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Antioxidants
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Natural Products: Biological, Antioxidant Properties and Health Effects—3rd Edition
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Natural Products: Biological, Antioxidant Properties and Health Effects—3rd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024 | Viewed by 6474

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Evangelos Zoidis

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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Nutritional Physiology and Feeding, Department of Animal Science, School of Animal Biosciences, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos Str., 11855 Athens, Greece
Interests: nutritional physiology; natural antioxidants; selenium and selenoproteins; elemental metabolomics; molecular metabolism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Our previous Special Issues on “Natural Products: Biological-, Antioxidant Properties and Health Effects”, the first and second volumes, published in 2022 and 2023 in Antioxidants, received an overwhelming number of submissions and were successful compilations of research and review articles. As this is a rapidly evolving topic, we would like to further explore the biological and antioxidant roles of natural products, as well as their effects on animal and human health, with a follow-up Special Issue for the year 2024.

Many antioxidants with reducing and radical scavenging properties can be found in natural products, i.e., foods, feeds, and medicinal as well as aromatic plants. Such compounds that can mitigate oxidative damage include terpenoids, polyphenols, carbohydrates and derivatives, and components of essential oils. They act on redox-sensitive transcription factors to minimize oxidative stress in vivo by quenching radical species, peroxides, and promoters of oxidative processes.

According to research findings, adding naturally occurring antioxidant compounds to foods or animal feed can decrease oxidation, enhance overall product quality, and lengthen shelf life. Natural bioactive substances have also been the subject of recent research against pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other attacking microbes that are resistant to traditional medications. These organisms pose a serious threat to human health and the world’s healthcare systems. Moreover, their supplementation might also lessen cellular oxidative stress, which is linked to inflammatory, neurological, and cardiovascular disorders, as well as some types of cancer.

Therefore, research on the bioactive components of natural products is always attractive, since they have such a wide range of beneficial effects. Furthermore, it is important to remember that waste materials and agricultural byproducts can also be valuable sources of antioxidants.

With great pleasure, we invite you to submit your research findings to this Special Issue (third volume), which aims to gather original research papers, reviews, clinical trials, and meta-analyses covering every facet of the biological properties, applications, and health effects of antioxidants derived from natural products. Articles pertaining to plant antioxidants and natural products that enhance antioxidant capacity via technological, agricultural, analytical, biochemical, molecular, or analytical approaches, as well as novel applications of antioxidants and antimicrobials in food and feed science, are especially encouraged.

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

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Evangelos Zoidis
Guest Editor

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

  • agricultural byproducts
  • algae
  • bioactive compounds
  • cancer
  • cardiovascular diseases
  • essential oils
  • inflammatory diseases
  • marine organisms
  • metabolic diseases
  • oxidative stress
  • phytochemicals
  • polyphenols
  • radical scavenging
  • shelf life
  • waste products

