Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals are a by-product of respiration produced by all aerobic organisms. While they play an essential role in how the cell functions, in excess they can be harmful. Oxidization of some of these biomolecules can result in cell injury. This oxidative damage is linked to the development and progression of many diseases. The mechanism is defined as an imbalance between ROS and antioxidant defense mechanism and termed oxidative stress.
Nutraceuticals are biologically active food, or parts of food, with medical or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of diseases, especially chronic diseases. Therefore, there is a demand for such preparations; furthermore, they are more readily available than prescription drugs and can be cost-effective.
Currently, our diet is rich in sugars and saturated fats. This diet increases the prevalence of lifestyle complications, including obesity, infertility, and heart diseases. Researchers are trying to establish a relationship between nutraceuticals and their role in improving health. Past studies have indicated that fruits and vegetables decrease the risk of oesophagus, stomach, lung, endometrium, pancreas, oral cavity and colon diseases. Previous studies have established that nutraceuticals can act as free radical scavengers, metal ion chelators or regulators of the intracellular antioxidant defense system, thereby exerting their health-enhancing effects. However, the evidence in many studies are superficial and does not fully encapsulate the potential of nutraceutical in disease prevention.
Therefore, the beneficial role of nutraceuticals and their mechanism on disease activity requires further study. This Research Topic aims to better understand the role of nutraceuticals, especially in the oxidative stress condition of living cells. We also welcome manuscripts that assess the mechanism of action of these nutraceuticals on their target.
We welcome reviews, mini-reviews, and original research articles that provide an in-depth understanding of, but are not limited to, the following subthemes:
1. Nutraceutical supplementation in disease treatment or prevention for in vitro, in vivo, de novo studies.
2. Nutraceuticals usage in preclinical or clinical studies.
3. The mechanism of action underlying antioxidant effects of nutraceuticals.
4. The relationship of oxidative stress or redox status with nutraceuticals in the pathogenesis of the diseases.
All the manuscripts submitted to the collection will need to fully comply with the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology (you can freely download the full version
here). Specifically, please note:
Pillar 1a) Traditional context - The traditional context must be described in the introduction and supported with bibliographical primary references. This may be based on modern uses of a plant in general healthcare.
Pillar 1b) As you will see in our guidelines and in many other journals' guidelines, chemical anti-oxidant assays like the DPPH assay are of no pharmacological relevance. These are simply chemical tests and there is no evidence for therapeutic benefits on the basis of such chemical assays. Therefore, there can be no 'IC50 values'. Therefore, they can only be included as analytical tools.
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.
