**Preface to "Health Properties of Plant Bioactive Compounds: Immune, Antioxidant and Metabolic Effects"**

Given that the best way to improve the quality of life of a human being is prevention of illness, the study of functional compounds, natural food compounds that, in addition to meeting nutritional needs, have beneficial properties on health, has become an emerging field in the area of food technology and health due to the increasing popularity of functional foods among consumers who continually demand healthier products that improve their quality of life and thus prevent or treat diseases. Therefore, this reprint includes a collection of research findings published in the Special Issue of the *International Journal of Molecular Sciences*, titled "Health Properties of Plant Bioactive Compounds: Immune, Antioxidant and Metabolic Effects". This collection provides an updated overview of studies focusing on the positive multifunctional effects of vegetable-derived compounds, such as peptides, extracts, essential oils, phytosterols, and phenolic compounds, on the main components of chronic diseases that confer their potential as novel functional foods.

## **Antonio Carrillo-Vico and Ivan Cruz-Chamorro** *Editors*
