Functional Food and Anti-Inflammatory Function

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Functional foods are foods that offer health benefits beyond mere nutritional value. They contain bioactive components, such as vitamins, minerals, probiotics, fibre, and antioxidants, which can contribute to improving general well-being and preventing disease. In addition, foods rich in anti-oxidants, such as fruit and vegetables, help fight oxidative stress, protecting cells from damage and slowing down the ageing process. Finally, research suggests that regular inclusion of functional foods in the diet may contribute to weight management and blood glucose control, benefiting people with diabetes or metabolic problems. Promoting the use of functional foods may therefore be an effective strategy to improve public health and prevent various chronic diseases limiting inflammatory process. With an emphasis on the identification, development, and establishment of functional foods with anti-inflammatory properties through the study of the biological mechanisms that food bioactive components can express, this Topic, "Functional Food and Anti-Inflammatory Function", aims to improve the health of patients. A wide range of publications are encouraged for the reasons mentioned above, including in vitro and in vivo investigations, which are necessary to gather fresh data for upcoming clinical trials. Clinical studies will receive special consideration since they provide compelling scientific evidence for the effectiveness of novel functional foods. Ultimately, thorough assessments that can condense significant subjects are helpful in launching new scientific investigations.

Dr. Marika Cordaro
Prof. Dr. Rosanna Di Paola
Dr. Roberta Fusco
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Antioxidants antioxidants	6.6	12.4	2012	17.4 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
BioChem biochem	-	-	2021	33.9 Days	CHF 1000	Submit
International Journal of Molecular Sciences ijms	4.9	9.0	2000	20.5 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Metabolites metabolites	3.7	6.9	2011	14.4 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Biomedicines biomedicines	3.9	6.8	2013	17 Days	CHF 2600	Submit

Preprints.org is a multidisciplinary platform offering a preprint service designed to facilitate the early sharing of your research. It supports and empowers your research journey from the very beginning.

MDPI Topics is collaborating with Preprints.org and has established a direct connection between MDPI journals and the platform. Authors are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity by posting their preprints at Preprints.org prior to publication:

1. Share your research immediately: disseminate your ideas prior to publication and establish priority for your work.
2. Safeguard your intellectual contribution: Protect your ideas with a time-stamped preprint that serves as proof of your research timeline.
3. Boost visibility and impact: Increase the reach and influence of your research by making it accessible to a global audience.
4. Gain early feedback: Receive valuable input and insights from peers before submitting to a journal.
5. Ensure broad indexing: Web of Science (Preprint Citation Index), Google Scholar, Crossref, SHARE, PrePubMed, Scilit and Europe PMC.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results

Content type Publication Date

Result details

Normal Extended Compact

Journals

All Antioxidants BioChem IJMS Metabolites Biomedicines

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

attachment

Supplementary material:
Supplementary File 1 (ZIP, 670 KB)

17 pages, 13579 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Dendrobium officinale Polysaccharide Relieves the DSS-Induced Chronic Colitis in C57BL/6J Mice and Regulates Colonic Microflora Structure

by Yangyu Ma, Jingrui Li, Xianling Yuan, Wenyang Tao, Wanyi Zhou, Jianrong Xing, Ying Yang and Haihua Zhang

Metabolites 2025, 15(11), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15110708 - 30 Oct 2025

Viewed by 536

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Chronic colitis presents a growing global health burden with rising incidence. This study investigated the ameliorative effect of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP) against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced chronic colitis in mice, specifically examining its dual modulation of gut microbiota and metabolic [...] Read more.

Background/Objectives: Chronic colitis presents a growing global health burden with rising incidence. This study investigated the ameliorative effect of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP) against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced chronic colitis in mice, specifically examining its dual modulation of gut microbiota and metabolic pathways. Methods: DOP was extracted and purified from Dendrobium officinale stems and leaves. A chronic colitis model was established in male C57BL/6J mice via DSS induction. Eighty-four mice were randomized into seven groups: control, model, low/high-dose leaf-DOP, low/high-dose stem-DOP, and sulfasalazine positive control. We assessed body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, splenic/thymic indices, inflammatory cytokines, and histopathology (Hematoxylin and Eosin/Alcian blue staining), with tight junction protein and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression quantified via immunofluorescence. 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics evaluated microbial and metabolic shifts. Results: DOP significantly attenuated colitis severity, restored colon histoarchitecture, elevated goblet cell counts, upregulated zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin expression, and suppressed TNF-α. Crucially, DOP remodeled dysbiosis by enriching beneficial taxa (e.g., Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Lachnoclostridium) while reducing pathogens (Mucispirillum). Metabolomics further elucidated DOP-mediated regulation of purine and nicotinate/nicotinamide metabolism—pathways mechanistically linked to its anti-inflammatory and barrier-repair effects. Conclusions: DOP effectively alleviates symptoms of DSS-induced chronic colitis in mice, protects intestinal barrier integrity, and achieves therapeutic potential through simultaneous regulation of the gut microbiome and metabolome. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Functional Food and Anti-Inflammatory Function)

