Bioactive Compounds in Horticultural Plants and Their Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Plants are not only essential sources of nutrients but also valuable reservoirs of biologically active compounds with significant effects on human and animal health. These bioactive substances—ranging from simple molecules to complex compounds—play crucial roles in the defense and development of plants and can exert similar effects in other organisms.

This Topic, Bioactive Compounds in Horticultural Plants and Their Applications, invites contributions that explore the biochemical potential of horticultural plants. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the types and functions of bioactive compounds, identifying the specific plant organs in which they are most concentrated, the stages of development when their presence peaks, and the conditions that enhance their efficacy.

Topics of interest include the following:

• The structural and functional diversity of bioactive compounds;
• Interactions between compounds (synergistic or antagonistic);
• The influence of isolation and processing methods on compound activity;
• Their roles in the human body—as antioxidants, immunomodulators, antivirals, antimicrobials, or regulators of enzymatic and genetic systems.

We also welcome studies addressing less beneficial effects, such as antinutrient properties, drug interactions, or pro-oxidant behavior under specific conditions. Understanding these dynamics, both in vitro and in vivo, is essential for harnessing the full potential of horticultural plants in food, medicine, and biotechnology.

Through this Topic, we seek to open a window into a vast field of research, highlighting the promise that horticultural plants hold for innovation in health and sustainable development.

Dr. Loredana Elena Vîjan
Prof. Dr. Mihai Botu
Prof. Dr. Sina Cosmulescu
Dr. Carmen Mihaela Topala
Topic Editors