Natural Products from Medicinal Plants: Sources, Chemistry, and Therapeutic Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The term "Medicinal Plants" refers to plant species that could be a source of bioactive natural products with therapeutic properties in various pathological cases. Their diversity and number are constantly increasing. Traditional medicine is based on the "blind use" of herbs, guided by experience passed down through generations. However, such use may in some cases lead to more harm than benefit. In contrast, modern medicine requires preliminary, detailed research into the composition, active components, biological activity, and toxicity of plant products before their application. The challenges of pollution in industrial areas lead to the concentration of toxic substances in plants, such as sulfur and nitrogen compounds, and heavy metals, which make them hazardous to use. On the other hand, the indiscriminate use of a number of rare plants puts them at risk of becoming endangered species. Therefore, herbal preparations are now obtained mainly from plants cultivated under appropriate, safe conditions. Nowadays, with synthetic medications in use, herbs as complementary therapeutics pose new problems related to the interaction of their bioactive compounds with those in medicinal preparations. This interaction can lead to overdose, production of harmful substances, or, conversely, nullification of the therapeutic effect of one or both components. In recent years, advances in phytochemistry, metabolomics, molecular biology, and biotechnology have greatly expanded the understanding of plant-derived compounds and their roles in human health. Additionally, there are new methods based on computer processing with the participation of AI, such as high-throughput screening, which can perform multiple tests on molecules with a known structure.

This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge interdisciplinary research focused on the discovery, isolation, structural characterization, biosynthesis, and pharmacological evaluation of natural products from medicinal plants. We are interested in articles related, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Obtaining plant extracts and determining their chemical composition (sustainable extraction and cultivation methods);
• Biological activity studies both in vitro and in vivo;
• Phytochemical profiling and structural identification of bioactive components (integration of omics technologies);
• Studies on possible synergistic actions;
• Toxicity studies;
• Studies on the mechanisms of biological activities (anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, etc.);
• Methods to synthesize the bioactive components in the laboratory and metabolic engineering for enhanced production;
• Identification of spheres of possible application (conventional, complementary, alternative medicine, food additives, cosmetics, etc.);
• Comparative studies between the effects of standardly used medications/components and those of plant origin; 
• Translational and applied research: development of functional foods and herbal formulations;
• Use of computer methods for screening substances of plant origin.

Prof. Dr. Mashenka Dimitrova
Dr. Denitsa Teofanova
Guest Editors

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• medicinal plants
• bioactive herb compounds
• plants toxicity
• application of plants preparations
• biological activity
• in vitro and in vivo tests
• phytochemical analysis
• secondary metabolites
• plant biotechnology