Nature's Pharmacy: Ethnobotanical Approaches to Medicinal Plant Research for the Discovery and Development of Potential Phytochemicals

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 945

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Interests: ethnopharmacology; molecular pharmacology; endocrine pharmacology; cardiovascular pharmacology; pharmacological effects of medicinal plants; pharmacotherapy
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Guest Editor
Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Interests: polymeric nanoparticles; biodegradable polymers; targeted drug delivery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Srinakharinwirot University, Nakhon Nayok 26120, Thailand
Interests: medicinal plants; traditional medicine; natural product chemistry; pharmacognosy; phytochemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled "Nature's Pharmacy: Ethnobotanical Approaches to Medicinal Plant Research for the Discovery and Development of Potential Phytochemicals", welcomes the submission of original research and review articles that explore the vast therapeutic potential of medicinal plants rooted in traditional knowledge systems. We also welcome contributions that highlight the biological activity, mechanisms of action, and functional roles of plant-derived compounds in biological systems, including studies on in vitro and in vivo models that are relevant to basic biological processes.

Particular emphasis will be placed on studies that enhance our understanding of how plant extracts and isolated compounds interact with molecular pathways, regulate gene expression, or modulate cellular behavior. The Special Issue also aims to present interdisciplinary approaches that encompass molecular biology, cell biology, systems biology, toxicology, and computational modeling (e.g., molecular docking, network pharmacology) as tools to elucidate the biological basis of plant-based activities.

By uniting traditional knowledge with biological validation, this Special Issue aims to enhance our understanding of the roles of plant-derived substances in living systems. We aim to provide a scholarly platform for researchers focused on the biological foundations of traditional medicine and its implications for health and disease.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Supachoke Mangmool
Dr. Chuda Chittasupho
Dr. Sirivan Athikomkulchai
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • medicinal plants
  • herbal medicine
  • ethnopharmacology
  • drug discovery
  • bioactive compounds
  • biological activity
  • molecular mechanism
  • signaling pathway

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

25 pages, 2029 KiB  
Article
Germination Enhances Phytochemical Profiles of Perilla Seeds and Promotes Hair Growth via 5α-Reductase Inhibition and Growth Factor Pathways
by Anurak Muangsanguan, Warintorn Ruksiriwanich, Pichchapa Linsaenkart, Pipat Tangjaidee, Korawan Sringarm, Chaiwat Arjin, Pornchai Rachtanapun, Sarana Rose Sommano, Korawit Chaisu, Apinya Satsook and Juan Manuel Castagnini
Biology 2025, 14(7), 889; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14070889 - 20 Jul 2025
Viewed by 538
Abstract
Seed germination is recognized for enhancing the accumulation of bioactive compounds. Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt., commonly known as perilla seed, is rich in fatty acids that may be beneficial for anti-hair loss. This study investigated the hair regeneration potential of perilla seed extracts—non-germinated [...] Read more.
Seed germination is recognized for enhancing the accumulation of bioactive compounds. Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt., commonly known as perilla seed, is rich in fatty acids that may be beneficial for anti-hair loss. This study investigated the hair regeneration potential of perilla seed extracts—non-germinated (NG-PS) and germinated in distilled water (0 ppm selenium; G0-PS), and germinated with 80 ppm selenium (G80-PS)—obtained from supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and screw compression (SC). SFE extracts exhibited significantly higher levels of polyphenols, tocopherols, and fatty acids compared to SC extracts. Among the germinated groups, G0-PS showed the highest bioactive compound content and antioxidant capacity. Remarkably, treatment with SFE-G0-PS led to a significant increase in the proliferation and migration of hair follicle cells, reaching 147.21 ± 2.11% (p < 0.05), and resulted in complete wound closure. In addition, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties were reflected by a marked scavenging effect on TBARS (59.62 ± 0.66% of control) and suppressed nitrite amounts (0.44 ± 0.01 µM). Moreover, SFE-G0-PS markedly suppressed SRD5A1-3 gene expression—key regulators in androgenetic alopecia—in both DU-145 and HFDPCs, with approximately 2-fold and 1.5-fold greater inhibition compared to finasteride and minoxidil, respectively. Simultaneously, it upregulated the expression of hair growth-related genes, including CTNNB1, SHH, SMO, GLI1, and VEGF, by approximately 1.5-fold, demonstrating stronger activation than minoxidil. These findings suggest the potential of SFE-G0-PS as a natural therapeutic agent for promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss. Full article
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