This reprint is about vitamin D, a molecule that can be absorbed from certain foods, such as fatty fish, which can also be produced endogenously when we expose our skin to sufficient doses of ultraviolet B radiation. When vitamin D is metabolized into 1,25(OH)2D3 (also called calcitriol), it acts as a high-affinity ligand for the transcription factor VDR, i.e., it has direct effects on gene regulation. The key physiological functions of vitamin D are the regulation of calcium homeostasis, which is essential for bone mineralization, and the modulation of the immune system by stimulating innate immunity and preventing overreactions of adaptive immunity. This reprint presents recent developments and the latest research in the fascinating broad range of today’s vitamin D biology, from evolution to systems biology.

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The following commemorative Special Issue on bioactive compounds from the ocean is in honor of Prof. Dr. Peter Proksch on his 70th birthday. Prof. Dr. Proksch is an internationally recognized scientist in research on both terrestrial and marine natural products. Prof. Dr. Proksch worked with terrestrial plants in the early stage of his career and started to work on marine natural products some thirty years ago. He once said, “When I started to work on marine natural products, I was attracted to this fascinating field of science by the exotic environment, the colorful shapes of (mostly) marine invertebrates, and their complex ecological interactions”. In parallel to marine macroorganisms, he soon embarked on studying natural products from marine-derived microorganisms, discovering a huge amount of biodiversity and highly unusual and complex microbial natural products. The topics of this Special Issue include but are not limited to the following: The isolation, structural elucidation, and bioactivity of new molecules from marine organisms; The characterization of proteins, enzymes, and saccharides from marine organisms; The biosynthesis of bioactive compounds from marine organisms; The design, synthesis, modification, and structure–activity relationship of bioactive compounds from marine organisms; The pharmacological mechanisms of bioactive compounds from marine organisms.

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During the last 60 years the relevance of cannabis (Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica) ingredients, like the psychoactive Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol, 120+ additional cannabinoids and 440+ non-cannabinoid compounds, for human health and disease has become apparent. Approximately 30 years after the elucidation of THC structure the molecular reasons for the biological activity of these plant extracts were made clearer by the discovery of endocannabinoids, that are endogenous lipids able to bind to the same receptors activated by THC. Besides endocannabinoids, that include several N-acylethanolamines and acylesters, a complex array of receptors, metabolic enzymes, transporters (transmembrane, intracellular and extracellular carriers) were also discovered, and altogether they form a so-called “endocannabinoid system” that has been shown to finely tune the manifold biological activities of these lipid signals. Both plant-derived cannabinoids and endocannabinoids were first discovered by the group led by Prof. Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, who has just celebrated his 90th birthday and clearly stood out as a giant of modern science. The many implications of his seminal work for chemistry, biochemistry, biology, pharmacology and medicine are described in this special issue by the scientists who reached during the last 20 years the highest recognition in the field of (endo)cannabinoid research, receiving the Mechoulam Award for their major contributions. I thank them for having accepted my invitation to be part of this honorary issue of Molecules, and Raphi for continuing to illuminate our field with his always inspiring investigations and new ideas.

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This Special Issue on “Advanced Nanomaterials in Biomedical Application” aimed to showcase the most recent advances in nanomaterials, not only in terms of their synthesis and characterization, but also their technological application. This Special Issue welcomed the submission of original research articles and reviews. Research areas include all types of nanomaterials used in the development of medical applications (e.g., therapeutic: anticancer, antibacterial, toxicology; diagnostic: imaging; nanodevices, and others).

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Glucosinolate-containing foods, such as vegetables from the plant order Brassicales and its derivative products, are valued for their health-beneficial properties. The latter are linked to glucosinolate hydrolysis products, such as isothiocyanates.The book “Advanced Research on Glucosinolates in Food Products” collects the latest research on the impact of the whole food supply chain, including production, as well as domestic food preparation, on glucosinolates and the formation and chemistry of their breakdown products in vegetables and further foods. In this context, the consequences for human health are important, too. The book contains articles that cover research on the effect of pre-harvest factors on glucosinolates, their hydrolyzing enzymes, and the formation of volatile hydrolysis products. Further topics include the linkage between glucosinolates and sensory aspects, and the effects of food preparation and follow-up reactivity. Finally, research on the bioavailability and functional effects of isothiocyanates for human health is included.

