Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Medicinal Plants and Natural Compounds in Health and Disease: Progresses, Challenges, Opportunities

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2024 | Viewed by 15415

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Marilena Gilca

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: oxidative stress; antioxidants; medicinal plants; ethnopharmacology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Adelina Vlad

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: atherosclerosis; coronary artery disease; scavenger receptors; anesthetic preconditioning; endothelial progenitor cells; non coding RNA; nutraceuticals; phytocompounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Humankind has a multi-millennial tradition in treating diseases by means of natural remedies. Phytocompounds isolated from the herbs described in traditional pharmacopoeia, alongside other natural bioactive elements, have been proven in recent times to regulate a wide array of biological processes, such as inflammation, immune response, apoptosis, cell proliferation, cholesterol trafficking or neuronal plasticity. In addition, combining synthetic drugs with plant-based agents, vitamins or other natural compounds has been recognized as an efficient strategy for preventing and treating multifactorial diseases, or for mitigating side effects.

According to various WHO reports, although only 17% out of 250,000 higher plant species around the world have been scientifically studied for their therapeutic potential, over 40% of the pharmacological agents are based on natural products and landmark drugs inspired by traditional medicine. Adequately investigated, this ancient medical knowledge may reveal new bioresources, with a valuable potential for accelerating bioprospection and drug discovery.

In this Special Issue, we welcome original contributions and scientific reviews on the cellular and molecular aspects of phytochemicals, vitamins and other natural compounds and their therapeutic effects, with a recommended emphasis on the differences and similarities between their pharmacological characteristics and those of synthetic drugs; the pharmacokinetics of herbal medicines, herb–herb interactions, herb–drug interactions, natural compounds–drug interactions; the clinical efficacy and safety of natural compounds; the preservation of ethnobotanical knowledge; the innovative plant-based therapeutic approaches built on ancient medical heritage; the use of technology to expand the horizon of traditional medical knowledge; the development of databases on the cellular and molecular actions of medicinal plants, phytochemicals and natural compounds, etc.

Prof. Dr. Marilena Gilca
Dr. Adelina Vlad
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

medicinal plants
phytochemicals
vitamins
oxidative stress
gene expression
protein expression
cellular signaling
ethnopharmacology

Published Papers (12 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

20 pages, 7917 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vivo Biocompatibility Study on Functional Nanostructures Containing Bioactive Glass and Plant Extracts for Implantology

by Laura Floroian and Mihaela Badea

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(8), 4249; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084249 - 11 Apr 2024

Viewed by 396

Abstract

In this paper, the in vivo behavior of orthopedic implants covered with thin films obtained by matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation and containing bioactive glass, a polymer, and natural plant extract was evaluated. In vivo testing was performed by carrying out a study on guinea pigs who had coated metallic screws inserted in them and also controls, following the regulations of European laws regarding the use of animals in scientific studies. After 26 weeks from implantation, the guinea pigs were subjected to X-ray analyses to observe the evolution of osteointegration over time; the guinea pigs’ blood was collected for the detection of enzymatic activity and to measure values for urea, creatinine, blood glucose, alkaline phosphatase, pancreatic amylase, total protein, and glutamate pyruvate transaminase to see the extent to which the body was affected by the introduction of the implant. Moreover, a histopathological assessment of the following vital organs was carried out: heart, brain, liver, and spleen. We also assessed implanted bone with adjacent tissue. Our studies did not find significant variations in biochemical and histological results compared to the control group or significant adverse effects caused by the implant coating in terms of tissue compatibility, inflammatory reactions, and systemic effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants and Natural Compounds in Health and Disease: Progresses, Challenges, Opportunities)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1712 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.) Berries Improve Lipid Metabolism and Delay Aging in Middle-Aged Caenorhabditis elegans

by Yebin Kim, Seonghyeon Nam, Jongbin Lim and Miran Jang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(6), 3418; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25063418 - 18 Mar 2024

