NATPRO Journal

Accepted papers

July 22, 2026 Review

Odd-chain fatty acids in health and disease: metabolic functions, therapeutic potential, and emerging applications

NATPRO J (2026) 3: 27-35

https://doi.org/10.23177/NJ026.0401 

Authors: Ji Soo Kim1, Dae Kyeong Kim1, and Somi Kim Cho1,2

Abstract: Odd-chain fatty acids (OCFAs), primarily pentadecanoic acid and heptadecanoic acid, have traditionally been regarded as biomarkers of dairy fat intake. However, emerging evidence suggests that OCFAs are influenced not only by dietary sources but also by endogenous metabolism and gut microbiota-derived precursors. Interest in OCFAs has therefore expanded beyond their conventional role as nutritional biomarkers, following accumulating biological, epidemiological, and nutritional observations. Epidemiological studies have consistently reported inverse associations between higher circulating levels of OCFAs and the risk of metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, although causal relationships remain to be fully established. At the metabolic level, OCFAs exhibit unique features, notably their ability to generate propionyl-CoA and provide anaplerotic input into the tricarboxylic acid cycle, which may support metabolic flexibility. In addition, OCFAs may modulate inflammation, lipid remodeling, mitochondrial function, and potentially regulate epigenetic processes through acyl-CoA-mediated chromatin modifications. Advances in lipidomics, microbiome research, and biotechnology have further expanded interest in OCFAs as bioactive lipids with translational relevance. Moreover, recent developments in precision fermentation and microalgal production systems have enabled scalable OCFA production, facilitating their application in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical contexts. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on OCFA sources and metabolism, their associations with human health and disease, emerging metabolic and mechanistic insights, and recent advances in technological development, patent activity, and market trends.

Received: April 3, 2026; Revised: July 9, 2026; Accepted: July 21, 2026; Published: July 22, 2026; E-mail: somikim@jejunu.ac.kr

June 12, 2026 Review

Endolysins from Cutibacterium acnes phages as alternative antibiotics

NATPRO J (2026) 3: 23-26

https://doi.org/10.23177/NJ026.0402 

Authors: Muhammad Adeel Hasnain and Gi-Seong Moon*

Abstract: The rising antibiotic resistance of Cutibacterium acnes and the disruption of the skin microbiome have necessitated the development of alternative acne therapies. Bacteriophage-derived endolysins have emerged as a promising, microbiome-friendly antimicrobial strategy. These enzymes rapidly and specifically degrade the bacterial cell wall, selectively targeting pathogens without harming beneficial microbiota. Furthermore, endolysins exhibit a low propensity for resistance development and are highly effective against biofilms. Recent advancements in protein engineering—focusing on the enzymatic active domain (EAD) and cell wall-binding domain (CBD)—have enabled the structural optimization of recombinant endolysins for enhanced therapeutic efficacy. This paper outlines the mechanism of action, technological developments, and patent trends of C. acnes-targeting endolysins, highlighting their significant clinical and commercial potential as next-generation targeted topical therapeutics in dermatological care.

Received: April 3, 2026; Revised: May 26, 2026; Accepted: June 11, 2026; Published: June 12, 2026; E-mail: gsmoon@ut.ac.kr

June 8, 2026 Review

Peptidomics and Mass Spectrometry: Enabling the Discovery of Short Peptides as Novel Natural Products

NATPRO J (2026) 3: 17-22

https://doi.org/10.23177/NJ026.0407 

Authors: Jong Suk Lee* and Jun Ho Shin

Abstract: Food proteins are routinely exposed to gastrointestinal proteolysis, generating complex peptide mixtures that include both transient intermediates and biologically active sequences. While the nutritional role of proteins has long been recognized, the diversity and biological activity of peptides generated during digestion have remained largely unexplored due to analytical limitations. Recent advances in high-resolution mass spectrometry and peptidomics have made it possible to profile hydrolysis-derived peptides at scale with substantially improved depth and confidence. Short peptides represent a chemically diverse molecular space with potential applications as bioactive compounds. The theoretical diversity of peptide sequences increases exponentially (20ⁿ, where n = peptide length), far exceeding the structural space explored by conventional natural product discovery methods. Furthermore, peptides derived from dietary proteins are expected to exhibit favorable safety profiles due to their long history of human consumption. This perspective highlights the emerging paradigm of short peptide discovery through mass-spectrometry-based peptidomics and discusses its technological, industrial, and market implications for functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic applications.

Received: May 1, 2026; Revised: June 5, 2026; Accepted: June 5, 2026; Published: June 8, 2026; E-mail: leejs@gbsa.or.kr

May 7, 2026 Article

HPLC Quantification and In Silico Analysis of Polyphenols from Moringa oleifera Targeting FPR2 in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

NATPRO J (2026) 3: 9-16

https://doi.org/10.23177/NJ026.0404 

Authors: Chang-Dae Lee1 and Sanghyun Lee1,2*

Abstract: This study investigated the polyphenolic composition of Moringa oleifera and evaluated its potential biological relevance for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) using an integrated analytical and computational approach. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that (+)-catechin and quercetin 3-glucuronide were the major compounds, with concentrations of 32.12 mg/g and 19.14 mg/g, respectively. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were employed to predict the molecular targets and elucidate the pharmacological mechanisms of these compounds in the context of EOC. The results suggested that these compounds may interact with formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2), a key receptor highly implicated in EOC pathogenesis and inflammation-related signaling pathways. Both (+)-catechin and quercetin 3-glucuronide exhibited strong binding affinities to FPR2 in docking simulations, with scores of –8.7 and –10.7 kcal/mol, respectively, indicating possible involvement in modulating FPR2-related biological processes in EOC. These findings provide basic information on the polyphenolic profile of M. oleifera and suggest its potential as a source of bioactive compounds with potential applications to EOC-related biological processes. However, further experimental studies are required to validate these observations.

Received: April 6, 2026; Revised: April 30, 2026; Accepted: May 6, 2026; Published: May 7, 2026; E-mail: slee@cau.ac.kr

Copyright © The Asian Society of Natural Products