Mechanisms of Dietary Plant Extracts in the Regulation of Metabolic Syndrome and Inflammatory Disorders (Volume II)

Dear Colleagues,

Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of disturbances including glucose intolerance, central obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia present in several forms, depending upon the combination of the different components of the syndrome. The initiation and development of a variety of metabolic syndromes and human diseases accompanies inflammation, which is a major defense of the cells and the body’s adaptation to environmental conditions. More recently, the chronic low-grade inflammatory condition that often accompanies the metabolic syndrome has been implicated as a major factor both in the installation of the metabolic syndrome and its associated pathophysiological consequences. Several scientific studies have suggested that the ingestion of dietary plant extract, containing components such as polyphenol, can protect cells from the excess inflammatory responses and ameliorate metabolic syndrome via regulating the inflammation-related signaling pathways and changing the gut microbiota. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying the role of these plant extracts in the regulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and microbiota remain largely unknown.

In this Special Issue of Foods, we encourage the submission of manuscripts focused on addressing the roles of plant extracts or phytochemicals in the regulation of inflammation and metabolic syndrome in in vitro or in vivo models, and further exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying their actions and the assessment of the impact of plant extracts or phytochemicals on metabolic syndrome, gut health, and inflammation-related disorders.

We welcome various types of manuscripts, including original research and review articles. All manuscripts should be relevant but not limited to the following specific themes:

• The effects of polyphenols on metabolic syndrome or inflammation-related intestinal diseases;
• The underlying mechanisms of the modulation of the intestinal barrier, gut microbiota, and oxidative stress;
• The crosstalk among inflammation, gut microbiota, and host oxidative stress/metabolism;
• The development of nutritional strategies to reduce the risks of metabolic syndrome.

Prof. Dr. Zheng Ruan
Prof. Dr. Xinli Li
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. Foods 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 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.

• food nutrients
• polyphenol
• gut health
• intestinal barrier
• gut microbiota
• inflammation
• metabolic syndrome
• obesity
• diabetes or insulin resistance
• functional foods