Viewed by 618

Abstract

This study evaluated the positive effects of autumn olive berries (AOBs) extract on delaying aging by improving lipid metabolism in middle-aged Caenorhabditis elegans that had become obese due to a high-glucose (GLU) diet. The total phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging abilities of freeze-dried AOBs (FAOBs) or spray-dried AOBs (SAOBs) were examined, and FAOBs exhibited better antioxidant activity. HPLC analysis confirmed that catechin is the main phenolic compound of AOBs; its content was 5.95 times higher in FAOBs than in SAOBs. Therefore, FAOBs were used in subsequent in vivo experiments. FAOBs inhibited lipid accumulation in both the young adult and middle-aged groups in a concentration-dependent manner under both normal and 2% GLU conditions. Additionally, FAOBs inhibited ROS accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner under normal and 2% GLU conditions in the middle-aged worms. In particular, FAOB also increased body bending and egg production in middle-aged worms. To confirm the intervention of genetic factors related to lipid metabolism from the effects of FAOB, body lipid accumulation was confirmed using worms deficient in the daf-16, atgl-1, aak-1, and akt-1 genes. Regarding the effect of FAOB on reducing lipid accumulation, the impact was nullified in daf-16-deficient worms under the 2% GLU condition, and nullified in both the daf-16- and atgl-1-deficient worms under fasting conditions. In conclusion, FAOB mediated daf-16 and atgl-1 to regulate lipogenesis and lipolysis in middle-aged worms. Our findings suggest that FAOB improves lipid metabolism in metabolically impaired middle-aged worms, contributing to its age-delaying effect. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants and Natural Compounds in Health and Disease: Progresses, Challenges, Opportunities)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 6021 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Naringin’s Alleviation of the Inflammatory Response Caused by Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae by Downregulating the NF-κB/NLRP3 Signalling Pathway

by Qilin Huang, Wei Li, Xiaohan Jing, Chen Liu, Saad Ahmad, Lina Huang, Guanyu Zhao, Zhaorong Li, Zhengying Qiu and Ruihua Xin

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(2), 1027; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25021027 - 14 Jan 2024

Viewed by 988

Abstract

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) is responsible for causing Porcine pleuropneumonia (PCP) in pigs. However, using vaccines and antibiotics to prevent and control this disease has become more difficult due to increased bacterial resistance and weak cross-immunity between different APP types. Naringin (NAR), a dihydroflavonoid found in citrus fruit peels, has been recognized as having significant therapeutic effects on inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system. In this study, we investigated the effects of NAR on the inflammatory response caused by APP through both in vivo and in vitro models. The results showed that NAR reduced the number of neutrophils (NEs) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and decreased lung injury and the expression of proteins related to the NLRP3 inflammasome after exposure to APP. In addition, NAR inhibited the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) P65 in porcine alveolar macrophage (PAMs), reduced protein expression of NLRP3 and Caspase-1, and reduced the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by APP. Furthermore, NAR prevented the assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome complex by reducing protein interaction between NLRP3, Caspase-1, and ASC. NAR also inhibited the potassium (K⁺) efflux induced by APP. Overall, these findings suggest that NAR can effectively reduce the lung inflammation caused by APP by inhibiting the over-activated NF-κB/NLRP3 signalling pathway, providing a basis for further exploration of NAR as a potential natural product for preventing and treating APP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants and Natural Compounds in Health and Disease: Progresses, Challenges, Opportunities)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2381 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Berberine Protects against High-Energy and Low-Protein Diet-Induced Hepatic Steatosis: Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Bile Acid Metabolism in Laying Hens

by Chang Wang, Yitian Yang, Jinyan Chen, Xueyan Dai, Chenghong Xing, Caiying Zhang, Huabin Cao, Xiaoquan Guo, Guoliang Hu and Yu Zhuang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(24), 17304; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242417304 - 09 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1084

Abstract

Berberine (BBR) is a natural alkaloid with multiple biotical effects that has potential as a treatment for fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS). However, the mechanism underlying the protective effect of BBR against FLHS remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of BBR on FLHS induced by a high-energy, low-protein (HELP) diet and explore the involvement of the gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism in the protective effects. A total of 90 healthy 140-day-old Hy-line laying hens were randomly divided into three groups, including a control group (fed a basic diet), a HELP group (fed a HELP diet), and a HELP+BBR group (high-energy, high-protein diet supplemented with BBR instead of maize). Our results show that BBR supplementation alleviated liver injury and hepatic steatosis in laying hens. Moreover, BBR supplementation could significantly regulate the gut’s microbial composition, increasing the abundance of Actinobacteria and Romboutsia. In addition, the BBR supplement altered the profile of bile acid. Furthermore, the gut microbiota participates in bile acid metabolism, especially taurochenodeoxycholic acid and α-muricholic acid. BBR supplementation could regulate the expression of genes and proteins related to glucose metabolism, lipid synthesis (FAS, SREBP-1c), and bile acid synthesis (FXR, CYP27a1). Collectively, our findings demonstrate that BBR might be a potential feed additive for preventing FLHS by regulating the gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants and Natural Compounds in Health and Disease: Progresses, Challenges, Opportunities)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 779 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relevance of Phytochemical Taste for Anti-Cancer Activity: A Statistical Inquiry

by Teodora-Cristiana Grădinaru, Marilena Gilca, Adelina Vlad and Dorin Dragoș

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(22), 16227; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216227 - 12 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1456

