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Antioxidants
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Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant Properties in Medicinal Plants
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Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant Properties in Medicinal Plants

A special issue of Antioxidants (ISSN 2076-3921). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural and Synthetic Antioxidants".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 10694

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Magdalena Jeszka-Skowron

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Guest Editor
Institute of Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, PL-60965 Poznan, Poland
Interests: natural product chemistry; food chemistry; chromatography; antioxidant activity; extraction; analytical chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Zgoła-Grześkowiak

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Guest Editor
Institute of Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, PL-60 965 Poznan, Poland
Interests: sample preparation; microextraction; endocrine disrupting compounds; environmental chemistry; food analysis; biodegradation; LC-MS/MS
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Tomasz Grześkowiak

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Guest Editor
Institute of Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, PL-60965 Poznan, Poland
Interests: sample preparation; microextraction; endocrine disrupting compounds; environmental chemistry; biodegradation; LC-MS/MS; GC
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Robert Frankowski

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Guest Editor
Institute of Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, PL-60965 Poznan, Poland
Interests: sample preparation; microextraction; environmental chemistry; biodegradation; LC-MS/MS

Special Issue Information

Dear Coleagues,

Medicinal plants are plants with one or more organs that contain substances used for therapeutic purposes or are precursors for the synthesis of useful drugs and have been used in the treatment as well as the prevention of human diseases. These plants can improve quality of life by reducing the use of synthetic antibiotics or alleviating physical disorders. The bioactive compounds found in medicinal plants exhibit various biological activities, including antioxidant properties. Currently, new plant medicines or plant extracts are being studied to identify their potential to treat cancer and other diseases. Therefore, research on new medicinal plants or new compounds still needs to be explored.

We invite you to submit your latest research results or review articles for this Special Issue, which aims to present the results of studies on medicinal plants, their components, and their antioxidant activity both in vitro and in vivo.

Research can include studies relating to any of the following topics:

  • The general chemistry of medicinal plants;
  • The technology and treatment of medicinal plants;
  • Activities to prevent and treat various human diseases – in vivo and in vitro.

We look forward to your contribution.

Dr. Magdalena Jeszka-Skowron
Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Zgoła-Grześkowiak
Dr. Tomasz Grześkowiak
Dr. Robert Frankowski
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. Antioxidants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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

  • antioxidant activity
  • phytochemicals in plants
  • medicinal plants
  • extraction
  • in vivo analysis
  • in vitro analysis