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 5367 KiB  
Article
Phytochemical Composition and Toxicological Screening of Anise Myrtle and Lemon Myrtle Using Zebrafish Larvae
by Paolin Rocio Cáceres-Vélez, Akhtar Ali, Alexandre Fournier-Level, Frank R. Dunshea and Patricia Regina Jusuf
Antioxidants 2024, 13(8), 977; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13080977 - 12 Aug 2024
Viewed by 293
Abstract
Plants are an immense source of drugs, and 50% of modern pharmacopeia has a plant origin. With increasing life expectancy in humans, many age-related degenerative diseases converge on oxidative cellular stress pathways. This provides an opportunity to develop broad treatments by targeting the [...] Read more.
Plants are an immense source of drugs, and 50% of modern pharmacopeia has a plant origin. With increasing life expectancy in humans, many age-related degenerative diseases converge on oxidative cellular stress pathways. This provides an opportunity to develop broad treatments by targeting the cause of common pathologic cell degeneration. Toxicological effects can be readily assessed in a live animal model system to establish potential fauna for clinical use. Here, we characterized and evaluated the antioxidant potential and toxicological effects of anise myrtle (Syzygium anisatum) and lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) leaves. Using zebrafish larvae, a model for high-throughput pre-clinical in vivo toxicology screening, we identified safe levels of extract exposures for development of future therapeutics. The antioxidant capacity and toxicity were very similar in these two myrtles. The LC50-96h for anise myrtle was 284 mg/L, and for lemon myrtle, it was 270 mg/L. These measurements are comparable to ongoing studies we are performing using the same criteria in zebrafish, which allow for robust testing and prioritization of natural fauna for drug development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products: Biological, Antioxidant Properties and Health Effects—3rd Edition)
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14 pages, 1172 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of In Vitro-Derived Hop Plantlets, cv. Columbus and Magnum, as Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds
by Leandra Leto, Claudia Favari, Anna Agosti, Lorenzo Del Vecchio, Andrea Di Fazio, Letizia Bresciani, Pedro Mena, Valeria Guarrasi, Martina Cirlini and Benedetta Chiancone
Antioxidants 2024, 13(8), 909; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13080909 - 28 Jul 2024
Viewed by 469
Abstract
The demand for bioactive secondary metabolites of natural origin is increasing every day. Micropropagation could be a strategy to respond more quickly to market demands, regardless of seasonality. This research aims to evaluate in vitro-grown plants of two hop varieties, namely Columbus and [...] Read more.
The demand for bioactive secondary metabolites of natural origin is increasing every day. Micropropagation could be a strategy to respond more quickly to market demands, regardless of seasonality. This research aims to evaluate in vitro-grown plants of two hop varieties, namely Columbus and Magnum, as a potential source of bioactive compounds. The extracts were characterized in terms of total phenolic content by a Folin–Ciocalteu assay and antioxidant capacity by DPPH•, ABTS+, and FRAP assays. The bioactive compound profile of the extracts from both varieties was determined by using UPLC-ESI-QqQ-MS/MS. The results confirmed richness in (poly)phenols and other secondary metabolites of the in vitro-grown hop plantlets. Thirty-two compounds belonging to the major families of phytochemicals characteristic of the species were identified, and twenty-six were quantified, mainly flavonoids, including xanthohumol and isoxanthohumol, phenolic acids, as well as α- and β-acids. This study confirms the validity of in vitro-derived hop plantlets as source of bioactive compounds to be used in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products: Biological, Antioxidant Properties and Health Effects—3rd Edition)
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18 pages, 3536 KiB  
Article
Enhanced In Vitro Efficacy of Verbascoside in Suppressing Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation via ROS Scavenging with Reverse Microemulsion
by Xiao Xiao, Feiyu Yang, Yuling Huang, Shaohui Liu, Zhenhua Hu, Shanggao Liao and Yuanyuan Li
Antioxidants 2024, 13(8), 907; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13080907 - 27 Jul 2024
Viewed by 351
Abstract
Numerous approaches targeting hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) have emerged as pivotal therapeutic strategies to mitigate liver fibrosis and are currently undergoing clinical trials. The investigation of herbal drugs or isolated natural active compounds is particularly valuable, due to their multifaceted functions and low [...] Read more.
Numerous approaches targeting hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) have emerged as pivotal therapeutic strategies to mitigate liver fibrosis and are currently undergoing clinical trials. The investigation of herbal drugs or isolated natural active compounds is particularly valuable, due to their multifaceted functions and low risk of side effects. Recent studies have hinted at the potential efficacy of verbascoside (VB) in ameliorating renal and lung fibrosis, yet its impact on hepatic fibrosis remains to be elucidated. This study aims to evaluate the potential effects of VB on liver fibrosis by assessing its ability to inhibit HSC activation. VB demonstrated significant efficacy in suppressing the expression of fibrogenic genes in activated LX-2 cells. Additionally, VB inhibited the migration and proliferation of these activated HSCs by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and downregulating the AMPK pathway. Furthermore, a biosafe reverse microemulsion loaded with VB (VB-ME) was developed to improve VB’s instability and low bioavailability. The optimal formulation of VB-ME was meticulously characterized, revealing substantial enhancements in cellular uptake, ROS-scavenging capacity, and the suppression of HSC activation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products: Biological, Antioxidant Properties and Health Effects—3rd Edition)
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11 pages, 951 KiB  
Article
Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Pulp, Peel and Seeds from Jeriva (Syagrus romanzoffiana)
by Beatriz C. B. S. Mello, Angelika Malarski and Volker Böhm
Antioxidants 2024, 13(6), 711; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13060711 - 12 Jun 2024
Viewed by 737
Abstract
Jeriva (Syagrus romanzoffiana) is a fruit from palm trees of the Arecaceae family, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of Latin America. It has low production costs and high productivity throughout the year; however, its consumption is very low, and [...] Read more.
