Phytonutrients: Their Role in Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Cancer, and Other Health Benefits

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About the Special Issue

There exists a complex connection between medicines and foods, and a recent recognition of food medicines is being considered extensively. The phytonutrients isolated from foods play a crucial role in the prevention of multiple diseases by boosting cellular and organismal physiology. Recent trends target specific cellular receptors, proteins, or signaling cascades by utilizing these phytonutrients to maintain steady cellular homeostasis. Considering these aspects, food-born bioactive molecules and their metabolites in the body could be potential therapeutic agents. The complex network of these phytonutrients with specific or targeted cellular signaling pathways presents hope for better therapeutic intervention. Choosing the exact diet and antioxidant-rich foods is essential to recover and maintain the therapeutic impacts for a longer time and a high-standard lifestyle.

The human metabolic processes generate a plethora of ROS that result in oxidative stress, which is overwhelmed by a sophisticated network of indigenous antioxidant enzymes that sometimes do not fulfill the body’s demand, ultimately needing to be supplemented by foods. Elevated levels of oxidative stress indicators have been associated with numerous blood protein biomarkers and disorders such as cardiovascular issues, diabetes, cancers, degenerative neurological disorders, and more. Dietary antioxidants such as polyphenolics, flavonoids, retinoids (vitamins E and C, β-carotene), phytosterols, bioactive peptides, amines, and essential fatty acids (EFAs), particularly polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs), have essential functions in preserving the oxidative equilibrium in cells and tissues. Recently, much focus has been on progressive disease conditions, and nutritional therapy has been considered a significant factor in improving or achieving complete recovery from disease. This particularly involves the targeted activation or modulation of the underlying molecular mechanisms or cell signaling pathways without any side effects.

Although a huge list of phytonutrients has been reported in foods (tea, fruits, vegetables) that have therapeutic impacts against certain pathologies, there are still gaps in understanding the exact underlying mechanisms of their bioactivity, which poses a great hurdle for optimum formulations. To unravel these molecular mechanistic gaps, enhanced understanding could help define precise and potential therapeutic regimens to cure multiple types of diseases.

This thematic issue further aims to consolidate recent research focus by different research groups globally using food-born medicines. We welcome original research and review articles, and pre- or clinical study reports describing the molecular mechanisms driven by various phytonutrients. Submissions to any of the topics below but not restricted to plant food-based components are welcome.

Topics to be covered

Role of natural antioxidants in different body disorders (Cancers, inflammations, neurodegenerative disorders).
Traditional or innovative extraction techniques for the development of plant-food oriented medicines and drug development.
Emergence of the use of antioxidants in nanomedicine for these diseases.
Cytoprotective signaling pathways and antioxidative responsive Nrf2/HO-1 or related.
Multiple cellular signaling pathways for restoring the cellular redox homeostasis.
Empowering global health research using indigenous foods for medicine
Implementing novel interventions for fair and balanced health
Perspectives regarding innovations as “Antioxidant Capacity of Superfoods”
Investigation of antioxidant properties of traditional medicine.
Development of functional foods as potent dietary medicines
Any related discipline dealing food medicines.

Our Guest Editors

1. Dr. Chunpeng Wan, Professor, Jiangxi Agricultural University, China

Email: chunpengwan@jxau.edu.cn

2. Dr. Baojun Xu, Chair Professor, Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, China

Email: baojunxu@uic.edu.cn

3. Dr. Muhammad Farrukh Nisar, Assistant Professor, Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pakistan

Email: mfarrukhnisar@cuvas.edu.pk

4. Dr. Haroon Khan, Professor, Abdul Wali Khan University, Pakistan

Email: haroonkhan@awkum.edu.pk

5. Dr. Tingdong Yan, Professor, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore. Shanghai University, China

Email: yantdntu2018@163.com

Manuscript Submission Information

We invite the submission of high-quality research articles, review articles, and short communications for the special issue titled “Phytonutrients: Their Role in Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Cancer, and Other Health Benefits.” Manuscripts should be submitted either through our Online Submission system or via email.

Submission Guidelines:

Submissions must be original and not previously published or under consideration for publication elsewhere.
All manuscripts will be subjected to a rigorous double-blind peer review process.
Authors are advised to meticulously follow the formatting and submission guidelines detailed in the Instructions for Authors prior to submission.

Special Issue Designation

Please explicitly mention in the comments section during online submission that your manuscript is intended for the special issue on “Phytonutrients.”

Important Deadlines