Bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, alkaloids, phytosterols, glucosinolates, and terpenes, are secondary metabolites of plants consumed by humans regularly through plant-based foods. The adherence to plant-rich diets has been linked with the primary and secondary prevention of many chronic diseases (including cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer) and promotion of healthy aging. The growing body of evidence suggests that plant bioactive compounds play a key role in the health effects associated with the consumption of plant-based foods and diets. These bioactives seem to exert their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, vasculo-, neuro-protective, and other effects through complex mechanisms of action that are not fully understood.
Nutrigenomics and nutri(epi)genetics are rapidly expanding research fields that can tackle the suggested complexity of molecular actions driving the health-promoting effects of plant-rich diets and their bioactive compounds. They investigate nutrient-gene interactions, how dietary compounds interact with the genome, alter the expression of protein-coding and non-coding RNA, change the epigenetic signatures of cells, and consequently affect the body. Although there are studies indicating different nutrigenomic and (epi)genetic effects of plant food bioactives, this research is relatively new, particularly in human subjects, and more work is needed to advance the understanding of the mechanism underlying their protective effects against chronic diseases.
This Research Topic aims to provide the latest insights into the role of plant-food bioactives in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases and promotion of healthy ageing, focusing on identifying mechanisms underlying their health effects. We welcome Original Research and Review submissions covering, but not limited to, the following topics:
• Human, animal and in-vitro evidence of the nutrigenomic effect (expression of genes, proteins, or non-coding RNAs) of plant food bioactive compounds in chronic, non-communicable diseases;
• Epigenetic regulation by plant-food bioactives in chronic diseases;
• The interaction of plant food bioactive compounds with genetic polymorphisms in human chronic diseases;
• The use of omics and machine learning approaches in big data analysis to explore mechanisms of action and identify molecular targets of plant food bioactives regarding the development of chronic diseases.
Topic Editor Dr. Dragan Milenkovic's research is partially supported by Mars Incorporated. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, carotenoids, alkaloids, phytosterols, glucosinolates, and terpenes, are secondary metabolites of plants consumed by humans regularly through plant-based foods. The adherence to plant-rich diets has been linked with the primary and secondary prevention of many chronic diseases (including cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer) and promotion of healthy aging. The growing body of evidence suggests that plant bioactive compounds play a key role in the health effects associated with the consumption of plant-based foods and diets. These bioactives seem to exert their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, vasculo-, neuro-protective, and other effects through complex mechanisms of action that are not fully understood.
Nutrigenomics and nutri(epi)genetics are rapidly expanding research fields that can tackle the suggested complexity of molecular actions driving the health-promoting effects of plant-rich diets and their bioactive compounds. They investigate nutrient-gene interactions, how dietary compounds interact with the genome, alter the expression of protein-coding and non-coding RNA, change the epigenetic signatures of cells, and consequently affect the body. Although there are studies indicating different nutrigenomic and (epi)genetic effects of plant food bioactives, this research is relatively new, particularly in human subjects, and more work is needed to advance the understanding of the mechanism underlying their protective effects against chronic diseases.
This Research Topic aims to provide the latest insights into the role of plant-food bioactives in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases and promotion of healthy ageing, focusing on identifying mechanisms underlying their health effects. We welcome Original Research and Review submissions covering, but not limited to, the following topics:
• Human, animal and in-vitro evidence of the nutrigenomic effect (expression of genes, proteins, or non-coding RNAs) of plant food bioactive compounds in chronic, non-communicable diseases;
• Epigenetic regulation by plant-food bioactives in chronic diseases;
• The interaction of plant food bioactive compounds with genetic polymorphisms in human chronic diseases;
• The use of omics and machine learning approaches in big data analysis to explore mechanisms of action and identify molecular targets of plant food bioactives regarding the development of chronic diseases.
Topic Editor Dr. Dragan Milenkovic's research is partially supported by Mars Incorporated. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
