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Plant-Based Diets: Nutritional Adequacy, Bioactive Compounds, and In Vitro Cellular Bioactivity Assessment

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2026 | Viewed by 1165

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias, San Cristobal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
Interests: in vitro assays; phytochemicals; polyphenols; cellular bioactivity; extracts; by-products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Interests: wild plants; novel food; bioactivities; bioactive compounds; beverages
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the emerging scientific evidence surrounding plant-based diets, with particular attention to their nutritional adequacy, the presence of health-promoting bioactive compounds, and their functional evaluation through in vitro cellular assays. Contributions explore how plant-derived foods can meet essential nutrient requirements while delivering a diverse array of bioactive molecules such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and dietary fibers. In vitro studies presented in this Special Issue assess the biological activity of these compounds, shedding light on their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective potential. The collected works offer a multidisciplinary perspective on the role of plant-based diets in supporting human health and preventing chronic diseases.

Dr. Eva Dorta
Dr. Patricia García-Herrera
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • in vitro assays
  • phytochemicals
  • polyphenols
  • cellular bioactivity
  • extracts
  • by-products

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 14655 KB  
Article
Structure–Activity Relationship and Stage-Dependent Inhibition of Adipogenesis by Curcuminoid Derivatives in 3T3-L1 Cells
by Suzuna Araki, Yumi Ueda, Hinako Ayabe, Rio Otsuka, Kengo Kohama, Kouta Maenishi, Changsun Choi, Sung-Kwon Moon, Toshiya Masuda, Miwako Deguchi, Shigeru Saeki and DongHo Kim
Nutrients 2026, 18(8), 1285; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18081285 - 18 Apr 2026
Viewed by 776
Abstract
Background/Objectives: To address the limitations of natural curcumin, this study focuses on the functional evaluation of structurally optimized derivatives. We aimed to elucidate structure–activity relationships (SAR) and the stage-specific molecular mechanisms of adipogenesis inhibition using an in vitro cellular assay. Methods: Four novel [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: To address the limitations of natural curcumin, this study focuses on the functional evaluation of structurally optimized derivatives. We aimed to elucidate structure–activity relationships (SAR) and the stage-specific molecular mechanisms of adipogenesis inhibition using an in vitro cellular assay. Methods: Four novel curcuminoids were synthesized and evaluated in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes against natural curcumin (Curcuminoid I). Efficacy and mechanisms were assessed via cell viability assays, quantitative Oil Red O staining, and time-dependent transcriptional profiling (qPCR/Western blotting) of the KLF family and master regulators. Results: SAR analysis identified Curcuminoid III (symmetric 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy) as the most potent and safe candidate, whereas Curcuminoid IV exhibited cytotoxicity. Time-course analysis revealed a distinct step-wise inhibition mechanism wherein Curcuminoid III significantly upregulated the differentiation repressor KLF2 at the immediate-early phase. This rapid modulation effectively prevented the subsequent induction of pro-adipogenic factors, including KLF9, KLF15, PPARγ, and C/EBPα, in the mid-stage (3–5 d). Consequently, the expression of the maturation marker aP2 was robustly suppressed by the late stage (5–7 d). Conclusions: The symmetric 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy substitution pattern appears to confer strong anti-adipogenic activity to Curcuminoid III. Early modulation of the KLF2–PPARγ axis at the onset of differentiation may initiate a cascading inhibitory effect throughout the adipogenic program. These findings highlight the potential of structurally optimized plant-derived bioactive compounds as regulators of metabolic cell fate. Full article
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