Mitochondria, Metabolism, and Aging: Molecular Targets of Natural Compounds

Understanding how genetic and metabolic dysregulations influence aging process has become one of the most interesting topics in biomedical research.

Mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation are fundamental pathologic processes driving both systemic metabolic disorders and age-related diseases.

Natural products and food-derived bioactive compounds have gained increasing attention as potential modulators of these pathways. They can influence gene expression, epigenetic modifications, and cellular signaling networks involved in aging and metabolic imbalance.

Recent advances in multi-omics technologies allow the identification of gene and nutrient interactions. Insights into the genetic and epigenetic regulation of senescence and related metabolisms are uncovering new strategies to delay age- and metabolism-associated diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), neurodegeneration, and various systemic metabolic dysregulation.

Integrating molecular genetics, nutritional biology, and systemic metabolism analysis offers a unique opportunity to define how natural compounds and genetic networks can change aging process and metabolic dysregulation.

We welcome studies that explore the molecular and genetic mechanisms through which natural products and dietary bioactive metabolites or pharmacological compounds influence lifespan and the onset of aging-related metabolic diseases.

We also cover studies that employ interdisciplinary approaches combining omics data, genetic models, and computational biology to uncover integrative pathways linking metabolism, gene regulation, and aging.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Natural products, Aging, Metabolic diseases, Metabolomics, Lipid metabolism, Glucose metabolism, Neuroprotection, Inflammation, Oxidative stress

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.