Background: Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), an essential element of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), has demonstrated considerable potential in improving mitochondrial health and protecting against chronic diseases. This narrative review aims to explore how the main phenolic compounds found in EVOO—hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, and oleocanthal—contribute to mitochondrial health by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Methods: A search for scientific evidence was carried out between October 2024 and March 2025 in different bibliographic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, SciSpace, and ResearchRabbit databases. The search strategy included combinations of terms such as “extra virgin olive oil”, “EVOO polyphenols”, “mitochondrial function”, “oxidative stress”, “inflammation”, “mitophagy”, and “chronic diseases”. Preclinical, clinical, and mechanistic studies were included, giving priority to peer-reviewed publications. Results: This narrative review shows how some bioactive components of EVOO activate cellular pathways, such as mTOR, AMPK and sirtuins, which promote mitochondrial biogenesis, improve the efficiency of the electron transport chain, and protect mitochondrial DNA integrity. Furthermore, EVOO improves mitochondrial membrane fluidity and integrity, ensuring its functionality and efficiency. On the other hand, nutrition literacy, an important component of health, is a critical determinant of people’s eating behaviors. Conclusions: Although recent scientific evidence supports the metabolic benefits of EVOO components on mitochondrial metabolism and function, further nutritional intervention studies with these components are recommended to confirm their clinical relevance as a dietary tool aimed at preventing and/or delaying age-related metabolic diseases.

The present study was carried out to determine the bioactivity of polysaccharides extracted from Euglena gracilis (EgPs). These were characterized by FT-IR and GC-MS. Cytotoxicity analyses (MTT) were performed on healthy human gingival fibroblast cell lines (HGF-1), obtaining an IC₅₀ of 228.66 µg mL⁻¹, and cell lines with anticancer activity for colon cancer (HCT-116), breast cancer (MCF-7), human leukemia (U-937, HL-60) and lung cancer (NCl-H460), showing that EgPs have anticancer activity, mainly in HTC-116 cells (IC₅₀ = 26.1 µg mL⁻¹). The immunological assay determined the immunomodulatory capacity of polysaccharides for the production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in murine macrophages (RAW 264.7) and TNF-α in human monocytes (THP-1). It was observed that the EgPs had a stimulating capacity in the synthesis of these interleukins. The antioxidant capacity of polysaccharides and their biomass were analyzed using the ABTS method (18.30 ± 0.14% and (5.40 ± 0.56%, respectively, and the DPPH method for biomass (17.79 ± 0.57%). We quantitatively profiled HGF-1 proteins by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis, coupled with 2-plex tandem mass tag labelling, in normal cells. In total, 1346 proteins were identified and quantified with high confidence, of which five were considered to be overexpressed. The data is available through ProteomeXchange, under identifier PXD029076.

Marine sponges are a prolific source of bioactive compounds. In this work, the putative antiangiogenic potential of a series of synthetic precursors of Solomonamide A, a cyclic peptide isolated from a marine sponge, was evaluated. By means of an in vitro screening, based on the inhibitory activity of endothelial tube formation, the compound Solo F–OH was selected for a deeper characterization of its antiangiogenic potential. Our results indicate that Solo F–OH is able to inhibit some key steps of the angiogenic process, including the proliferation, migration, and invasion of endothelial cells, as well as diminish their capability to degrade the extracellular matrix proteins. The antiangiogenic potential of Solo F–OH was confirmed by means of two different in vivo models: the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and the zebrafish yolk membrane (ZFYM) assays. The reduction in ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation in endothelial cells treated with Solo F–OH denotes that this compound could target the upstream components that are common to both pathways. Taken together, our results show a new and interesting biological activity of Solo F–OH as an inhibitor of the persistent and deregulated angiogenesis that characterizes cancer and other pathologies.

Fomitiporia species have aroused the interest of numerous investigations that reveal their biological activity and medicinal potential. The present investigation shows the antioxidant, anticancer, and immunomodulatory activity of acidic polysaccharides obtained from the fungus Fomitiporia chilensis. The acidic polysaccharides were obtained for acidic precipitation with 2% O-N-cetylpyridinium bromide. Chemical analysis was performed using FT-IR and GC-MS methods. The antioxidant capacity of acidic polysaccharides from F. chilensis was evaluated by scavenging free radicals with an ABTS assay. Macrophage proliferation and cytokine production assays were used to determine the immunomodulatory capacity of the polysaccharides. Anti-tumor and cytotoxicity activity was evaluated with an MTT assay in the U-937, HTC-116, and HGF-1 cell lines. The effect of polysaccharides on the cell cycle of the HCT-116 cell line was determined for flow cytometry. Fourier Transform-infrared characterization revealed characteristic absorption peaks for polysaccharides, whereas the GC-MS analysis detected three peaks corresponding to D-galactose, galacturonic acid, and D-glucose. The secreted TNF-α concentration was increased when the cell was treated with 2 mg mL⁻¹ polysaccharides, whereas the IL-6 concentration was increased with all of the evaluated polysaccharide concentrations. A cell cycle analysis of HTC-116 treated with polysaccharides evidenced that the acidic polysaccharides from F. chilensis induce an increase in the G0/G1 cell cycle phase, increasing the apoptotic cell percentage. Results from a proteomic analysis suggest that some of the molecular mechanisms involved in their antioxidant and cellular detoxifying effects and justify their traditional use in heart diseases. Proteomic data are available through ProteomeXchange under identifier PXD048361. The study on acidic polysaccharides from F. chilensis has unveiled their diverse biological activities, including antioxidant, anticancer, and immunomodulatory effects. These findings underscore the promising therapeutic applications of acidic polysaccharides from F. chilensis, warranting further pharmaceutical and medicinal research exploration.

Background/Objectives: While excessive body fat is commonly linked to metabolic disorders (metabolically unhealthy obesity, MUO), a subset of individuals remain metabolic healthy despite obesity (metabolically healthy obesity, MHO). This work aims to determine how these phenotypes influence responses to lifestyle modification (LSM) in older adults. Methods: A 12-month lifestyle modification (LSM) intervention based on the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) and regular physical activity (PA) was conducted in 43 older adults (70% women) classified according to World Health Organization (WHO) criteria as MHO (22 subjects) or MUO (21 subjects). Clinical, dietary, and PA parameters were assessed at baseline and follow-up. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed for mitochondrial fusion (OPA1, MFN2), mitophagy (PINK1), biogenesis (TFAM), and the respiratory chain (COX IV) using Western blot and RT-qPCR techniques. Results: At baseline, MUO showed significant lower OPA1-L, MFN2, and TFAM along with MFN2 degradation products and PINK1 accumulation. After 12 months of LSM, MUO participants exhibited greater metabolic profile improvements, such as significantly reduced MFN2 degradation products and higher COX IV. Changes in mitochondrial proteins were associated with nutrient intake and PA and clinical parameters with phenotype-specific patterns. In MUO, protein and cholesterol intake improved MFN2 fusion (rho = 0.446, p = 0.043; rho = 0.581, p = 0.006), while carbohydrates were negatively associated with OPA1 in MHO (rho = −0.596, p = 0.025). PA was positively related to fusion proteins in both phenotypes. Clinically, significant improvements in BMI, waist circumference, and HDL were found in MUO but not in MHO. Conclusions: Older adults with obesity show phenotype-specific mitochondrial impairments that shape distinct responses to LSM, highlighting the relevance of tailoring LSM interventions by metabolic phenotype.