Green tea polyphenols have numerous functions including antioxidation and modulation of various cellular proteins and are thus beneficial against metabolic diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, and their comorbidities. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant polyphenol in green tea and is attributed to antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities, and the likelihood of targeting multiple metabolic pathways. It has been shown to exhibit anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-arteriosclerotic, and weight-reducing effects in humans. Worldwide, the incidences of metabolic diseases have been escalating across all age groups in modern society. Therefore, EGCG is being increasingly investigated to address the problems. This review presents the current updates on the effects of EGCG on metabolic diseases, and highlights evidence related to its safety. Collectively, this review brings more evidence for therapeutic application and further studies on EGCG and its derivatives to alleviate metabolic diseases and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases.

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. or Elaeagnus rhamnoides L.) is a plant that has long been used as a Chinese herbal medicine. This species is known to contain numerous bioactive components, including polyphenols, fatty acids, vitamins, and phytosterols, which may be responsible for its medicinal value. In experiments both in vitro and in vivo (ranging from cell lines to animal models and human patients), sea buckthorn has shown positive effects on symptoms of metabolic syndrome; evidence suggests that sea buckthorn treatment can decrease blood lipid content, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, and regulate key metabolites. This article reviews the main bioactive compounds present in sea buckthorn and discusses their efficacy in treating metabolic syndrome. Specifically, we highlight bioactive compounds isolated from distinct sea buckthorn tissues; their effects on abdominal obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia; and their potential mechanisms of action in clinical applications. This review provides key insight into the benefits of sea buckthorn, promoting future research of this species and expansion of sea buckthorn-based therapies for metabolic syndrome.

Hyperuricemia and gout are metabolic diseases characterized with high serum urate and impact human health significantly. Although some drugs have been developed to treat gout, hyperuricemia represents a substantial health problem. Reducing purine absorption through intestinal microbiota, which can be managed through intake of probiotics, emerges as a promising way to reverse elevated serum urate. Probiotics have shown several benefits such as immune modulation and improvement of intestinal functions. Therefore, this review briefly summarizes purine metabolism and molecular mechanisms for hyperuricemia and gout with the focus on recent development on the use of probiotics to alleviate hyperuricemia and gout.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer health benefits to human when administered in adequate amount. They are mainly lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, although the probiotics potential of other bacteria and yeast are not excluded. Modulation of the immune system, anti-inflammatory effect, improved intestinal functioning, inhibition of pathogens and treatment of diseases such as traveler’s diarrhea are among probiotics benefits. While several health ailments such as inflammatory bowel, diabetes, hepatic, neurological, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and some cancer like colorectal cancer are associated with probiotics imbalances. Probiotics are mainly isolated from the human microbiota pool, feces, breast milk and fermented products. Also, fermented fruits and vegetable described as prebiotics are among sources of probiotics. They are rich in functional antioxidants that synergistically provides health benefits to human. In the present work, fruits and vegetable probiotics, isolation, characterization, health benefits and their application are reviewed.

Lateral root (LR) branches from primary root. LR is vital for plants acquiring water and nutrients from soil, especially under stress conditions. LR development involves the complicated signaling network, which has not yet been fully understood. Melatonin, a novel endogenous plant regulator, plays a role in the regulation of LR development. However, we still have limited knowledge about melatonin-modulated signaling during LR development. Our recent study identifies that reactive oxygen species (ROS) acts as downstream signaling of melatonin to facilitate LR development. The recently identified receptor of melatonin in plants controls a signaling module involving G protein, ROS, and Ca²⁺. Based on these findings, we propose a novel signaling network for LR development controlled by melatonin.

The impact of host–microbiome interactions on cognitive health and disease has received increasing attention. Microbial-derived metabolites produced in the gut are one of crucial mechanisms of the gut–brain axis interaction, showing attractive perspectives. Urolithins (Uros) are gut microbial-derived metabolites of ellagitannins and ellagic acid, whose biotransformation varies considerably between individuals and decreases greatly with age. Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that Uros may have specific advantages in preventing brain aging including favorable blood–brain barrier permeability, selective brain distribution, and increasingly supporting data from preclinical and clinical studies. However, the usability of Uros in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases remains elusive. In this review, we aim to present the comprehensive achievements of Uros in age-related brain dysfunctions and neurodegenerative diseases and discuss their prospects and knowledge gaps as functional food, drugs, or biomarkers against brain aging.