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1477 KiB  
Article
Bioactive Lignan Glycosides in Stems of Marsh Rosemary (Rhododendron tomentosum): Non-Targeted Screening and Identification Using Two-Stage Analytical Strategy
by Anna V. Faleva, Danil I. Falev, Aleksandra A. Onuchina, Nikolay V. Ulyanovskii and Dmitry S. Kosyakov
Antioxidants 2025, 14(4), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14040447 - 8 Apr 2025
Viewed by 250
Abstract
Rhododendron tomentosum is a widespread evergreen shrub used in folk medicine due to the high biological activity of its secondary metabolites, including lignans, that has not been sufficiently studied, and overcoming this problem requires advanced analytical techniques. This study proposes a two-stage analytical [...] Read more.
Rhododendron tomentosum is a widespread evergreen shrub used in folk medicine due to the high biological activity of its secondary metabolites, including lignans, that has not been sufficiently studied, and overcoming this problem requires advanced analytical techniques. This study proposes a two-stage analytical strategy for non-targeted screening and identification of lignans in plant extracts that involves the detection of specific lignan-related structures by 2D NMR and the establishment of corresponding fragment ions for further mass spectrometry analysis (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). The polyphenolic fraction of R. tomentosum stem extract was the object of the study. Eight secoisolariciresinol-type lignans (xylosides, glucosides, and rhamnoside), including one previously unknown compound (5-methoxysecoisolariciresinol 9-xyloside), were identified for the first time. The structures of the five compounds were additionally confirmed by preparative HPLC isolation and NMR studies. All of the obtained compounds had antioxidant activity (FRAP and DPPH) similar to that of ascorbic acid. The proposed analytical strategy can be considered an efficient tool for rapid and reliable group screening and identification of lignan derivatives in plant extracts. Its application in the study of R. tomentosum extracts has revealed a number of lignan glycosides that may contribute to the medicinal properties of the plant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant Properties in Medicinal Plants)
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15 pages, 6811 KiB  
Article
Osteoprotective Activity of Sambucus javanica Reinw Ex Blume subsp. javanica Leaf Extracts by Suppressing ROS Production
by Treethip Sukkho, Chartchai Khanongnuch, Saisamorn Lumyong, Jetsada Ruangsuriya, Sutasinee Apichai, Young-Joon Surh, Thanawat Pattananandecha and Chalermpong Saenjum
Antioxidants 2025, 14(3), 252; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14030252 - 21 Feb 2025
Viewed by 891
Abstract
Sambucus javanica subsp. javanica (SJ) has been used in traditional medicine in the northern region of Thailand for healing bone fractures; however, studies on how this plant stimulates bone formation are still scarce. The present study aimed to investigate the potential of crude [...] Read more.
Sambucus javanica subsp. javanica (SJ) has been used in traditional medicine in the northern region of Thailand for healing bone fractures; however, studies on how this plant stimulates bone formation are still scarce. The present study aimed to investigate the potential of crude extracts and fractions obtained from SJ leaves for osteoporotic protection. All samples were investigated in murine preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells for bone formation and resorption biomarkers, namely alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcin (OC), osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), and the OPG/RANKL ratio. Additionally, calcium deposits were determined using the alizarin red S staining technique. The results indicated that the crude water and the crude ethanol extracts contained gallic acid, rutin, and chlorogenic acid as major compounds. The extracts stimulated osteoblastic cell differentiation and enhanced osteoprotective activity, as measured by a significant increase in ALP activity, OC, OPG, the OPG/RANKL ratio, and the degree of calcification. Additionally, they exhibited a negative impact on bone resorption by significantly reducing RANKL and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Therefore, our findings add novel evidence indicating that the SJ crude extracts from water and ethanol extraction could be further utilized as a natural active pharmaceutical ingredient (NAPI) for the development of bone health products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant Properties in Medicinal Plants)
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14 pages, 308 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant Capacity, Phenolic Compounds, and Other Constituents of Cold and Hot Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) Infusions
by Julia Płatkiewicz, Daniel Okołowicz, Robert Frankowski, Tomasz Grześkowiak, Magdalena Jeszka-Skowron and Agnieszka Zgoła-Grześkowiak
Antioxidants 2024, 13(12), 1467; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13121467 - 29 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1542
Abstract
Yerba mate beverage is prepared from Ilex paraguariensis grown in South America, and its popularity still is increasing. The aim of this study was to show the differences in the content of antioxidant compounds between hot- and cold-prepared mate beverages. The antioxidant capacity [...] Read more.
