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Advances in the Astonishing World of Phytochemicals: State-of-the-Art for Antioxidants—2nd...
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Advances in the Astonishing World of Phytochemicals: State-of-the-Art for Antioxidants—2nd Edition

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural and Synthetic Antioxidants".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 10699

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Antonella D'Anneo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Interests: biochemical pathways in cancer cell death (apoptosis, necrosis, necroptosis, autophagy and anoikis); nutrition and human diseases; oxidative stress; signal transduction; targeted therapies; cancer stem-like cells; analysis of the behaviours of phytocompounds in obesity treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Marianna Lauricella

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Section of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Interests: mechanisms of oxidative stress induction and main antioxidant systems; biochemical pathways of cell death and survival (apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy) in tumor cells; effects of phytocompounds in obesity reduction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Several studies have shown that plants are a source of a plethora of bioactive compounds, such as phytohormones, glycosides, terpenoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and essential oils, with a strong potential impact in the fields of pharmaceutics and agriculture. These phytochemicals represent a valuable set of weapons that plants use in self-defense to counteract abiotic stresses disturbing the delicate equilibrium between the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defense systems. 

These subjects were the main focus of our previous Special Issue, “Advances in the Astonishing World of Phytochemicals: State-of-the-Art for Antioxidants”, which attracted the attention of many researchers and enjoyed a successful publication, with 17 papers being published in total (14 research articles, 1 review, 1 comment and a reply).

The great interest shown by researchers to the first Special Issue encouraged us to create Volume 2.

In recent years, interest in this area of research has been increasing due to the multifaceted properties of natural compounds containing antioxidants and exhibiting anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity. Therefore, understanding the underlying mechanism of their action is crucial to establishing their real potential in applied sciences. 

We invite investigators to propose reviews or original research articles concerning the most recent advances in the study of the antioxidant molecular mechanisms able to be activated by plant-derived phytochemicals and which have potential pharmacological and agricultural applications.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Antioxidant properties;
  • Antioxidant mechanisms of action;
  • Antioxidant and anticancer action;
  • Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties;
  • Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action.  

Please note that in studies of complex mixtures of natural products, the characterization of chemicals using analytical methodologies, such as HPLC, MS, LC–MS, HPLC–MS, and NMR, should be included.

Dr. Antonella D'Anneo
Dr. Marianna Lauricella
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Antioxidants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2900 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.

Keywords

  • bioactive compounds
  • phytochemicals
  • antioxidant properties
  • oxidative and nitrosative stress
  • anticancer action
  • antimicrobial properties
  • anti-inflammatory actions

