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Nutrients
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Fruits and Vegetable Bioactive Substances and Nutritional Value
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Fruits and Vegetable Bioactive Substances and Nutritional Value

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 September 2025 | Viewed by 4812

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Manuela Pintado

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CBQF—Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina—Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal
Interests: antioxidant; bioactive compound; phenolic compound; activity probiotics; polyphenol
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Débora A. Campos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF, Rua Diogo Botelho 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal
Interests: food science; bioative compounds; circular economy; integrated valorisation; upcycling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past few years, the potential role of dietary phytochemicals in promoting human health and preventing chronic diseases has attracted the interest of researchers worldwide, especially constituent compounds in foods that, in addition to those required to meet basic human nutritional needs, can cause changes in health status. These compounds are generally considered safe in foods at normal consumption levels (e.g., anthocyanins in berries). Their bioactivity can be defined as a single compound (e.g., lutein in spinach) or a class of compounds (e.g., avenanthryl alkaloids in oats), and the best effect is achieved by consuming a mixture, where the exact identity and composition of compounds are usually unknown. Classes of similar compounds are often found in similar types of plants; however, their content in foods can vary greatly due to environmental influences such as cultivation, soil, altitude, and weather conditions. A large amount of scientific evidence suggests that some phytochemicals have beneficial health effects, including dose–  response relationships and statistically significant relationships with improved physiological function and/or reduced risk of chronic diseases. However, there are still some limitations to the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of many dietary bioactives that must be better understood in the scientific literature.

We hope that this Special Issue will attract more manuscripts that will advance our understanding of the nutritional value of dietary bioactives, especially those from fruits and vegetables, and how they affect human health.

Dr. Manuela Pintado
Dr. Débora A. Campos
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 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

  • nutrition
  • fruits
  • vegetables
  • whole grains
  • dietary bioactives
  • health
  • disease prevention
  • functional foods
  • antioxidant
  • non-essential nutrient

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 2422 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Effects of Mulberry Leaf Extracts Morus alba L. on Cardiovascular, Renal, and Platelet Function in Experimental Arterial Hypertension
by Masoud Akbari Aghdam, Ana Pagán, Joaquín García-Estañ and Noemí M. Atucha
Nutrients 2025, 17(1), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010049 - 27 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1123
Abstract
Introduction: Numerous epidemiological studies have demonstrated that consuming foods rich in polyphenols and flavonoids can have beneficial effects on various diseases, including arterial hypertension (HTN). Recent research from our laboratory has shown that certain flavonoids exhibit antihypertensive properties in several animal models of [...] Read more.
Introduction: Numerous epidemiological studies have demonstrated that consuming foods rich in polyphenols and flavonoids can have beneficial effects on various diseases, including arterial hypertension (HTN). Recent research from our laboratory has shown that certain flavonoids exhibit antihypertensive properties in several animal models of HTN. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of Morus alba L. (white mulberry) extracts in an experimental HTN model characterized by nitric oxide (NO) deficiency. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: a control group, hypertensive rats treated with an NO synthesis inhibitor (L-NAME) in drinking water for six weeks, L-NAME rats treated with Morus alba L. extract, and L-NAME rats treated simultaneously with captopril. After six weeks of treatment, we measured blood pressure, endothelial vascular function in the aorta, and platelet aggregation function. Results: Morus alba L. extract partially prevented the development of arterial hypertension due to NO deficiency, although it did not completely normalize blood pressure as captopril did. The extract reduced the excessive vasoconstrictor response to phenylephrine in aortic rings and improved vasodilation in response to acetylcholine, with both effects dependent on increased NO production. Morus alba L. extract also reduced the increased platelet aggregation in response to ADP and collagen in hypertensive animals, although it did not fully normalize this function. Conclusions: Morus alba L. extract demonstrates antihypertensive effects, improves vascular reactivity, and reduces platelet aggregation in a model of arterial hypertension. These effects are primarily related to an increase in nitric oxide activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits and Vegetable Bioactive Substances and Nutritional Value)
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16 pages, 2357 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Quercetin on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and the Role of Beclin1, P62, and LC3: An Experimental Study
by Ioannis Katsaros, Maria Sotiropoulou, Michail Vailas, Fotini Papachristou, Paraskevi Papakyriakopoulou, Marirena Grigoriou, Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos, Alexandra Giatromanolaki, Georgia Valsami, Alexandra Tsaroucha and Dimitrios Schizas
Nutrients 2024, 16(24), 4282; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16244282 - 11 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1658
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major metabolic disorder with no established pharmacotherapy. Quercetin, a polyphenolic flavonoid, demonstrates potential hepatoprotective effects but has limited bioavailability. This study evaluates the impact of quercetin on NAFLD and assesses the roles of autophagy-related proteins [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major metabolic disorder with no established pharmacotherapy. Quercetin, a polyphenolic flavonoid, demonstrates potential hepatoprotective effects but has limited bioavailability. This study evaluates the impact of quercetin on NAFLD and assesses the roles of autophagy-related proteins in disease progression. Methods: Forty-seven male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks to induce NAFLD, followed by quercetin treatment for 4 weeks. Mice were divided into baseline, control, and two quercetin groups, receiving low (10 mg/kg) and high (50 mg/kg) doses. Liver histology was scored using the NAFLD Activity Score (NAS). Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting were performed to analyze autophagy markers. Results: Quercetin-treated groups showed significant reductions in NAS compared to controls (p = 0.011), mainly in steatosis and steatohepatitis. Immunohistochemistry indicated increased expression of autophagy markers LCA and p62 in quercetin groups. Western blot analysis revealed significant elevations in LC3A in the treated groups, suggesting improved autophagic activity and lipid degradation. Conclusions: Quercetin effectively reduces NAFLD severity and modulates autophagy-related proteins. These findings suggest that quercetin enhances autophagic flux, supporting its therapeutic potential for NAFLD. Additional research is needed to clarify the molecular mechanisms of quercetin and to determine the optimal dosing for clinical application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits and Vegetable Bioactive Substances and Nutritional Value)
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Review

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17 pages, 320 KiB  
Review
Nutritional Composition, Phytochemical Profiles, and Pharmacological Effects of Ethiopian Eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.)
by Seung Min Choi and Chang-Ik Choi
Nutrients 2024, 16(23), 4228; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16234228 - 6 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1467
Abstract
Natural product therapy has been used to treat illness for thousands of years, and modern-day medicines, such as various anticancer, antihypertensive, and antimigraine drugs, have been developed from natural products. Natural medicines are advantageous as they tend to have fewer side effects and [...] Read more.
Natural product therapy has been used to treat illness for thousands of years, and modern-day medicines, such as various anticancer, antihypertensive, and antimigraine drugs, have been developed from natural products. Natural medicines are advantageous as they tend to have fewer side effects and are considered a relatively safe option. Solanum aethiopicum L. (S. aethiopicum) is a vegetable crop of the Solanaceae family and is considered one of the five most important crops in sub-Saharan Africa, alongside tomatoes, onions, peppers, and okra. S. aethiopicum has many health benefits as it contains the three major macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) as well as fiber and many essential vitamins. Additionally, much research has been conducted on the medicinal value of S. aethiopicum over the past few decades. S. aethiopicum has been found to have many pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, and antioxidant effects. Currently, to our knowledge, there are no comprehensive reviews of the numerous studies on S. aethiopicum. Therefore, in this review, we summarize the nutritional, phytochemical, and pharmacological analyses of S. aethiopicum, identify notable effects, and review the results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fruits and Vegetable Bioactive Substances and Nutritional Value)
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