An increase in life expectancy leads to a greater impact of chronic non-communicable diseases. This is even more remarkable in elder populations, to whom these become main determinants of health status, affecting mental and physical health, quality of life, and autonomy. Disease appearance is closely related to the levels of cellular oxidation, pointing out the importance of including foods in one’s diet that can prevent oxidative stress. Previous studies and clinical data suggest that some plant-based products can slow and reduce the cellular degradation associated with aging and age-related diseases. Many plants from one family present several applications that range from the food to the pharmaceutical industry due to their characteristic flavor and scents. The Zingiberaceae family, which includes cardamom, turmeric, and ginger, has bioactive compounds with antioxidant activities. They also have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antiemetic activities and properties that help prevent cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. These products are abundant sources of chemical substances, such as alkaloids, carbohydrates, proteins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and diarylheptanoids. The main bioactive compounds found in this family (cardamom, turmeric, and ginger) are 1,8-cineole, α-terpinyl acetate, β-turmerone, and α-zingiberene. The present review gathers evidence surrounding the effects of dietary intake of extracts of the Zingiberaceae family and their underlying mechanisms of action. These extracts could be an adjuvant treatment for oxidative-stress-related pathologies. However, the bioavailability of these compounds needs to be optimized, and further research is needed to determine appropriate concentrations and their antioxidant effects in the body.

Oxidative stress is a key factor in the development of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and liver disorders. Antioxidant therapies that target oxidative damage show significant promise in preventing and treating these conditions. Berberine, an alkaloid derived from various plants in the Berberidaceae family, enhances cellular defenses against oxidative stress through several mechanisms. It activates the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, which reduces mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and improves energy metabolism. Furthermore, it boosts the activity of key antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), thus protecting cells from oxidative damage. These actions make berberine effective in managing diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and neurodegenerative disorders. Silymarin, a flavonolignan complex derived from Silybum marianum, is particularly effective for liver protection. It activates the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway, enhancing antioxidant enzyme expression and stabilizing mitochondrial membranes. Additionally, silymarin reduces the formation of ROS by chelating metal ions, and it also diminishes inflammation. This makes it beneficial for conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol-related liver disorders. This review aims to highlight the distinct mechanisms by which berberine and silymarin exert their antioxidant effects.

This randomized double-blind and controlled single-center clinical trial was designed to evaluate the effect of a 6-week intake of a probiotic product (1 capsule/day) vs. a placebo on an oxidative stress model of physical exercise (high intensity and duration) in male cyclists (probiotic group, n = 22; placebo, n = 21). This probiotic included three lyophilized strains (Bifidobacterium longum CECT 7347, Lactobacillus casei CECT 9104, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus CECT 8361). Study variables were urinary isoprostane, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), serum oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxiguanosine (8-OHdG), serum protein carbonyl, serum glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD). At 6 weeks, as compared with baseline, significant differences in 8-OHdG (Δ mean difference −10.9 (95% CI −14.5 to −7.3); p < 0.001), MDA (Δ mean difference −207.6 (95% CI −349.1 to −66.1; p < 0.05), and Ox-LDL (Δ mean difference −122.5 (95% CI −240 to −4.5); p < 0.05) were found in the probiotic group only. Serum GPx did not increase in the probiotic group, whereas the mean difference was significant in the placebo group (477.8 (95% CI 112.5 to 843.2); p < 0.05). These findings suggest an antioxidant effect of this probiotic on underlying interacting oxidative stress mechanisms and their modulation in healthy subjects. The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03798821).

Background/Objectives: Being overweight and obesity are major public health concerns that demand effective nutritional strategies for weight and body composition management. Beyond excess weight, these conditions are closely linked to chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut dysbiosis, all of which contribute to cardiometabolic risk. Polyphenols—bioactive compounds in plant-based foods—may support improvements in body composition and metabolic health by modulating gut microbiota, reducing oxidative stress, and suppressing inflammation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of polyphenol-rich interventions on gut microbiota composition, in combination with either oxidative stress or inflammatory biomarkers, and their potential impact on body composition in overweight or obese adults. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science was conducted through May 2025. Eligible randomized controlled trials included adults (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) receiving polyphenol-rich interventions, with reported outcomes on gut microbiota and at least one inflammatory or oxidative stress biomarker. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were pooled using a random-effects model. Results: Thirteen trials (n = 670) met inclusion criteria. Polyphenol supplementation significantly reduced circulating lipopolysaccharides (LPSs; SMD = −0.56; 95% CI: −1.10 to −0.02; p < 0.04), indicating improved gut barrier function. Effects on cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) and CRP were inconsistent. Catalase activity improved significantly (SMD = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.30 to 1.28; p < 0.001), indicating enhanced antioxidant defense. Gut microbiota analysis revealed increased butyrate (SMD = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.96; p < 0.001) and acetate (SMD = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.75; p < 0.01), supporting prebiotic effects. However, no significant changes were observed in BMI or body weight. Conclusions: Polyphenol supplementation in overweight or obese adults may reduce metabolic endotoxemia, boost antioxidant activity, and promote SCFAs production. Effects on inflammation and body weight remain unclear. Further long-term trials are needed.

A single-center, randomized, double-blind controlled trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of a food supplement based on a combination of grapefruit, bitter orange, and olive extracts administered for eight weeks (n = 51) versus placebo (n = 45) on reduction of cardiovascular risk in healthy volunteers. Study variables included flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), blood pressure (BP), lipid profile, thrombotic status, oxidative stress biomarkers, inflammation-related biomarkers, anthropometric variables, quality of life, and physical activity. The per-protocol data set was analyzed. In the active product group, there were statistically significant within-group differences at eight weeks as compared with baseline in FMD, systolic and diastolic BP, total cholesterol, LDL-C, LDL-oxidase, oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio, protein carbonyl, and IL-6. Significant between-group differences in these variables were also found. Significant changes in anthropometric variables and quality of life were not observed in the study groups. Changes in the level of physical activity were not recorded. Treatment with the active product was well tolerated. All these findings, taken together, support a beneficial effect of supplementation with a mixture of grapefruit, bitter orange fruits, and olive leaf extracts on underlying mechanisms that may interact each other to decrease the cardiovascular risk in healthy people.

CRLX101 is a cyclodextrin-based nanopharmaceutical designed to improve the delivery and efficacy of the anti-cancer drug camptothecin. Cyclodextrins have unique properties that can enhance drug solubility, stability, and bioavailability, making them an attractive option for drug delivery. The use of cyclodextrin-based nanoparticles can potentially reduce toxicity and increase the therapeutic index compared to conventional chemotherapy. CRLX101 has shown promise in preclinical studies, demonstrating enhanced tumor targeting and prolonged drug release. This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines, assessing the efficacy and toxicity of CRLX101 in cancer treatment using clinical trials. Studies from January 2010 to April 2023 were searched in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, using specific search terms. The risk of bias was assessed using ROBINS-I and Cochrane risk-of-bias tools. After screening 6018 articles, 9 were included in the final review. These studies, conducted between 2013 and 2022, focused on patients with advanced or metastatic cancer resistant to standard therapies. CRLX101 was often combined with other therapeutic agents, resulting in improvements such as increased progression-free survival and clinical benefit rates. Toxicity was generally manageable, with common adverse events including fatigue, nausea, and anemia.