Abstract

Targeting inflammation and the pathways linking inflammation with cancer is an innovative therapeutic strategy. Tastants are potential candidates for this approach, since taste receptors display various biological functions, including anti-inflammatory activity (AIA). The present study aims to explore the power different tastes have to predict a phytochemical’s anti-cancer properties. It also investigates whether anti-inflammatory phytocompounds also have anti-cancer effects, and whether there are tastes that can better predict a phytochemical’s bivalent biological activity. Data from the PlantMolecularTasteDB, containing a total of 1527 phytochemicals, were used. Out of these, only 624 phytocompounds met the inclusion criterion of having 40 hits in a PubMed search, using the name of the phytochemical as the keyword. Among them, 461 phytochemicals were found to possess anti-cancer activity (ACA). The AIA and ACA of phytochemicals were strongly correlated, irrespective of taste/orosensation or chemical class. Bitter taste was positively correlated with ACA, while sweet taste was negatively correlated. Among chemical classes, only flavonoids (which are most frequently bitter) had a positive association with both AIA and ACA, a finding confirming that taste has predictive primacy over chemical class. Therefore, bitter taste receptor agonists and sweet taste receptor antagonists may have a beneficial effect in slowing down the progression of inflammation to cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants and Natural Compounds in Health and Disease: Progresses, Challenges, Opportunities)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

18 pages, 7356 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ellagic Acid from Hull Blackberries: Extraction, Purification, and Potential Anticancer Activity

by Jialuan Wang, Fengyi Zhao, Wenlong Wu, Lianfei Lyu, Weilin Li and Chunhong Zhang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(20), 15228; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242015228 - 16 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1106

Abstract

Ellagic acid (EA) is present at relatively high concentrations in many berries and has many beneficial health effects, including anticancer properties. To improve the development and utilization of blackberry fruit nutrients, we divided Hull blackberry fruits into five growth periods according to color and determined the EA content in the fruits in each period. The EA content in the green fruit stage was the highest at 5.67 mg/g FW. Single-factor tests and response surface methodology were used to optimize the extraction process, while macroporous resin adsorption and alkali dissolution, acid precipitation, and solvent recrystallization were used for purification. The highest purity of the final EA powder was 90%. The anticancer assessment results determined by MTT assay showed that EA inhibited HeLa cells with an IC₅₀ of 35 μg/mL, and the apoptosis rate of the cells increased in a dose-dependent manner, with the highest rate of about 67%. We evaluated the changes in the mRNA levels of genes related to the EA-mediated inhibition of cancer cell growth and initially verified the PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway as the pathway by which EA inhibits HeLa cell growth. We hope to provide a theoretical basis for the deep exploration and utilization of this functional food. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants and Natural Compounds in Health and Disease: Progresses, Challenges, Opportunities)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 4555 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tea Polyphenols Protects Tracheal Epithelial Tight Junctions in Lung during Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Infection via Suppressing TLR-4/MAPK/PKC-MLCK Signaling

by Xiaoyue Li, Zewen Liu, Ting Gao, Wei Liu, Keli Yang, Rui Guo, Chang Li, Yongxiang Tian, Ningning Wang, Danna Zhou, Weicheng Bei and Fangyan Yuan

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(14), 11842; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241411842 - 24 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1177

Abstract

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) is the causative pathogen of porcine pleuropneumonia, a highly contagious respiratory disease in the pig industry. The increasingly severe antimicrobial resistance in APP urgently requires novel antibacterial alternatives for the treatment of APP infection. In this study, we investigated the effect of tea polyphenols (TP) against APP. MIC and MBC of TP showed significant inhibitory effects on bacteria growth and caused cellular damage to APP. Furthermore, TP decreased adherent activity of APP to the newborn pig tracheal epithelial cells (NPTr) and the destruction of the tight adherence junction proteins β-catenin and occludin. Moreover, TP improved the survival rate of APP infected mice but also attenuated the release of the inflammation-related cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α. TP inhibited activation of the TLR/MAPK/PKC-MLCK signaling for down-regulated TLR-2, TLR4, p-JNK, p-p38, p-PKC-α, and MLCK in cells triggered by APP. Collectively, our data suggest that TP represents a promising therapeutic agent in the treatment of APP infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants and Natural Compounds in Health and Disease: Progresses, Challenges, Opportunities)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2521 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potentiation of Cisplatin Cytotoxicity in Resistant Ovarian Cancer SKOV3/Cisplatin Cells by Quercetin Pre-Treatment

