alp1018 in capsule form, or the placebo group (n = 40), which was given crystal cellulose capsules of identical appearance, weight, and flavor for 8 weeks. Compared to baseline, natural killer (NK) cell activity (%) increased in the test group after 8 weeks, although there were no changes in the placebo group. Furthermore, in the subgroup analysis of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affected participants, significantly increased NK cell activity was observed in the test group at 4 (p < 0.05) and 8 weeks (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in cytokine levels between the two groups. ALP1018 supplementation appeared to enhance immune function by improving NK cell activity without adverse effects in healthy adults. Full article
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