►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

24 pages, 2301 KB  

Open AccessReview

Nicotinamide and Pyridoxine in Muscle Aging: Nutritional Regulation of Redox, Inflammation, and Regeneration

by Agnieszka Nowacka, Maciej Śniegocki, Martyna Śniegocka and Ewa A. Ziółkowska

Antioxidants 2025, 14(8), 911; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14080911 - 25 Jul 2025

Viewed by 3047

Abstract

Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass, strength, and regenerative capacity with age, is driven by interconnected processes such as oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and reduced activity of muscle stem cells. As the population ages, nutritional strategies that target these mechanisms [...] Read more.

Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass, strength, and regenerative capacity with age, is driven by interconnected processes such as oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and reduced activity of muscle stem cells. As the population ages, nutritional strategies that target these mechanisms are becoming increasingly important. This review focuses on nicotinamide (vitamin B3) and pyridoxine (vitamin B6), two essential micronutrients found in functional foods, which play complementary roles in redox regulation, immune balance, and muscle repair. Nicotinamide supports nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) metabolism, boosts mitochondrial function, and activates sirtuin pathways involved in autophagy and stem cell maintenance. Pyridoxine, via its active form pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP), is key to amino acid metabolism, antioxidant defense, and the regulation of inflammatory cytokines. We summarize how these vitamins influence major molecular pathways such as Sirtuin1 (SIRT1), protein kinase B (AKT)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and Nrf2, contributing to improved myogenic differentiation and protection of the aging muscle environment. We also highlight emerging preclinical and clinical data, including studies suggesting possible synergy between B3 and B6. Finally, we discuss how biomarkers such as PLP, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), and C-reactive protein (CRP) may support the development of personalized nutrition strategies using these vitamins. Safe, accessible, and mechanistically grounded, nicotinamide and pyridoxine offer promising tools for sarcopenia prevention and healthy aging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Functional Food and Anti-Inflammatory Function)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

attachment

Supplementary material:
Supplementary File 1 (ZIP, 364 KB)

23 pages, 5946 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Inactivated Cells and Metabolites of Saccharomyces boulardii Alleviate Inflammation Damage in Caco-2 Monolayer Cells and Mice with Ulcerative Colitis

by Yuxin Jin, Zehui Niu, Menglin Feng, Huilian Che and Zhihong Liang

Antioxidants 2025, 14(6), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14060737 - 16 Jun 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1989

Abstract

Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) has attracted widespread attention due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we prepared postbiotics from the heat-inactivated cells (HIC) and cell-free supernatant (CFS) of S. boulardii, with the important component L-arginine (Arg) from [...] Read more.

Saccharomyces boulardii (S. boulardii) has attracted widespread attention due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we prepared postbiotics from the heat-inactivated cells (HIC) and cell-free supernatant (CFS) of S. boulardii, with the important component L-arginine (Arg) from the metabolic products included as one of the experimental groups. The results showed that in LPS-stimulated Caco-2 cells, HIC, CFS, and Arg protect intestinal epithelial barrier integrity by inhibiting the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 while enhancing the expression of occludin and ZO-1 proteins. In dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice, HIC, CFS, and Arg alleviate symptoms such as weight loss and colonic damage while suppressing the upregulation of pro-inflammatory factors and the downregulation of tight junction proteins. Moreover, these postbiotics help restore the gut microbiota composition and functionality in colitis mice, with potentially superior regulatory effects compared to sulfasalazine (SASP). Overall, HIC and CFS protect the intestinal barrier function and improve DSS-induced colitis, supporting the development of functional food supplements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Functional Food and Anti-Inflammatory Function)

►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Plain Text BibTeX BibTeX (without abstracts) Endnote Endnote (without abstracts) Tab-delimited RIS

 

Error

Oops... you haven't selected anything for export.

Ok

clear

Displaying articles 1-3