Functional Properties and Health Benefits of Bioactive Substances in Plant Foods
A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Foods".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (14 April 2024) | Viewed by 2809
Special Issue Editor
Interests: food production; food characterization; functional food ingredients; food by-product valorization; bioaccessibility evaluation; gastrointestinal microbiota; biomarkers; genotoxicity mechanisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
With the increasing body of research on the field of nutrition and its impact on health, certain commodities, such as plants rich in bioactive compounds (BCs), have emerged as promising candidates for promoting human health. These BCs have long been recognized for their potential contributions to health promotion through food consumption. However, the efficiency of BCs can be affected by several factors, highlighting the important influence of the intestinal microbiota (IM) on the absorption and metabolism of BCs. Also, diet is one of the most important regulators of IM since changes in dietary composition can enhance or inhibit the reproduction of some microbial species, which can have defensive or damaging effects. In addition, IM can synthesize and release a variety of metabolites that are absorbed and transferred into the circulating system, regulate the composition and function of the host’s IM, and play important roles in the development and progression of some pathologies.
Moreover, plants offer a viable alternative to synthetic substances, which are often associated with concerns about their natural origins and potential toxicological and carcinogenic effects.
Consequently, these BCs and the assessment of their effectiveness in commercial products have posed significant challenges for both researchers and participants in the food industry who are aiming to create products that are beneficial to human health.
The primary objective of this Special Issue is to shed light on the existing evidence concerning the numerous potential benefits of consuming plants. We will foreground in vivo studies and epidemiological research, as well as investigations into the bioavailability and bioaccessibility of these compounds. Additionally, we will explore how plant compounds can be used to enhance the nutritional and health-related properties of various food products.
Dr. Marta Isabel Correia Coelho
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- bioaccessibility
- bioavailability
- diet
- health effects