Functional foods and nutraceuticals in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
| Bioactive compound | Typology/examples | Main mechanisms of action | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flavonoids | Quercetin, EGCG, kaempferol | Cell cycle arrest; mitochondrial and death receptor–mediated apoptosis; inhibition of angiogenesis via VEGF downregulation | [96] |
| Flavonoids (EGCG) | Epigallocatechin gallate | Inhibition of DNA methyltransferases and histone deacetylases; epigenetic modulation in cancer cells | [97] |
| Stilbenes | Resveratrol | Modulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK and NF-κB pathways; reduced proliferation; increased apoptosis; inhibition of metastasis | [98] |
| Carotenoids | β-Carotene, lycopene, lutein, astaxanthin | Quenching of singlet oxygen; scavenging of free radicals; modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory gene expression | [99] |
| Lycopene | Tomato-derived carotenoid | Inhibition of cell proliferation; induction of apoptosis; suppression of IGF-1 signaling; reduced cancer risk | [100] |
| Carotenoids (neuroprotection) | Lutein, zeaxanthin | Protection of retinal and neural tissues; reduction of oxidative damage; mitigation of excitotoxicity; preservation of cognitive function | [101] |
| Carotenoids (anti-neuroinflammatory) | Lutein, astaxanthin | Reduction of microglial activation; decreased production of IL-1β and TNF-α | [102] |
| Omega-3 PUFAs | EPA and DHA | Inhibition of microglial activation; reduced prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis; attenuation of neuroinflammation | [103] |
| Omega-3 PUFAs | EPA and DHA | Modulation of eicosanoid synthesis; induction of apoptosis; inhibition of angiogenesis; increased chemosensitivity of tumor cells | [104] |
| Dietary fibers/SCFAs | Butyrate, propionate, acetate | HDAC inhibition; epigenetic regulation; induction of apoptosis in colon cancer cells | [105] |
| SCFAs | Butyrate | Enhanced intestinal barrier integrity; reduced endotoxemia; immunomodulation; decreased chronic inflammation | [106] |
| Probiotics | Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp. | Modulation of gut microbiota; reduction of inflammatory cytokines; improvement of cognitive performance | [107] |
| Bioactive peptides | Milk, soy, fish and cereal-derived peptides | Caspase-dependent apoptosis in cancer cells; ACE inhibition; modulation of IGF signaling | [108] |
| Bioactive peptides (neuroprotection) | Food-derived peptides | Scavenging of ROS; enhanced neuronal survival; modulation of synaptic plasticity | [109] |
RPD: Conceptualization, Writing—original draft. RMP: Methodology, Data curation, Supervision. SY: Investigation, Writing—original draft. FP: Data curation, Validation. ADL: Supervision, Project administration. RC: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing, Supervision. GP: Supervision, Project administration, Funding acquisition. All authors read and approved the submitted version.
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
© The Author(s) 2026.
Open Exploration maintains a neutral stance on jurisdictional claims in published institutional affiliations and maps. All opinions expressed in this article are the personal views of the author(s) and do not represent the stance of the editorial team or the publisher.