The human gastrointestinal tract hosts a complex and dynamic community of microorganisms known as the gut microbiota, which play a pivotal role in numerous physiological processes, including digestion, metabolism, and immune function. Recent research has highlighted the significant impact of diet on the gut microbiota composition and functionality, and the consequential effects on host health. Concurrently, there is growing evidence linking the gut microbiota to inflammation, a key factor in many chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This review explores how dietary components influence the gut microbiota composition, how these microbial changes affect inflammatory pathways, and the therapeutic implications of modulating this axis for chronic inflammatory disease prevention and management. Beneficial dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet (MD) and plant-based diets, promote a diverse and balanced gut microbiota composition, supporting anti-inflammatory pathways. Conversely, the Western diet (WD), high in saturated fats and refined sugars, is associated with dysbiosis and increased inflammation. With all the links between the three variables considered, this review attempts to offer a thorough examination of the triangle formed by inflammation, the gut microbiota, and food.

The complex relationship between diet, the gut microbiota, and mental health, particularly depression, has become a focal point of contemporary research. This critical review examines how specific dietary components, such as fiber, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds, shape the gut microbiome and influence microbial metabolism in order to regulate depressive outcomes. These dietary-induced changes in the gut microbiota can modulate the production of microbial metabolites, which play vital roles in gut–brain communication. The gut–brain axis facilitates this communication through neural, immune, and endocrine pathways. Alterations in microbial metabolites can influence central nervous system (CNS) functions by impacting neuroplasticity, inflammatory responses, and neurotransmitter levels—all of which are linked to the onset and course of depression. This review highlights recent findings linking dietary components with beneficial changes in gut microbiota composition and reduced depressive symptoms. We also explore the challenges of individual variability in responses to dietary interventions and the long-term sustainability of these strategies. The review underscores the necessity for further longitudinal and mechanistic studies to elucidate the precise mechanisms through which diet and gut microbiota interactions can be leveraged to mitigate depression, paving the way for personalized nutritional therapies.

Obesity is a global health crisis and is one of the major reasons for the rising prevalence of metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers. There has been growing interest in the search for natural molecules with potential anti-obesity effects; among the phytochemicals of interest are anthocyanins, which are flavonoid pigments present in many fruits and vegetables. Anthocyanins influence obesity via several signaling pathways. The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway plays a major role with a focus on downstream targets such as GLUT4, FOXO, GSK3β, and mTOR, which play a central role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, lipid storage, and adipogenesis. The influence of critical factors such as oxidative stress and inflammation also affect the pathophysiology of obesity. However, the studies reviewed have certain limitations, including variations in experimental models, bioavailability challenges, and a lack of extensive clinical validation. While anthocyanin shows tremendous potential, challenges such as poor bioavailability, stability, and regulatory matters must be overcome for successful functional food inclusion of anthocyanins. The future of anthocyanin-derived functional foods lies in their ability to overcome hurdles. Therefore, this review highlights the molecular mechanisms of obesity through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathways and explores how anthocyanins can modulate these signaling pathways to address obesity and related metabolic disorders. It also addresses some ways to solve the challenges, like bioavailability and stability, while emphasizing future possibilities for anthocyanin-based functional foods in obesity management.

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by insulin resistance, impaired glucose homeostasis, and dysregulated glucose metabolism, leading to complications. Inonotus obliquus (Chaga) has shown potential anti-diabetic effects, but the bioactive compounds and molecular targets remain unclear. This study aimed to identify the bioactive components of Chaga and elucidate their anti-diabetic mechanisms using LC-MS compound screening, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and bioinformatics analyses. Chaga extract was prepared using 95% ethanol, and bioactive compounds were identified through UHPLC-QE-MS analysis. Target prediction was conducted using Swiss Target Prediction and SEA databases, while diabetes-related targets were retrieved from GeneCards. A PPI network was constructed using STRING and analyzed for GO and KEGG enrichment. Molecular docking was performed using AutoDock Vina, and gene expression was validated using the GSE7014 dataset and GEPIA database, with immune cell infiltration analyzed through CIBERSORT. UHPLC-QE-MS identified 30 bioactive compounds from Chaga, including 21 triterpenoids, four flavonoids, and two diterpenoids. Network pharmacology predicted 432 anti-diabetic targets, with 167 core targets enriched in key pathways, primarily the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities of five key compounds with seven core targets. Bioinformatics analysis validated significant expression changes in ESR1, IL6, and SRC, while immune cell infiltration analysis showed correlations between core targets and immune cell subtypes. This study highlights the anti-diabetic potential of Chaga by identifying key bioactive compounds and their interactions with central diabetic targets. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to validate these findings.