Recent Advances in Drug Discovery Based on β-Glucans
A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Biopharmaceuticals".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 July 2023) | Viewed by 8311
Special Issue Editor
Interests: bioactive compounds; supercritical fluids; bioactivities; HPLC; food; volatile component
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
β-glucans constitute a highly diverse group of polysaccharides composed of β-linked glucose monomers that can be mainly found in plants, fungi, bacteria, and seaweed cell walls. In addition to the different nature of the sources, their particular structure is varied depending on the specific linkages (β 1,3, β 1,4, β 1,6), the branching and polymerization degree, the molecular weight, etc. In recent decades, interest in these molecules has noticeably increased because of their relevant biological activities that have led to a plethora of studies to develop novel drugs and food supplements based on β-glucans. Among these bioactivities, hypocholesterolemic ability has been described by reducing cholesterol intestinal absorption, scavenging bile acids, or stimulating microbiota short-fatty acid production. Moreover, a potent immune-modulatory action has been observed for β-glucans, being associated in many cases with anti-inflammatory and antitumoral activities. In addition, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, and wound-healing effects have been reported. In this sense, pharmaceutical approaches have been carried out exploring the effectiveness of β-glucans considering administration routes, side effects, mechanisms of actions, etc. The versatility of these polysaccharides places them not only as active ingredients but also as biodegradable carriers for other bioactive compounds targeting controlled release and bioavailability enhancement. The aim of this Special Issue is to investigate the latest findings and insights related to β-glucans-based drugs and supplements and to elucidate future perspectives.
Dr. Diego Morales
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- β-glucans
- hypocholesterolemic
- hypolipidemic
- immune system
- cancer
- novel drugs
- bioavailability
- nutraceuticals
- inflammation
- microbiota
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