Chemical Composition, Biological Activity and Function of Plant-Based Foods

Dear Colleagues,

Plants are a primary source of biologically active compounds that are utilized in the development of pharmaceuticals, functional foods, and dietary supplements. Biologically active compounds such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, phytosterols, and others are beneficial for human health. Therefore, enriching the diet with plant-based foods and consuming high-quality dietary supplements can help prevent diseases and improve physical and mental wellbeing. The application of plant-derived biologically active compounds in functional foods and dietary supplement matrices is associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, and antidiabetic effects. The search for new biologically active molecules, their extraction from plant materials, standardization, and studies on their biological uptake are important scientific stages for their safe practical application.

Today, environmentally friendly solvents and innovative extraction methods are increasingly used for isolating active compounds from plant materials. Analyzing the chemical composition of extracts and standardizing their quality are pertinent to ensure safe and effective application in dietary supplements. Evaluating the biological activity and cytotoxicity of extracts and their active compounds using instrumental analysis methods and cell models is crucial for achieving the effective and safe utilization of extracts in functional foods and dietary supplements.

This Special Issue is intended for academic researchers and other specialists to share their latest works and contributions in advancing knowledge across various fields. The prominent themes suggested for publication in this Special Issue encompass, but are not limited to, the following: technologies for the extraction of biologically active compounds from plants, chemical composition analysis, extract standardization, in vitro studies of biological activity, and assessment of the quality of functional foods and dietary supplements.

Dr. Kristina Ramanauskienė
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Plants 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 2700 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.

• extracts
• phenolic compounds
• composition
• quality control
• bioavailability