Jeriva (Syagrus romanzoffiana) is a fruit from palm trees of the Arecaceae family, widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of Latin America. It has low production costs and high productivity throughout the year; however, its consumption is very low, and the production goes almost entirely to feed animals or to waste. To improve its consumption, a good characterization of the whole fruit is necessary. The objective of this work was to evaluate the jeriva pulp, peel and seeds according to carotenoids, phenolic compounds, vitamin C, tocopherols and antioxidant potential using HPLC, microplate readers and spectrophotometric methods. Every part of the fruit exhibited antioxidant capacity in the ORAC and TEAC tests, which can be attributed to its high concentration of polyphenols. Carotenoids were more present in the pulp and peel and almost absent in the seeds. Vitamin C ranged from 12 ± 1 for the seeds up to 92 ± 3 mg/100 g for the pulp. The total phenolic content was quantified between 473 ± 39 for the seeds and 1089 ± 32 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAEs)/100 g for the pulp. These results demonstrate that all parts of this fruit have important bioactive nutrients, with promising perspectives for further scientific approaches and for composing formulations of food products to enhance functional properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products: Biological, Antioxidant Properties and Health Effects—3rd Edition)
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19 pages, 1490 KiB  
Article
Formulation and Physical–Chemical Analysis of Functional Muffin Made with Inulin, Moringa, and Cacao Adapted for Elderly People with Parkinson’s Disease
by Paula García-Milla, Rocío Peñalver and Gema Nieto
Antioxidants 2024, 13(6), 683; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13060683 - 31 May 2024
Viewed by 581
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects people’s health. Constipation is probably one of the most prominent gastrointestinal symptoms (non-motor symptoms) of PD with devastating consequences. The aim of this research work is to formulate a functional food product, supplemented with [...] Read more.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects people’s health. Constipation is probably one of the most prominent gastrointestinal symptoms (non-motor symptoms) of PD with devastating consequences. The aim of this research work is to formulate a functional food product, supplemented with inulin, cocoa, and Moringa, which can be an adjuvant in the treatment of constipation. The product was prepared according to a muffin or “Chilean cake” recipe; this basic muffin was prepared with additions of inulin (MI), inulin + cacao (MIC), and inulin + Moringa (MIM). A physical–chemical analysis of the macronutrients and an antioxidant capacity assessment of the samples were conducted, as well as a sensory evaluation performed by a group of people suffering from Parkinson’s disease. A statistically significant difference was observed in the soluble (p = 0.0023) and insoluble (p = 0.0015) fiber values between the control samples and all samples. Furthermore, inulin + cacao improved the antioxidant capacity and folate intake compared to the control. Inulin alone has been shown to have antioxidant capacity according to ABTS (262.5728 ± 34.74 μmol TE/g) and DPPH (9.092518 ± 10.43 μmol TE/g) assays. A sensory evaluation showed a preference for the product with inulin and for the product with inulin + cacao, with a 78% purchase intention being reported by the subjects who evaluated the products. The incorporation of inulin and cacao improved the nutritional value of the muffins; the dietary fiber, antioxidant capacity and folate content are some of the features that stood out. A bakery product enriched with inulin, cocoa and Moringa could serve as a nutritional strategy to enhance nutritional value, thus helping in the treatment of constipation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products: Biological, Antioxidant Properties and Health Effects—3rd Edition)
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18 pages, 3763 KiB  
Article
Εleven Greek Legume Beans: Assessment of Genotypic Effect on Their Phytochemical Content and Antioxidant Properties
by Eleni D. Myrtsi, Dimitrios N. Vlachostergios, Christos Petsoulas, Sofia D. Koulocheri, Epameinondas Evergetis and Serkos A. Haroutounian
Antioxidants 2024, 13(4), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13040459 - 13 Apr 2024
Viewed by 946
Abstract
Legumes, one of the first crops of humanity, inherently constitute a staple nutritional source for mankind, attracting significant research attention that has been afforded to the development of numerous cultivars. The study herein concerns the exploitation of the nutritional and bio-functional content of [...] Read more.
Legumes, one of the first crops of humanity, inherently constitute a staple nutritional source for mankind, attracting significant research attention that has been afforded to the development of numerous cultivars. The study herein concerns the exploitation of the nutritional and bio-functional content of beans harvested from eleven Greek cultivars belonging to five different species, namely Cicer arietinum L., Pisum sativum L., Vicia faba L., Lens culinaris L., and Phaseolus vulgaris L. The final goal is to define their varietal identity and correlate their phytochemical content with their potential utilization as functional foods and/or feed of high nutritional value. In this respect, their extracts were screened against the presence of 27 fatty acids and 19 phenolic compounds, revealing the presence of 22 and 15 molecules, respectively. Specifically, numerous fatty acids were detected in significant amounts in all but C. arietinum extract, while significant polyphenolic content was confirmed only in P. vulgaris. Among individual compounds, linoleic acid was the major fatty acid detected in amounts averaging more than 150 mg/g, followed by oleic acid, which was present as a major compound in all extracts. Among the nine polyphenols detected in P. vulgaris, the molecules of genistein (3.88 mg/g) and coumestrol (0.82 mg/g) were the most abundant. Their antioxidant properties were evaluated through DPPH and FRAP assays, which were highlighted as most potent in both tests of the V. faba extract, while C. arietinum was determined as totally inactive, indicating a potential correlation between the phenolic content of the plant species and antioxidant activity. These results are indicative of the significant advances achieved for the cultivars investigated and reveal their important role as nutritional crops for human and animal consumption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products: Biological, Antioxidant Properties and Health Effects—3rd Edition)
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Review