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 4937 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant Profile, Amino Acids Composition, and Physicochemical Characteristics of Cherry Tomatoes Are Associated with Their Color
by Min Woo Baek, Jong Hwan Lee, Chang Eun Yeo, Su Ho Tae, Se Min Chang, Han Ryul Choi, Do Su Park, Shimeles Tilahun and Cheon Soon Jeong
Antioxidants 2024, 13(7), 785; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13070785 - 28 Jun 2024
Viewed by 551
Abstract
This study was conducted to characterize different colored lines of cherry tomatoes and derive information regarding their metabolite accumulation. Different colored cherry tomato cultivars, namely ‘Jocheong’, ‘BN Satnolang’, ‘Gold Chance’, ‘Black Q’, and ‘Snacktom’, were assessed for their firmness, taste characteristics, and nutritional [...] Read more.
This study was conducted to characterize different colored lines of cherry tomatoes and derive information regarding their metabolite accumulation. Different colored cherry tomato cultivars, namely ‘Jocheong’, ‘BN Satnolang’, ‘Gold Chance’, ‘Black Q’, and ‘Snacktom’, were assessed for their firmness, taste characteristics, and nutritional metabolites at the commercial ripening stage. The cultivars demonstrated firmness to withstand impacts during harvesting and postharvest operations. The significant variations in the Brix to acid ratio (BAR) and the contents of phenylalanine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid highlight the distinct taste characteristics among the cultivars, and the nutritional metabolites are associated with the color of the cultivars. The cultivar choices would be the black-colored ‘Black Q’ for chlorophylls, β-carotene, total flavonoids, and anthocyanins; the red-colored ‘Snacktom’ for lycopene; the orange-colored ‘Gold Chance’ for total phenolics; and the green-colored ‘Jocheong’ for chlorophylls, vitamin C, GABA, glutamic acid, essential amino acids, and total free amino acids. The antioxidant capacity varied among the cultivars, with ‘Gold Chance’ consistently exhibiting the highest activity across the four assays, followed by ‘Snacktom’. This study emphasizes the importance of screening cultivars to support breeding programs for improving the nutritional content and encourages the inclusion of a diverse mix of different colored cherry tomatoes in packaging to obtain the cumulative or synergistic effects of secondary metabolites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Astonishing World of Phytochemicals: State-of-the-Art for Antioxidants—2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 1373 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Bioactive Effects of Five Plant Extracts with Different Phenolic Compositions against Different Therapeutic Targets
by María del Carmen Villegas-Aguilar, Noelia Sánchez-Marzo, Álvaro Fernández-Ochoa, Carmen Del Río, Joan Montaner, Vicente Micol, María Herranz-López, Enrique Barrajón-Catalán, David Arráez-Román, María de la Luz Cádiz-Gurrea and Antonio Segura-Carretero
Antioxidants 2024, 13(2), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13020217 - 8 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1735
Abstract
Plant extracts rich in phenolic compounds have been reported to exert different bioactive properties. Despite the fact that there are plant extracts with completely different phenolic compositions, many of them have been reported to have similar beneficial properties. Thus, the structure–bioactivity relationship mechanisms [...] Read more.
Plant extracts rich in phenolic compounds have been reported to exert different bioactive properties. Despite the fact that there are plant extracts with completely different phenolic compositions, many of them have been reported to have similar beneficial properties. Thus, the structure–bioactivity relationship mechanisms are not yet known in detail for specific classes of phenolic compounds. In this context, this work aims to demonstrate the relationship of extracts with different phenolic compositions versus different bioactive targets. For this purpose, five plant matrices (Theobroma cacao, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Silybum marianum, Lippia citriodora, and Olea europaea) were selected to cover different phenolic compositions, which were confirmed by the phytochemical characterization analysis performed by HPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS. The bioactive targets evaluated were the antioxidant potential, the free radical scavenging potential, and the inhibitory capacity of different enzymes involved in inflammatory processes, skin aging, and neuroprotection. The results showed that despite the different phenolic compositions of the five matrices, they all showed a bioactive positive effect in most of the evaluated assays. In particular, matrices with very different phenolic contents, such as T. cacao and S. marianum, exerted a similar inhibitory power in enzymes involved in inflammatory processes and skin aging. It should also be noted that H. sabdariffa and T. cacao extracts had a low phenolic content but nevertheless stood out for their bioactive antioxidant and anti-radical capacity. Hence, this research highlights the shared bioactive properties among phenolic compounds found in diverse matrices. The abundance of different phenolic compound families highlights their elevated bioactivity against diverse biological targets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Astonishing World of Phytochemicals: State-of-the-Art for Antioxidants—2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 5857 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant Capacity of Free and Bound Phenolics from Olive Leaves: In Vitro and In Vivo Responses
by Ting Li, Wenjun Wu, Jianming Zhang, Qinghang Wu, Shenlong Zhu, Erli Niu, Shengfeng Wang, Chengying Jiang, Daqun Liu and Chengcheng Zhang
Antioxidants 2023, 12(12), 2033; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12122033 - 23 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1577