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Today, researchers are focused on studying and identifying new products that can be beneficial for both food and pharmaceutical purposes. In this context, sprouts and microgreens are widely recognized as functional foods due to their high nutritional value, and in particular, their high bioactive compound content, which is mainly composed of phytochemicals. However, despite extensive research on the germination of species cultivated under optimal conditions, knowledge gaps remain regarding various aspects of sprout and microgreen production. To address this research issue, interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial. This involves the identification of novel species for edible sprout cultivation, the exploration of innovative strategies to stimulate bioactive compound production, and the development of new “nutraceutical” foods. Moreover, it is imperative to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of the consumption of microgreens. This reprint presents cutting-edge research on sprouts and microgreens, providing valuable insights for the academic community.

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This Topical Collection of Molecules provides the most recent advancements and trends within the framework of food analysis, confirming the growing public, academic, and industrial interest in this field. The articles broach topics related to sample preparation, separation science, spectroscopic techniques, sensors and biosensors, as well as investigations dealing with the characterization of macronutrients, micronutrients, and other biomolecules. It offers the latest updates regarding alternative food sources (e.g., algae), functional foods, effects of processing, chiral or achiral bioactive compounds, contaminants, and every topic related to food science that is appealing to readers. Nowadays, the increasing awareness of the close relation among diet, health, and social development is stimulating demands for high levels of quality and safety in agro-food production, as well as new studies to fill gaps in the actual body of knowledge about food composition. For these reasons, modern research in food science and human nutrition is moving from classical methodologies to advanced instrumental platforms for comprehensive characterization. Nondestructive spectroscopic and imaging technologies are also proposed for food process monitoring and quality control in real time.

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This reprint represents a collection of scientific papers belonging to a Special Issue of Antioxidants entitled "Advances in the Astonishing World of Phytochemicals: State-of-the-Art for Antioxidants". Several studies have revealed that plants are a source of a plethora of bioactive compounds, such as phytohormones, glycosides, terpenoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and essential oils, with a strong potential impact in the fields of pharmaceutics and agriculture. These phytochemicals represent a valuable weapon that plants use in self-defense in order to counteract the effects of abiotic stress disturbing the delicate equilibrium between the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defense systems. In recent years, interest in this area of research has been increasing due to the multifaceted properties of natural compounds with antioxidants having anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activity. Therefore, understanding the underlying mechanism of their action is crucial to establishing their real potential in applied sciences. This reprint focuses on the most recent advances in the study of antioxidant molecular mechanisms activated by phytochemicals, with potential pharmacological and agricultural applications. We thank all the authors for their contribution to the research topic of this reprint and all editorial staff for their valuable support.

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This book collects some recent scientific data on the role of polyphenols in various pathological contexts, ranging from viral infection to metabolic or chronic disorders such as diabetes and renal fibrosis. The included studies showed both in vitro and in vivo evidence concerning positive effects of polyphenols in inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. The investigated molecules include: verbascoside from Olea europea, curcumin from Curcuma longa, phenolic acids from Antirhea borbonica, and phlorotannins from marine algae. Finally, the main flavonoids present in the human diet and their anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer roles were also discussed. The scientific data confirm the importance of the plant kingdom, both marine and terrestrial, in the search for new compounds with potential benefits for humans.

