Study of Gut Microbiota in the Regulation of Diseases and Health by Natural Products

Dear Colleagues,

Many natural products, such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, and alkaloids, have been demonstrated to possess several health benefits. Natural products are widely distributed in nature, especially in diverse plant-based foods and medicinal plants. Although the health benefits of many natural products have been reported for decades, the potential medical mechanisms remain not very clear, since most natural products have limited water solubility and poor bioavailability, and a large part can enter the colon to take part in fermentation initiated by the gut microbiota. Recent studies indicate that gut microbiota play a critical role in human diseases and health. The composition and abundance of gut microbiota can significantly influence the physiological and pathological status of humans. Increasing evidence supports the hypothesis that natural products may influence diseases and health, at least partly by interacting with gut microbiota in the colon. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to bring together the most recent research progress on the importance of gut microbiota in the regulation of diseases and health by natural products.

Prof. Dr. Ren-You Gan
Prof. Dr. Huabin Li
Prof. Dr. Ding-Tao Wu
Guest Editors

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• plant-based foods
• medicinal plants
• phytochemicals
• polysaccharides
• gut microbiota
• health benefits
• bioactivities
• cancer
• metabolic syndrome
• molecular mechanisms