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Applied Sciences
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Biological Activities of Medicinal Plants and Their Potential Applications
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Biological Activities of Medicinal Plants and Their Potential Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 1825

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Georgiana Duta-Cornescu

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: plant genetics; plant micropropagation
Prof. Dr. Petros Tarantilis

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Guest Editor
Laboratory of Chemistry, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
Interests: isolation, purification, and structure determination of natural products using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques; study of biological activity of natural products; instrumental methods of plants and food analysis; development of methods for quality determination, adulteration, and authenticity (botanical and geographical origin) of food
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As is well established, the use of plants in medicine is as old as mankind, even if, at the beginning, their medical application was predicated more on empiricism. However, when data pertaining to causes of diseases and the type of plant used as a remedy started to accumulate, the use of medicinal plants was no longer based on an empirical framework but rather facts and explanations. Nowadays, the demand for new medicine to address medical challenges is extremely high, which is why research is being directed towards the compounds and active principles of plants, demonstrating that pharmacological screening is instrumental to the development of new agents. Therefore, the isolation and profiling of secondary metabolites from plants, either traditional medicinal plants or plants that have more recently emerged as having medicinal properties, may reveal interesting bioactivities and disclose sources of new drugs that can be used to treat many diseases.

The Special Issue on “Biological Activities of Medicinal Plants and Their Potential Applications” welcomes submissions of recent research on plants and their secondary and primary biological methabolites as important sources of compounds with therapeutic potential.

Dr. Georgiana Duta-Cornescu
Prof. Dr. Petros Tarantilis
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. 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

  • medicinal plants
  • pharmacology
  • primary metabolites
  • secondary metabolites
  • biological activities
  • bioactive compounds

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Review

28 pages, 932 KiB  
Review
Brazilian Propolis: Nature’s Liquid Gold with Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Potential
by Tomasz Kowalczyk, Joanna Sikora, Igor Śpiewak, Maciej Kowalski, Joanna Wieczfińska, Irena Brčić Karačonji, Monika Kolska and Przemysław Sitarek
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(11), 5994; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15115994 - 26 May 2025
Viewed by 434
Abstract
Brazilian propolis is a natural bee product with a unique and diverse chemical composition. It is especially rich in phenols and terpenoids that show a range of significant biological properties. Due to the growing scientific interest, its strong anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity has [...] Read more.
Brazilian propolis is a natural bee product with a unique and diverse chemical composition. It is especially rich in phenols and terpenoids that show a range of significant biological properties. Due to the growing scientific interest, its strong anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity has been highlighted. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate its potential to modulate inflammatory pathways by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), as well as by regulating oxidative stress. Additionally, active compounds in Brazilian propolis have the potential to inhibit tumour cell proliferation, induce apoptosis and modulate the tumour microenvironment. Depending on the botanical source and region of occurrence, different types of Brazilian propolis are distinguished, including green, red and brown, which differ in composition and biological activity. Green propolis, rich in artepilin C and phenolic acids, shows strong anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. Red propolis contains isoflavones and quercetin that enhance its antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities. Brown propolis, rich in cinnamic acids and benzophenones, exerts cytotoxic effects against certain lines of cancer cells. This article discusses the current state of knowledge on the mechanisms of action of different types of Brazilian propolis and their potential uses as supportive therapy in inflammatory and cancerous diseases in combination with nanotechnology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities of Medicinal Plants and Their Potential Applications)
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24 pages, 769 KiB  
Review
Evaluation of Spectrophotometric Methods for Assessing Antioxidant Potential in Plant Food Samples—A Critical Approach
by Eliza Knez, Kornelia Kadac-Czapska and Małgorzata Grembecka
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(11), 5925; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15115925 - 24 May 2025
Viewed by 457
Abstract
Spectrophotometric antioxidant assays can generally be divided into two fundamental categories: single electron transfer (SET)-based assays and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT)-based methods. In SET-based assays, the progression of the electron exchange reaction is determined by the redox potential of the substrates. In contrast, [...] Read more.
Spectrophotometric antioxidant assays can generally be divided into two fundamental categories: single electron transfer (SET)-based assays and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT)-based methods. In SET-based assays, the progression of the electron exchange reaction is determined by the redox potential of the substrates. In contrast, HAT-based methods assess the antioxidant’s ability to transfer a hydrogen atom to a radical, thereby stabilizing it. The objective of this article is to provide a critical evaluation of antioxidant spectrophotometric assays. Assessing the antioxidant potential of food should involve multiple assays to ensure accuracy and reliability. A positive correlation among different methods enhances the validity of the results. Moreover, antioxidants may interact with other food components, such as amino acids, potentially leading to inaccurate outcomes—as observed in the Folin–Ciocalteu assay. Among the various techniques, CUPRAC and ORAC exhibit greater repeatability and reagent stability compared to other assays. Furthermore, these methods are considered superior due to their closer resemblance to in vivo conditions. In contrast, approaches such as ABTS+, DPPH, FRAP, and Folin–Ciocalteu are often criticized for their non-physiological environments. There is a pressing need to establish a standardized method that, to the greatest extent possible, reflects in vivo conditions and can serve as a reference standard for other assays. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities of Medicinal Plants and Their Potential Applications)
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16 pages, 5848 KiB  
Review
A Review of Extraction Techniques of Bioactive Compounds and Pharmacological Properties of Guam’s Invasive Vine—Antigonon leptopus
by Christel Kei U. Valerio and Sahena Ferdosh
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(10), 5625; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105625 - 18 May 2025
Viewed by 403
Abstract
Antigonon leptopus Hook. & Arn., commonly known as the chain of love, is a fast-growing leafy vine characterized by its pink or white heart-shaped flowers and is considered among the most invasive vine species in Guam. In Guam, the vine is considered to [...] Read more.
Antigonon leptopus Hook. & Arn., commonly known as the chain of love, is a fast-growing leafy vine characterized by its pink or white heart-shaped flowers and is considered among the most invasive vine species in Guam. In Guam, the vine is considered to be a weed, but worldwide it is utilized in different folk medicine practices, such as for alleviating colds and tending to wounds. As a resource, A. leptopus is underutilized in Guam, prompting the search for possible pharmacological properties. A. leptopus contains a wide range of phytochemicals, including alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, glycosides, and amino acids, which have been found to have many bioactive properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Extraction methods varied according to specific research objectives, but overall, the most common methods involved were maceration, Soxhlet extraction, and hot extraction techniques. The application of green extraction methods, such as the use of supercritical CO₂, is currently lacking for this species. A. leptopus may serve as a promising source of bioactive compounds for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities of Medicinal Plants and Their Potential Applications)
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