About this Research Topic
The idea of functional foods containing bioactive properties has become a focal point of food and nutrition research. Bioactive polysaccharides have received particular attention due to the many traditional uses of these phytochemicals in various regions of the world. They have been shown to exhibit a range of bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-diabetes, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular protection, neuroprotection, and anticoagulation. These compounds or bioactive extracts are called nutraceuticals and are now more commonly used in the prevention, management, and supplement therapy of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Natural compounds such as phytochemicals from foods mostly have a safe profile due to their origin, and can be applied quickly and more widely in health conditions. If they are used effectively, they can potentially improve the health outcomes of non-communicable diseases, which will benefit patients and the general public. Their relatively safe profile and ready to use nature, also mean that they can be more readily applied in clinical situations as supplement therapy or preventative intervention.
With the increasing popularity of food bioactive phytochemicals in health applications; such as fucoidan in cancer supplement therapy; mussel extract in pain management; and omega-3 in cardiovascular protection, there is a growing demand for more research in this field to be explored and reported. There is an increasing body of literature on food bioactive polysaccharides in relation to non-communicable diseases and health that needs to be built on. For example, Amanita caesarea polysaccharides has been shown to protect against Alzheimer's disease; Polysaccharides from Enteromorpha prolifera have been shown to improve glucose metabolism; and Polysaccharides isolated from plants, fungi, microorganisms, and marine sources have exhibited anti-cancer effects.
Therefore, the main goal of this Research Topic is to present novel research exploring the role of bioactive polysaccharides from food in non-communicable diseases, to enrich our knowledge and understanding of those compounds in health applications. Finding new bioactive phytochemicals from different or novel foods is another important aspect of this. In particular, novel phytochemicals in the prevention and supplement therapy of non-communicable diseases is an area of interest and of importance to researchers and the general public. We welcome original research, short communications and reviews exploring this topic.
Natural compounds such as phytochemicals from foods mostly have a safe profile due to their origin, and can be applied quickly and more widely in health conditions. If they are used effectively, they can potentially improve the health outcomes of non-communicable diseases, which will benefit patients and the general public. Their relatively safe profile and ready to use nature, also mean that they can be more readily applied in clinical situations as supplement therapy or preventative intervention.
With the increasing popularity of food bioactive phytochemicals in health applications; such as fucoidan in cancer supplement therapy; mussel extract in pain management; and omega-3 in cardiovascular protection, there is a growing demand for more research in this field to be explored and reported. There is an increasing body of literature on food bioactive polysaccharides in relation to non-communicable diseases and health that needs to be built on. For example, Amanita caesarea polysaccharides has been shown to protect against Alzheimer's disease; Polysaccharides from Enteromorpha prolifera have been shown to improve glucose metabolism; and Polysaccharides isolated from plants, fungi, microorganisms, and marine sources have exhibited anti-cancer effects.
Therefore, the main goal of this Research Topic is to present novel research exploring the role of bioactive polysaccharides from food in non-communicable diseases, to enrich our knowledge and understanding of those compounds in health applications. Finding new bioactive phytochemicals from different or novel foods is another important aspect of this. In particular, novel phytochemicals in the prevention and supplement therapy of non-communicable diseases is an area of interest and of importance to researchers and the general public. We welcome original research, short communications and reviews exploring this topic.
Keywords: Bioactive, Polysaccharide, Food, Health, Non-Communicable Diseases, Functional Foods
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