by Aseel Ali Hasan, Elena Kalinina, Julia Nuzhina, Yulia Volodina, Alexander Shtil and Victor Tatarskiy

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(13), 10960; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241310960 - 30 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2056

Abstract

Previously, we demonstrated that the overexpression of antioxidant enzymes (SOD-1, SOD-2, Gpx-1, CAT, and HO-1), transcription factor NFE2L2, and the signaling pathway (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) contribute to the cisplatin resistance of SKOV-3/CDDP ovarian cells, and treatment with quercetin (QU) alone has been shown to inhibit the expression of these genes. The aim of this study was to expand the previous data by examining the efficiency of reversing cisplatin resistance and investigating the underlying mechanism of pre-treatment with QU followed by cisplatin in the same ovarian cancer cells. The pre-incubation of SKOV-3/CDDP cells with quercetin at an optimum dose prior to treatment with cisplatin exhibited a significant cytotoxic effect. Furthermore, a long incubation with only QU for 48 h caused cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase, while a QU pre-treatment induced sub-G1 phase cell accumulation (apoptosis) in a time-dependent manner. An in-depth study of the mechanism of the actions revealed that QU pre-treatment acted as a pro-oxidant that induced ROS production by inhibiting the thioredoxin antioxidant system Trx/TrxR. Moreover, QU pre-treatment showed activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway (cleaved caspases 9, 7, and 3 and cleaved PARP) through downregulation of the signaling pathway (mTOR/STAT3) in SKOV-3/CDDP cells. This study provides further new data for the mechanism by which the QU pre-treatment re-sensitizes SKOV-3/CDDP cells to cisplatin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants and Natural Compounds in Health and Disease: Progresses, Challenges, Opportunities)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 4622 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Synergistic Effect of Proanthocyanidin and HDAC Inhibitor Inhibit Breast Cancer Cell Growth and Promote Apoptosis

by Tsz Ki Wang, Shaoting Xu, Yuanjian Fan, Jing Wu, Zilin Wang, Yue Chen and Yunjian Zhang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(13), 10476; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241310476 - 22 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1605

Abstract

Histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) is a drug mainly used to treat hematological tumors and breast cancer, but its inhibitory effect on breast cancer falls short of expectations. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) with abundant proanthocyanidins (PAs) has been explored for its inhibition of HDAC activity in vitro and in vivo. To enhance HDACi’s effectiveness, we investigated the potential of PA to synergistically enhance HDACi chidamide (Chi), and determined the underlying mechanism. We evaluated the half-inhibitory concentration (IC50) of PA and Chi using the cell counting kit 8 (CCK8), and analyzed drugs’ synergistic effect with fixed-ratio combination using the software Compusyn. Breast cancer cell’s phenotypes, including short-term and long-term proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, were assessed via CCK8, clone-formation assay, wound-healing test, Transwell Matrigel invasion assay, and flow-cytometry. Protein–protein interaction analysis (PPI) and KEGG pathway analysis were used to determine the underlying mechanism of synergy. PA + Chi synergistically inhibited cell growth in T47D and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. Short-term and long-term proliferation were significantly inhibited, while cell apoptosis was promoted. Ten signaling pathways were identified to account for the synergistic effect after RNA sequencing. Their synergism may be closely related to the steroid biosynthesis and extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor interaction pathways. PA + Chi can synergistically inhibit breast cancer cell growth and proliferation, and promote apoptosis. These effects may be related to steroid biosynthesis or the ECM receptor pathway. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants and Natural Compounds in Health and Disease: Progresses, Challenges, Opportunities)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 7081 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Luteolin Enhances Transepithelial Sodium Transport in the Lung Alveolar Model: Integrating Network Pharmacology and Mechanism Study

by Lei Chen, Tong Yu, Yiman Zhai, Hongguang Nie, Xin Li and Yan Ding

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(12), 10122; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241210122 - 14 Jun 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1385