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32 pages, 7194 KiB  
Review
Harnessing the Potential of Quinoa: Nutritional Profiling, Bioactive Components, and Implications for Health Promotion
by Xiaomin Xi, Guanghe Fan, Huimin Xue, Shuai Peng, Weidong Huang and Jicheng Zhan
Antioxidants 2024, 13(7), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13070829 - 10 Jul 2024
Viewed by 534
Abstract
Quinoa, a globally cultivated “golden grain” belonging to Chenopodium in the Amaranthaceae family, is recognized for being gluten-free, with a balanced amino acid profile and multiple bioactive components, including peptides, polysaccharides, polyphenols, and saponins. The bioactive compounds extracted from quinoa offer multifaceted health [...] Read more.
Quinoa, a globally cultivated “golden grain” belonging to Chenopodium in the Amaranthaceae family, is recognized for being gluten-free, with a balanced amino acid profile and multiple bioactive components, including peptides, polysaccharides, polyphenols, and saponins. The bioactive compounds extracted from quinoa offer multifaceted health benefits, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cardiovascular disease (CVD) improvement, gut microbiota regulation, and anti-cancer effects. This review aims to intricately outline quinoa’s nutritional value, functional components, and physiological benefits. Importantly, we comprehensively provide conclusions on the effects and mechanisms of these quinoa-derived bioactive components on multiple cancer types, revealing the potential of quinoa seeds as promising and effective anti-cancer agents. Furthermore, the health-promoting role of quinoa in modulating gut microbiota, maintaining gut homeostasis, and protecting intestinal integrity was specifically emphasized. Finally, we provided a forward-looking description of the opportunities and challenges for the future exploration of quinoa. However, in-depth studies of molecular targets and clinical trials are warranted to fully understand the bioavailability and therapeutic application of quinoa-derived compounds, especially in cancer treatment and gut microbiota regulation. This review sheds light on the prospect of developing dietary quinoa into functional foods or drugs to prevent and manage human diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products: Biological, Antioxidant Properties and Health Effects—3rd Edition)
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32 pages, 6873 KiB  
Review
Role of Epigenetic Modulation in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Implications of Phytochemical Interventions
by Mani Iyer Prasanth, Bhagavathi Sundaram Sivamaruthi, Clerance Su Yee Cheong, Kanika Verma, Tewin Tencomnao, James Michael Brimson and Anchalee Prasansuklab
Antioxidants 2024, 13(5), 606; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13050606 - 15 May 2024
Viewed by 1483
Abstract
Epigenetics defines changes in cell function without involving alterations in DNA sequence. Neuroepigenetics bridges neuroscience and epigenetics by regulating gene expression in the nervous system and its impact on brain function. With the increase in research in recent years, it was observed that [...] Read more.
Epigenetics defines changes in cell function without involving alterations in DNA sequence. Neuroepigenetics bridges neuroscience and epigenetics by regulating gene expression in the nervous system and its impact on brain function. With the increase in research in recent years, it was observed that alterations in the gene expression did not always originate from changes in the genetic sequence, which has led to understanding the role of epigenetics in neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Epigenetic alterations contribute to the aberrant expression of genes involved in neuroinflammation, protein aggregation, and neuronal death. Natural phytochemicals have shown promise as potential therapeutic agents against NDDs because of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects in cellular and animal models. For instance, resveratrol (grapes), curcumin (turmeric), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG; green tea) exhibit neuroprotective effects through their influence on DNA methylation patterns, histone acetylation, and non-coding RNA expression profiles. Phytochemicals also aid in slowing disease progression, preserving neuronal function, and enhancing cognitive and motor abilities. The present review focuses on various epigenetic modifications involved in the pathology of NDDs, including AD and PD, gene expression regulation related to epigenetic alterations, and the role of specific polyphenols in influencing epigenetic modifications in AD and PD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products: Biological, Antioxidant Properties and Health Effects—3rd Edition)
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