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The Effects of Bioactive Compounds Derived from Plants or Animals on Metabolic Diseases

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 November 2026 | Viewed by 182

Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus University, Palle-Juul-Jensens 165, DK-8250 Aarhus, Denmark
Interests: phytochemicals; health; welfare diseases; clinical research; in vivo studies; in vitro studies; plant-based bioactive compounds; nutraceutical
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioactive compounds derived from plants and animals play a crucial role in the prevention and management of metabolic diseases. Phytochemicals, naturally occurring compounds synthesized by plants for protection, are widely found in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and herbs. Major classes include carotenoids, polyphenols, isoprenoids, phytosterols, saponins, and polysaccharides. These compounds exhibit strong antioxidant properties and diverse biological activities, including antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects. Importantly, phytochemicals can regulate gene expression, enhance immune responses, and contribute to cancer prevention. Their extraction and application in functional foods and nutraceuticals have expanded significantly, although factors such as solvent selection and thermal stability influence their efficacy.

Similarly, animal-derived bioactive compounds, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and polysaccharides, contribute to metabolic health. These compounds can act as substrates for essential biomolecule synthesis or modulate cellular and tissue functions. Increasing evidence suggests their potential in preventing and alleviating metabolic disorders. Beyond their nutritional and therapeutic roles, these bioactives also have applications in food, biotechnology, and agriculture. Together, plant- and animal-derived bioactive compounds represent promising tools for addressing metabolic diseases through dietary and functional interventions.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews that investigate plant- and animal-derived bioactive compounds for metabolic disease prevention, covering mechanisms and applications. Such research is vital for developing functional foods and nutraceuticals, offering promising dietary strategies to combat metabolic disorders globally.

Dr. Per Bendix Jeppesen
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • type 2 diabetes
  • bioactive compounds
  • phytochemicals
  • plant extracts
  • nutraceutical
  • welfare diseases
  • clinical research
  • functional foods
  • animal studies
  • polyunsaturated fatty acids
  • animal-derived bioactive compounds

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 1834 KB  
Article
Antioxidant Activity and Dose-Dependent Toxicity of a Traditionally Consumed Ipomoea pes-caprae Infusion Evaluated in a Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Xenograft Model
by Karla I. Llerenas-Aguirre, Gustavo A. Hernández-Fuentes, José A. Toscano-Velázquez, Ariana Cabrera-Licona, Fabian Rojas-Larios, Osiris G. Delgado-Enciso, Idalia Garza-Veloz, Héctor R. Galván-Salazar, Carmen Meza-Robles, Mario Ramírez-Flores, Karla B. Carrazco-Peña, José Guzmán-Esquivel, Janet Diaz-Martinez, Margarita L. Martinez-Fierro and Iván Delgado-Enciso
Nutrients 2026, 18(14), 2248; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18142248 - 9 Jul 2026
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive breast cancer subtypes and remains associated with limited therapeutic options and high systemic toxicity from conventional chemotherapy. Ipomoea pes-caprae is a coastal medicinal plant traditionally consumed in Mexico for inflammatory and renal [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive breast cancer subtypes and remains associated with limited therapeutic options and high systemic toxicity from conventional chemotherapy. Ipomoea pes-caprae is a coastal medicinal plant traditionally consumed in Mexico for inflammatory and renal disorders and contains bioactive metabolites with reported antioxidant and pharmacological properties. However, its antitumoral activity and systemic safety profile remain poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the phytochemical composition, antioxidant capacity, antitumoral activity, and toxicity of a traditionally prepared aqueous infusion of I. pes-caprae leaves (IPCAE). Methods: IPCAE was characterized using phytochemical screening and complementary instrumental analyses. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH assay. A randomized preclinical study was performed in mice bearing MDA-MB-231 xenografts treated with IPCAE, cisplatin, or saline control. Results: The infusion showed measurable antioxidant activity (72.25 ± 1.25% DPPH inhibition at 1 mg/mL) and a total polyphenol content of 7.29 µg/mg gallic acid equivalents. Phytochemical screening revealed abundant flavonoids and reducing sugars, with moderate saponin content. In vivo, IPCAE produced only a transient and non-significant trend toward slower tumor progression compared with control (p = 0.214) and cisplatin (p = 0.377). However, marked systemic toxicity was observed, including severe thoracic dermal lesions in 40% of animals and 70% mortality by day 15. Survival was significantly reduced compared with control and cisplatin groups (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Although IPCAE exhibited antioxidant activity, no statistically significant antitumoral effect was observed under the evaluated conditions. Furthermore, repeated oral administration resulted in marked systemic toxicity, characterized by visible dermal lesions, clinical deterioration, and increased mortality. Therefore, the present findings do not support the use of the evaluated crude preparation as an anticancer intervention. Future studies should focus on detailed toxicological characterization, bioassay-guided fractionation, dose optimization, and identification of the individual metabolites responsible for the observed biological effects. The antioxidant activity demonstrated in this study should be interpreted independently from antitumoral activity, as no causal relationship between these findings was established. Full article
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