Yerba mate beverage is prepared from Ilex paraguariensis grown in South America, and its popularity still is increasing. The aim of this study was to show the differences in the content of antioxidant compounds between hot- and cold-prepared mate beverages. The antioxidant capacity of the infusions was tested using the Folin–Ciocalteu, ABTS, and DPPH assays. A comprehensive analysis of different phenolic and other constituents was performed with the use of high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The hot-prepared infusions on average contain considerably more active compounds than the cold-prepared infusions, which resulted in greater antioxidant activity of hot-prepared beverages. While the hot-prepared infusions of pure yerba mate contained a similar amount of bioactive compounds as those with different additives, for cold-prepared beverages, greater antioxidant activity was found for samples containing additives. In both conditions, the lowest antioxidant activity was noted for Ilex guayusa, which contained less rutin, caffeoylquinic acids, dicaffeoylquinic acids, and theobromine, but more caffeine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant Properties in Medicinal Plants)
25 pages, 1387 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Algerian Crataegus monogyna Jacq Phenolic Compounds (Using LC-ESI-MS/MS Analysis, Antioxidant Activity, and Enzyme Inhibition) and Their Potential Implications for Food and Nutraceutical Applications
by Sabrina Goudjil, Samira Boussekine, Sarra Goudjil, Hanane Goudjil, Mustafa Abdullah Yilmaz, Mohammad Shamsul Ola, Ahmad Ali and Oguz Cakir
Antioxidants 2024, 13(11), 1350; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13111350 - 4 Nov 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1731
Abstract
Investigations into the phenolic constituents of the butanolic fraction of Crataegus monogyna were optimized using LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis, identifying and quantifying at least 23 fingerprint phytochemical compounds. The major phenolic compounds were epicatechin (99.916 ± 2.208 mg/g), isoquercetrin (53.31 ± 1.172 mg/g), chlorogenic acid [...] Read more.
Investigations into the phenolic constituents of the butanolic fraction of Crataegus monogyna were optimized using LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis, identifying and quantifying at least 23 fingerprint phytochemical compounds. The major phenolic compounds were epicatechin (99.916 ± 2.208 mg/g), isoquercetrin (53.31 ± 1.172 mg/g), chlorogenic acid (47.457 ± 1.010 mg/g), quinic acid (37.819 ± 1.406 mg/g), rutin (29.98 ± 0.740 mg/g), hesperidin (5.296 ± 0.177 mg/g, detected for the first time in the C. monogyna species), astragalin (1.774 ± 0.020 mg/g), and nicotiflorin (1.482 ± 0.016 mg/g). The antioxidant properties of the lyophilized butanolic fraction were evaluated using DPPH, GOR, ABTS, CUPRAC, and reducing power assays, all of which demonstrated that there was strong activity. Additionally, the neuroprotective effect was evaluated in vitro, showing a potent inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with an IC50 of 43.65 ± 2.10 µg/mL. The antidiabetic effect was investigated through α-amylase inhibition (IC50 = 91.19 ± 0.10 µg/mL), showing high inhibitory activity. In addition, the butanolic extract exhibited significant urease inhibition with an IC50 of 26.36 ± 0.05 µg/mL. These results suggest that Algerian C. monogyna has potential as a therapeutic agent for managing diabetes complications and as a natural source of AChE inhibitors, making it a promising subject for the treatment of urease-related conditions. Its high concentrations of natural antioxidants, such as epicatechin, isoquercetrin, chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, rutin, hesperidin, and astragalin, make it suitable for integration into medicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and the food sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant Properties in Medicinal Plants)
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20 pages, 1378 KiB  
Article
Phytochemical Composition Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Artemisia dracunculus and Artemisia abrotanum
by Mădălina Țicolea, Raluca Maria Pop, Marcel Pârvu, Lia-Oxana Usatiuc, Ana Uifălean, Floricuța Ranga and Alina Elena Pârvu
Antioxidants 2024, 13(8), 1016; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13081016 - 20 Aug 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1743
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities mechanism of Artemisia dracunculus (A. dracunculus) and Artemisia abrotanum (A. abrotanum) ethanol extracts in acute rat inflammation induced in Wistar male rats with turpentine oil. The characterization of the [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities mechanism of Artemisia dracunculus (A. dracunculus) and Artemisia abrotanum (A. abrotanum) ethanol extracts in acute rat inflammation induced in Wistar male rats with turpentine oil. The characterization of the polyphenolic compounds in the extracts was conducted using UV–Vis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry techniques. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated in vitro by DPPH, FRAP, H2O2, and NO scavenging tests and in vivo by measuring the total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI), 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-Oxo-dG), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), 3-nitrotyrosine (3NT), and total thiols (SH). Inflammation was evaluated by measuring nuclear factor-kB-p65 (NfkB-p65) and NLRP3 inflammasome activation with IL-1β, IL-18, and gasdermin D. Liver and renal toxicity was determined following transaminases (ALT and AST), creatinine, and urea. The experimental results indicated that A. dracunculus and A. abrotanum ethanol extracts have moderate in vitro antioxidant activity and had in vivo antioxidant activity and an anti-inflammatory effect by NfkB-p65, IL-1b, IL-18, and gasdermin D serum level reduction. The antioxidant activity correlated with the chemical composition of the extracts. These results bring evidence-based use of A. dracunculus and A. abrotanum’s in traditional and contemporary medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant Properties in Medicinal Plants)
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9 pages, 915 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Decay Kinetics of Black Elderberry Antioxidants from Fruits and Flowers
by Iwona Golonka, Andrzej Dryś, Katarzyna Podgórska, Joanna Polewska and Witold Musiał
Antioxidants 2024, 13(7), 804; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13070804 - 2 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1209
Abstract
The health-promoting properties of black elderberry are related to its high content of polyphenols (natural antioxidants), which eliminate free radicals and prevent the formation of oxidative stress responsible for many diseases. The aim of this work was to determine, the anti-radical effect of [...] Read more.
The health-promoting properties of black elderberry are related to its high content of polyphenols (natural antioxidants), which eliminate free radicals and prevent the formation of oxidative stress responsible for many diseases. The aim of this work was to determine, the anti-radical effect of Sambucus nigra infusions based on the reaction with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and galvinoxyl (Glv) radicals and to determine the function describing the disappearance curves of these radicals. The antioxidant properties of infusions obtained from the flowers and fruits of this plant were tested using the modified Brand-Williams method using DPPH and Glv radicals. Higher antioxidant activity towards both the DPPH and Glv radicals was found in flowers compared to fruits. In addition, it was found that the process of quenching radicals in the reaction with Sambucus nigra infusions proceeds in accordance with the assumptions of second-order reaction kinetics. The infusion obtained from flowers quenched radicals faster than fruit infusions. The applied second-order kinetics equation may enable estimation of antioxidants levels in natural sources of radicals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant Properties in Medicinal Plants)
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15 pages, 2000 KiB  
Article
Identification of Phenolic Compounds Present in Three Speedwell (Veronica L.) Species and Their Antioxidant Potential
by Ivana Vrca, Stjepan Orhanović, Ivana Pezelj, Karolina Sušić, Valerija Dunkić, Dario Kremer and Marija Nazlić
Antioxidants 2024, 13(6), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13060738 - 17 Jun 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1732
Abstract
Extracts from Veronica species (speedwells) are known for the various biological activities they show, such as cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Also, the plants from this genus are known as medicinal plants used in traditional medicine worldwide. Phenolic compounds are specialized metabolites [...] Read more.
Extracts from Veronica species (speedwells) are known for the various biological activities they show, such as cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Also, the plants from this genus are known as medicinal plants used in traditional medicine worldwide. Phenolic compounds are specialized metabolites that contribute to biological activity the most. Therefore, the aim of this research is identification and quantification of phenolic compounds present in three Veronica species (Veronica anagallis-aquatica L., Veronica persica Poir., and Veronica polita Fr.) using the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique. All extracts were tested for antioxidant activity with two methods: DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity). Also, standards for compounds that were detected in the highest amount in all species were also tested for antioxidant activity. Three different solvents (pure methanol, 80% ethanol, and water) were used for the extraction of phenolic components and their comparison in order to test their antioxidant activity as a final goal. The main compounds present in the tested Veronica extracts were: p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, gentisic acid, and apigenin. V. anagallis-aquatica contained the highest amount of phenolic components in comparison with the two other tested species, V. persica and V. polita. Caffeic acid showed the highest antioxidant activity in both studied methods with an IC50 value for DPPH activity of 1.99 µg/mL. For the plant extracts, in general, methanolic/ethanolic extracts showed higher activity than water extracts in both methods which was expected, as organic solutions extract more phenolic compounds. This research points to the potential application of extracts of different Veronica species for antioxidant activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant Properties in Medicinal Plants)
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