Abstract

Luteolin (Lut), a natural flavonoid compound existing in Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton, has been proven to play a protective role in the following biological aspects: inflammatory, viral, oxidant, and tumor-related. Lut can alleviate acute lung injury (ALI), manifested mainly by preventing the accumulation of inflammation-rich edematous fluid, while the protective actions of Lut on transepithelial ion transport in ALI were seldom researched. We found that Lut could improve the lung appearance/pathological structure in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse ALI models and reduce the wet/dry weight ratio, bronchoalveolar protein, and inflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, Lut upregulated the expression level of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in both the primary alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2) cells and three-dimensional (3D) alveolar epithelial organoid model that recapitulated essential structural and functional aspects of the lung. Finally, by analyzing the 84 interaction genes between Lut and ALI/acute respiratory distress syndrome using GO and KEGG enrichment of network pharmacology, we found that the JAK/STAT signaling pathway might be involved in the network. Experimental data by knocking down STAT3 proved that Lut could reduce the phosphorylation of JAK/STAT and enhance the level of SOCS3, which abrogated the inhibition of ENaC expression induced by LPS accordingly. The evidence supported that Lut could attenuate inflammation-related ALI by enhancing transepithelial sodium transport, at least partially, via the JAK/STAT pathway, which may offer a promising therapeutic strategy for edematous lung diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants and Natural Compounds in Health and Disease: Progresses, Challenges, Opportunities)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

46 pages, 2503 KiB

Open AccessReview

Bioactive Compounds Formulated in Phytosomes Administered as Complementary Therapy for Metabolic Disorders

by Laura Toma, Mariana Deleanu, Gabriela Maria Sanda, Teodora Barbălată, Loredan Ştefan Niculescu, Anca Volumnia Sima and Camelia Sorina Stancu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(8), 4162; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084162 - 09 Apr 2024

Viewed by 539

Abstract

Metabolic disorders (MDs), including dyslipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity and cardiovascular diseases are a significant threat to human health, despite the many therapies developed for their treatment. Different classes of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, and triterpenes have shown therapeutic potential in ameliorating various disorders. Most of these compounds present low bioavailability when administered orally, being rapidly metabolized in the digestive tract and liver which makes their metabolites less effective. Moreover, some of the bioactive compounds cannot fully exert their beneficial properties due to the low solubility and complex chemical structure which impede the passive diffusion through the intestinal cell membranes. To overcome these limitations, an innovative delivery system of phytosomes was developed. This review aims to highlight the scientific evidence proving the enhanced therapeutic benefits of the bioactive compounds formulated in phytosomes compared to the free compounds. The existing knowledge concerning the phytosomes’ preparation, their characterization and bioavailability as well as the commercially available phytosomes with therapeutic potential to alleviate MDs are concisely depicted. This review brings arguments to encourage the use of phytosome formulation to diminish risk factors inducing MDs, or to treat the already installed diseases as complementary therapy to allopathic medication. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants and Natural Compounds in Health and Disease: Progresses, Challenges, Opportunities)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 319 KiB

Open AccessReview

Therapeutic Applications of Ginseng Natural Compounds for Health Management

by Syed Sayeed Ahmad, Khurshid Ahmad, Ye Chan Hwang, Eun Ju Lee and Inho Choi

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(24), 17290; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242417290 - 09 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1290

Abstract

Ginseng is usually consumed as a daily food supplement to improve health and has been shown to benefit skeletal muscle, improve glucose metabolism, and ameliorate muscle-wasting conditions, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and the effects of aging and cancers. Ginseng has also been reported to help maintain bone strength and liver (digestion, metabolism, detoxification, and protein synthesis) and kidney functions. In addition, ginseng is often used to treat age-associated neurodegenerative disorders, and ginseng and ginseng-derived natural products are popular natural remedies for diseases such as diabetes, obesity, oxidative stress, and inflammation, as well as fungal, bacterial, and viral infections. Ginseng is a well-known herbal medication, known to alleviate the actions of several cytokines. The article concludes with future directions and significant application of ginseng compounds for researchers in understanding the promising role of ginseng in the treatment of several diseases. Overall, this study was undertaken to highlight the broad-spectrum therapeutic applications of ginseng compounds for health management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants and Natural Compounds in Health and Disease: Progresses, Challenges, Opportunities)

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Medicinal Plants and Natural Compounds in Health and Disease: Progresses, Challenges, Opportunities

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (12 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI