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Natural Product Pharmacology and Functional Applications: Bioactivities, Toxicology, and Nutraceutical Potential

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical and Molecular Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 943

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
Interests: medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry; natural product chemistry; pharmaceutical chemistry; stereochemistry; functional foods; marine natural products; herbal medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural products have long been recognized as a valuable source of bioactive compounds with significant pharmacological potential. This Special Issue seeks to highlight the wide range of biological and pharmacological activities exhibited by natural products, including their antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects. In addition to their therapeutic potential, this Special Issue will also explore the growing interest in applying natural products to the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals that contribute to health promotion and disease prevention. Particular attention will be given to mechanisms of action, structure–activity relationships, and possible applications in both medical and nutritional contexts.

Understanding the toxicological characteristics of natural products is essential for their safe and effective use, whether as therapeutic agents or components of functional foods. This Special Issue will feature recent advances in the evaluation of toxicity, biocompatibility, and adverse effects using in vitro, in vivo, and computational approaches. Research addressing dose–response relationships, metabolic pathways, and safety assessments is especially encouraged, as it will provide a more comprehensive perspective on the risks and benefits associated with the use of natural products.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and case studies that contribute to our understanding of the pharmacological, functional, and toxicological properties of natural products. Submissions that incorporate advanced analytical methods, omics technologies, or innovative delivery strategies for therapeutic or functional applications are particularly encouraged. Through this Special Issue, we aim to connect traditional knowledge with modern scientific approaches, supporting the development of safe and effective natural product-based solutions for both

Prof. Dr. Dongyup Hahn
Guest Editor

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

  • natural products
  • pharmacological activity
  • functional foods
  • nutraceuticals
  • toxicological evaluation
  • bioactive compounds

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

23 pages, 2740 KB  
Article
Fermentation with Lactic Acid Bacteria Enhances the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Ginseng Sprout Extract in RAW 264.7 Macrophages
by Sunjoo Park, Yu-Ri Choi, Seunguk Yu, Dongyup Hahn, Chang-Ki Huh, Imkyung Oh, Ho-Kyung Ha, Hoon Seonwoo and Jungsil Kim
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(4), 1801; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16041801 - 11 Feb 2026
Viewed by 613
Abstract
Perennial ginseng (Panax ginseng) has long been valued for its medicinal properties. However, ginseng sprouts are gaining prominence as a versatile food source due to the high levels of bioactive compounds in their leaves and stems. To further enhance their functional [...] Read more.
Perennial ginseng (Panax ginseng) has long been valued for its medicinal properties. However, ginseng sprouts are gaining prominence as a versatile food source due to the high levels of bioactive compounds in their leaves and stems. To further enhance their functional value, this study investigated the effects of fermentation using lactic acid bacteria, specifically Lactobacillus and Enterococcus strains, on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of ginseng sprout extract (GSE). Chemical analyses revealed that fermentation significantly increased total phenolic content (TPC) and ginsenoside Rb1 levels, which were associated with enhanced radical-scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, fermented GSE (FGSE) exhibited significantly greater anti-inflammatory effects than non-fermented GSE. This enhancement was evidenced by marked downregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), along with their corresponding enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Notably, the anti-inflammatory profile of FGSE was distinguished by its ability to suppress specific cytokines that were not significantly affected by GSE. Although both GSE and FGSE attenuated interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), only FGSE achieved statistically significant inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). These findings indicate that fermentation is a critical process for surpassing the efficacy threshold of GSE against key inflammatory signals. Overall, the enrichment of bioactive metabolites during fermentation suggests that FGSE can serve as a potent functional ingredient for modulating inflammatory responses, with considerable potential for the development of advanced functional foods. Full article
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