Abstract
Olive leaves are rich in phenolic compounds. This study explored the chemical profiles and contents of free phenolics (FPs) and bound phenolics (BPs) in olive leaves, and further investigated and compared the antioxidant properties of FPs and BPs using chemical assays, cellular antioxidant [...] Read more.
Olive leaves are rich in phenolic compounds. This study explored the chemical profiles and contents of free phenolics (FPs) and bound phenolics (BPs) in olive leaves, and further investigated and compared the antioxidant properties of FPs and BPs using chemical assays, cellular antioxidant evaluation systems, and in vivo mouse models. The results showed that FPs and BPs have different phenolic profiles; 24 free and 14 bound phenolics were identified in FPs and BPs, respectively. Higher levels of phenolic acid (i.e., sinapinic acid, 4-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and caffeic acid) and hydroxytyrosol were detected in the BPs, while flavonoids, triterpenoid acids, and iridoids were more concentrated in the free form. FPs showed a significantly higher total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenolic content (TPC), and chemical antioxidant properties than those of BPs (p < 0.05). Within the range of doses (20–250 μg/mL), both FPs and BPs protected HepG2 cells from H2O2-induced oxidative stress injury, and there was no significant difference in cellular antioxidant activity between FPs and BPs. The in vivo experiments suggested that FP and BP treatment inhibited malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in a D-galactose-induced oxidation model in mice, and significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT), and the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). Mechanistically, FPs and BPs exert their antioxidant activity in distinct ways; FPs ameliorated D-galactose-induced oxidative stress injury partly via the activation of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway, while the BP mechanisms need further study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Astonishing World of Phytochemicals: State-of-the-Art for Antioxidants—2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 3930 KiB  
Article
A Comparative Study on UHPLC-HRMS Profiles and Biological Activities of Inula sarana Different Extracts and Its Beta-Cyclodextrin Complex: Effective Insights for Novel Applications
by Gokhan Zengin, Nilofar, Evren Yildiztugay, Abdelhakim Bouyahya, Halit Cavusoglu, Reneta Gevrenova and Dimitrina Zheleva-Dimitrova
Antioxidants 2023, 12(10), 1842; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12101842 - 10 Oct 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1472
Abstract
Within this particular framework, the extracts obtained from Inula sarana using a variety of solvents, included n-hexane, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane (DCM), 70% ethanol, ethanol, and water. The extracts obtained from n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and DCM were then subjected to a specific method for [...] Read more.
Within this particular framework, the extracts obtained from Inula sarana using a variety of solvents, included n-hexane, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane (DCM), 70% ethanol, ethanol, and water. The extracts obtained from n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and DCM were then subjected to a specific method for their incorporation into β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The establishment of complex formation was validated through the utilization of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The identification of phytochemical components was executed using UHPLC-HRMS. Furthermore, the total phenolic and flavonoid content was evaluated using the Folin–Ciocalteu assay and the AlCl3 method. Subsequently, the determination of antioxidant capacity was conducted utilizing DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, Frap, PBD, and MCA assays. The enzyme inhibitory activities of the samples (extracts and β-CD complexes) were also examined by AChE, BChE, tyrosinase, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase. The findings indicated that water and 70% ethanol extracts contained the highest phenolic content. One hundred and fourteen bioactive compounds were identified by UHPLC-HRMS analysis. This study unveiled a substantial array of flavonoids, phenolic acid-hexosides and caffeoylhexaric acids within I. sarana, marking their initial identification in this context. Among the various extracts tested, the 70% ethanol extract stood out due to its high flavonoid content (jaceosidin, cirsiliol, and eupatilin) and hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acid hexosides. This extract also displayed notably enhanced antioxidant activity, with ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP test values of 106.50 mg TE/g dry extract, 224.31 mg TE/g dry extract, and 110.40 mg TE/g, respectively. However, the antioxidant values of the complex extracts with β-CD were generally lower than those of the pure extracts, an observation warranting significant consideration. In terms of enzyme inhibition activity, the ethanol and 70% ethanol extracts exhibited higher inhibitory effects on AChE, tyrosinase, and α-glucosidase. Conversely, n-hexane displayed stronger inhibitory activity against BChE. The ethyl acetate extract demonstrated elevated amylase inhibitory activity. However, the antioxidant values of the complex extracts with β-CD were generally lower than those of the pure extracts, a noteworthy observation, while water and extracts from the I. sarana complex with β-CD exhibited minimal or negatable inhibitory activity against specific enzymes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Astonishing World of Phytochemicals: State-of-the-Art for Antioxidants—2nd Edition)
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Review

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27 pages, 2090 KiB  
Review
Flavonoids: Antioxidant Powerhouses and Their Role in Nanomedicine
by Mehak Zahra, Heidi Abrahamse and Blassan P. George
Antioxidants 2024, 13(8), 922; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13080922 - 29 Jul 2024
Viewed by 642
Abstract
This study emphasizes the critical role of antioxidants in protecting human health by counteracting the detrimental effects of oxidative stress induced by free radicals. Antioxidants—found in various forms such as vitamins, minerals, and the phytochemicals abundant in fruits and vegetables—neutralize free radicals by [...] Read more.
This study emphasizes the critical role of antioxidants in protecting human health by counteracting the detrimental effects of oxidative stress induced by free radicals. Antioxidants—found in various forms such as vitamins, minerals, and the phytochemicals abundant in fruits and vegetables—neutralize free radicals by stabilizing them through electron donation. Specifically, flavonoid compounds are highlighted as robust defenders, addressing oxidative stress and inflammation to avert chronic illnesses like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. This research explores the bioactive potential of flavonoids, shedding light on their role not only in safeguarding health, but also in managing conditions such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. This review highlights the novel integration of South African-origin flavonoids with nanotechnology, presenting a cutting-edge strategy to improve drug delivery and therapeutic outcomes. This interdisciplinary approach, blending traditional wisdom with contemporary techniques, propels the exploration of flavonoid-mediated nanoparticles toward groundbreaking pharmaceutical applications, promising revolutionary advancements in healthcare. This collaborative synergy between traditional knowledge and modern science not only contributes to human health, but also underscores a significant step toward sustainable and impactful biomedical innovations, aligning with principles of environmental conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Astonishing World of Phytochemicals: State-of-the-Art for Antioxidants—2nd Edition)
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36 pages, 4928 KiB  
Review
Natural Bio-Compounds from Ganoderma lucidum and Their Beneficial Biological Actions for Anticancer Application: A Review
by Emin Cadar, Ticuta Negreanu-Pirjol, Carolina Pascale, Rodica Sirbu, Irina Prasacu, Bogdan-Stefan Negreanu-Pirjol, Cezar Laurentiu Tomescu and Ana-Maria Ionescu
Antioxidants 2023, 12(11), 1907; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12111907 - 25 Oct 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3746
Abstract
Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has been known for many centuries in Asian countries under different names, varying depending on the country. The objective of this review is to investigate the scientific research on the natural active bio-compounds in extracts obtained from [...] Read more.
Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) has been known for many centuries in Asian countries under different names, varying depending on the country. The objective of this review is to investigate the scientific research on the natural active bio-compounds in extracts obtained from G. lucidum with significant biological actions in the treatment of cancer. This review presents the classes of bio-compounds existing in G. lucidum that have been reported over time in the main databases and have shown important biological actions in the treatment of cancer. The results highlight the fact that G. lucidum possesses important bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, sterols, proteins, nucleotides, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, which have been demonstrated to exhibit multiple anticancer effects, namely immunomodulatory, anti-proliferative, cytotoxic, and antioxidant action. The potential health benefits of G. lucidum are systematized based on biological actions. The findings present evidence regarding the lack of certainty about the effects of G. lucidum bio-compounds in treating different forms of cancer, which may be due to the use of different types of Ganoderma formulations, differences in the study populations, or due to drug–disease interactions. In the future, larger clinical trials are needed to clarify the potential benefits of pharmaceutical preparations of G. lucidum, standardized by the known active components in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Astonishing World of Phytochemicals: State-of-the-Art for Antioxidants—2nd Edition)
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