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The exposure of animals to environmental stresses (restraint, bad housing conditions, irradiation, pollution, diseases, and heat stress) and endogenous stresses (metabolic and physiological disorders) can seriously disrupt the redox homeostasis, leading to impairments in animals’ health and overall performance. Under these circumstances, the self-antioxidant defense system may not be enough to neutralize ROS effects. In this context, the utilization of an exogenous source of antioxidants, mainly dietary sources, may present an effective and cost-effective solution. There are a plethora of substances, either naturally occurring or synthesized (organic acids, minerals, vitamins, hormones, and specific feed additives originating from plants such as essential oils and polyphenols), known for their antioxidant activity, that can be used to maintain adequate redox status in animals in order to preserve their well-being and/or productivity. This area of research still needs more investigations in order to clearly elucidate the effective antioxidant substances that could be used in practical applications, with an emphasis on their biological mechanisms during different physiological conditions and health statuses. We intend to bring together current research concerning the role of antioxidant substances either from natural sources or those synthesized for improving animal production, reproduction, health, and welfare.

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Natural products remain important repositories of promising therapeutic candidates due to their rich chemical and biological diversity. The Special Issue on "Bio-functional Natural Products in Edible Resources for Human Health and Beauty" is intended to offer biological active natural products from edible resources as candidates and/or leads for pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, functional foods, cosmetics, and food additives, etc. The research fields of this Special Issue include natural products chemistry, phytochemistry, pharmacognosy, food chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, chemical biology, molecular biology, molecular pharmacology, and other related research fields of bioactive natural products obtained from the edible resources. This eBook contains 12 Reviews and Articles focusing on these research areas. I hope that this eBook will be of benefit to outstanding professionals in these research areas.

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Brown algae comprise approx. 2040 species grown in various climatic conditions. They represent a reservoir of various bioactive compounds, including fucoidan, alginate, phlorotannins, and fucoxanthins. They have shown an array of applications in pharmaceutical and medical fields. Hence, the Guest Editor invites all interested authors to submit their contributions to the current issue in Marine Drugs entitled “Bioactive Compounds from Brown Algae”. It aims to highlight different aspects of bioactive compounds found in brown algae, in either research or review articles. Specifically, we are interested in downstream processes, chemistry, biotechnology, and applications of, for example, heteropolysaccharides and other brown algae bioactives. In addition, the structure elucidation and enzymatic modification of these components are also within the scope of the present Issue.

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For this Special Issue book, ten papers focusing on novel bioactive molecules from different marine microorganisms, including fungi, cyanobacteria, actinobacteria and diatoms, were selected. The isolated biomolecules represent different structures and showed anticancer, antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and enzyme-inhibiting activities. One of the papers is a review article on microviridins, a class of bioactive cyanobacterial peptides.

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This book describes the recent advances in natural product chemistry and biodiversity in the Red Sea. All previous marine natural products isolated from different Red Sea organisms and microbes were collected in a comprehensive review. Additionally, newly discovered marine natural products and their biological activities are described.

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Biocatalysis, that is, the use of biological catalysts (enzymes, cells, etc.) for the preparation of highly valuable compounds is undergoing a great development, being considered an extremely sustainable approach to undertaking environmental demands. In this scenario, this book illustrates the versatility of applied biocatalysis for the preparation of drugs and other bioactive compounds through the presentation of different research articles and reviews, in which several authors describe the most recent developments in this appealing scientific area. By reading the excellent contributions gathered in this book, it is possible to have an updated idea about new advances and possibilities for a new exciting future.

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Nature represents an amazing source of inspiration, since it produces a great diversity of natural compounds selected by evolution, which exhibit multiple biological activities and applications. A large and very active research field is dedicated to identifying biosynthesized compounds, to improve/develop new methodologies, to produce/reuse natural compounds, and to assess their potential for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries, among others, and additionally, to understand their mechanism of action. This book is dedicated to presenting the most recent results on the development of natural compounds’ applications. Ten original research works, organized by applications, and two reviews are included. Each of them contributes to the knowledge advance, insofar as they present new applications for known products, new methodologies to obtain new products, or the evaluation of a given application, with the applications related to health promotion being the most frequently considered. These works are significant contributions and reinforce the dynamic field of natural products’ applications.

