The aging process is characterized by multiple mechanisms that lead to changes in energy production, oxidative stress, homeostatic dysregulation, and often to loss of functionality and increased disease susceptibility. Most aged individuals develop chronic low-grade inflammation, which is an important risk factor for morbidity, physical and cognitive impairment, and death. However, at any age, chronic inflammatory diseases are major causes of morbimortality, affecting up to 5-8% of the population of industrialized countries. Despite the genetic features that play a marginal role, several environmental factors can play a pivotal role in modifying the inflammatory and oxidative state in chronic diseases.

The interaction between inflammation and the environment offers important insights on aging and health. These conditions, often depending on the individual's sex, appear to lead to decreased longevity and physical and cognitive decline. Considering this, in addition to conventional therapy, growing evidence has indicated that certain plant complexes such as extracts and essential oils exhibit beneficial effects in several pathologies for their strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and scientific evidence supports their possible use in the clinical setting.

The aim of this Special Issue is to promote the dissemination of new research in the field of natural bioactive compounds that have potential therapeutic applications in oxidative and inflammation-based disorders. Research articles that focus on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of plant extracts and compounds derived from them, and on the comparison between the plant complex activity and its isolated bioactive compounds, elucidating possible synergic behaviours, are welcome. The research articles must contain an adequate phytochemical characterization of the plant complexes investigated or chemical characterization of the isolated bioactive compounds. Moreover, it is recommended to use multiple approaches to investigate the nature and localization of the bioactive compounds such as microscopy, as well as to study the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties such as by cell-free and cell-based studies, animal or clinical trials. In addition, reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses on the above topics are welcome and encouraged.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• The putative role of oxidative stress and inflammation in pathophysiology
• Molecular mechanisms underlining oxidative stress and inflammation
• Interplay between oxidative damage, inflammation, and chronic diseases
• Role of plant extracts in pathologies correlated with oxidative stress and inflammation
• Role of natural compounds in pathologies correlated with oxidative stress and inflammation
• Development of new in vitro cell-free and cell-based models for the characterization of oxidative stress and inflammation
• New experimental models for the in vivo evaluation of oxidative and inflammatory based pathologies
• Clinical studies aimed at studying new formulations based on plant extracts and/or pure natural molecules in chronic diseases