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Phytotherapy is probably the oldest form of medicine; however, it represents a new therapeutic tool for healthcare workers. Indeed plants are an infinite source of novel molecules, with countless possible combinations. This collection of articles (a Special Issue from Molecules) brings together the most up-to-date studies on the use of plant-derived compounds, ranging from their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects to the revision of the prominent literature.

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Many macro and micro species, from terrestrial and aquatic environments, produce structurally unique compounds and, in many countries, still are the primary sources of medicines. In fact, secondary metabolites are an important source of chemotherapeutic agents but are also lead compounds for synthetic modification and the optimization of biological activity. Therefore, the exploitation of secondary metabolites, or their inspired synthetic compounds, offers excellent opportunities for the pharmaceutical industry. This Medicines Special Issue focuses on the great potential of secondary metabolites for therapeutic application. The Special Issue contains 16 articles reporting relevant experimental results, and an overview of bioactive secondary metabolites, their biological effects, and new methodologies that improve and accelerate the process of obtained lead compounds with regard to new drug development. We would like to thank all 83 authors, from all over the world, for their valuable contributions to this Special Issue.

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This book focuses on the prediction of antioxidant peptides and the improvement of the aqueous solubility, chemical stability, bioactivity, and release properties of natural antioxidants through enzymatic glycosylation and encapsulation technology. The rational design and construction of delivery systems are effective for the application of antioxidants in the industry. Special attention in this book is given to inorganic nanoparticles, biopolymer-based particulate systems, prediction in antioxidant activity of peptides, evaluation of encapsulation and delivery performance, and application in commercial products.

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Antimicrobial resistance remains a major concern in medicine, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, where microbial infections were frequent complications. To combat drug-resistant pathogens, there has been a renewed interest in the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). This reprint focuses on the in-silico approaches used for the rational discovery and design of AMPs. Such computational methodologies range from classical homology-based and machine-learning prediction algorithms to complex similarity networks and evolutionary algorithms that use models of sequence evolution. Furthermore, the reprint explores the improvement of high-throughput screening techniques in the discovery of AMPs from biological samples, which has also led to the evolution of computational approaches that aid in this biodiscovery process. The reprint contains original research and review papers, which serve as valuable references for researchers dedicated to peptide drug development.

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This eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contact

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Creatine plays a critical role in cellular metabolism, primarily by binding with phosphate to form phosphocreatine (PCr) as well as shuttling high-energy phosphate compounds in and out of the mitochondria for metabolism. Increasing the dietary availability of creatine increases the tissue and cellular availability of PCr, and thereby enhances the ability to maintain high-energy states during intense exercise. For this reason, creatine monohydrate has been extensively studied as an ergogenic aid for exercise, training, and sport. Limitations in the ability to synthesize creatine and transport and/or store dietary creatine can impair metabolism and is a contributor to several disease states. Additionally, creatine provides an important source of energy during metabolically stressed states, particularly when oxygen availability is limited. Thus, researchers have assessed the role of creatine supplementation on health throughout the lifespan, as well as whether creatine availability may improve disease management and/or therapeutic outcomes. This book provides a comprehensive overview of scientific and medical evidence related to creatine's role in metabolism, health throughout the lifespan, and our current understanding of how creatine can promote brain, heart, vascular and immune health; reduce the severity of musculoskeletal and brain injury; and may provide therapeutic benefits in glucose management and diabetes, cancer therapy, inflammatory bowel disease, and post-viral fatigue.

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Dairy foods make up an important part of the diets of billions of people across the globe. The nutrient composition of dairy foods adds significantly to a healthy diet, as dairy foods are an excellent or very good source of calcium, high quality protein, potassium, and riboflavin. On the other hand, some research has related dairy intake to the occurrence of certain chronic diseases. The science behind the health properties of dairy foods continue to evolve. This monograph presents current research aimed and understanding the health benefits and risks from the consumption of dairy foods.

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