Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
2.9
2.8
Journals
CIMB
Special Issues
Natural Product Drug Activity and Biomedicine Application
cimb-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for CIMB Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Natural Product Drug Activity and Biomedicine Application

A special issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (ISSN 1467-3045). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 1946

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Anna Makuch-Kocka

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 20-400 Lublin, Poland
Interests: breast cancer; apoptosis; multidrug resistance; cancer molecular biology; signal paths
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural products have been a cornerstone of drug discovery and biomedicine for centuries, offering a range of chemical structures and biological activities. These compounds, derived from plants, microorganisms, and marine organisms, have been pivotal in developing drugs for treating cancer, infectious diseases, inflammation, and metabolic disorders. Their unique molecular frameworks and biological properties have inspired both the direct use of natural substances and the synthesis of analogs with enhanced pharmacological efficacy and safety.

Recent advances in biomedicine have enabled a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which natural products exert their therapeutic effects, including the modulation of cellular signaling pathways, epigenetic regulation, and interaction with immune cells. This progress, combined with modern techniques such as high-throughput screening, bioinformatics, and synthetic biology, has accelerated the discovery and refinement of natural compounds.

This Special Issue welcome papers that integrate omics technologies, artificial intelligence, and advanced drug delivery systems to unlock the full potential of natural products and discover the increasing development of natural product-based drugs in precision medicine and therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Anna Makuch-Kocka
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 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. Current Issues in Molecular Biology 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 2200 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
  • signaling pathways
  • epignetic regulation
  • cell communication
  • molecular biology

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 7994 KiB  
Article
Fisetin Mitigates Chronic Lung Injury Induced by Benzo(a)Pyrene by Regulation of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress
by Wanian M. Alwanian
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(3), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47030209 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 306
Abstract
Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as Benzo(a)Pyrene, which are produced by smoking or present in air pollution, greatly contribute to lung diseases. B(a)P has been found to induce inflammation and eventually lung cancer. Fisetin, a polyphenol, abundant in many fruits and vegetables, [...] Read more.
Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as Benzo(a)Pyrene, which are produced by smoking or present in air pollution, greatly contribute to lung diseases. B(a)P has been found to induce inflammation and eventually lung cancer. Fisetin, a polyphenol, abundant in many fruits and vegetables, has an appealing therapeutic potential in many disorders, including inflammation and cancer. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the importance of fisetin in the regulation of chronic lung inflammation and oxidative stress resulting from exposure to Benzo(a)Pyrene. Methods: The effect of fisetin on rats at a concentration of 50 mg/kg was evaluated by ELISA to measure oxidative stress and inflammatory markers. The tissue architecture was also investigated using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The expression pattern of IL-6 in lung tissues was assayed using immunohistochemistry. Fibrosis was evaluated in lung tissues using Masson Trischrome and Sirius red stains. Cell apoptosis in lung tissues was studied using a TUNEL assay. Results: After exposure to Benzo(a)Pyrene for eight weeks, the data indicated that fisetin led to a significant reduction in oxidative stress, evidenced by the reduction of SOD, MDA, NO, GPH, and GPx. Moreover, IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP levels were also decreased, indicating a reduction in inflammation. Apoptosis was reduced upon fisetin treatment. Furthermore, a significant decrease in fibrosis was also observed. Conclusions: This study reveals the importance of fisetin as a natural product in the management of chronic lung injury by protecting lung tissues from inflammation, and its use suggests better prognosis in diseases caused by exposure to B(a)P. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Product Drug Activity and Biomedicine Application)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2966 KiB  
Article
Anti-Infective Screening of Selected Nine Cannabinoids Against Clostridium perfringens and Influenza A (H5N1) Neuraminidases, and SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease and Spike Protein Interactions
by Thanet Pitakbut and Oliver Kayser
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(3), 185; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47030185 - 12 Mar 2025
Viewed by 734
Abstract
Recently, cannabinoids have gained scientific interest as a promising anti-infective natural product class, as reported in several studies. However, the existing knowledge is mainly limited to common cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Therefore, this study aims to fill the knowledge gap by investigating [...] Read more.
Recently, cannabinoids have gained scientific interest as a promising anti-infective natural product class, as reported in several studies. However, the existing knowledge is mainly limited to common cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Therefore, this study aims to fill the knowledge gap by investigating the anti-infective potential of nine selected cannabinoids (both common and rare cannabinoids): THC, CBD, CBC, CBE, CBF, CBG, CBL, CBN, and CBT against Clostridium perfringens and Influenza A (H5N1) neuraminidases and SARS-CoV-2 main protease and spike protein–human ACE2 interaction using a standard in vitro biochemical enzyme-binding assay. As a result, to the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate the most promising effect of CBG over others in its class against C. perfringens and influenza A (H5N1) neuraminidases and SARS-CoV-2 main protease and spike protein–human ACE2 interaction. In comparison to CBG, CBD and THC were the second and third most promising candidates. Meanwhile, the other derivatives, such as CBC, CBE, CBF, CBL, CBN, and CBT, showed at least one anti-infective effect. Our findings during the early drug discovery process indicate a promising anti-infective potential of cannabinoids, which can be considered for further investigation in a biological setup. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Product Drug Activity and Biomedicine Application)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

16 pages, 1442 KiB  
Review
Ginseng-Based Nanotherapeutics in Cancer Treatment: State-of-the-Art Progress, Tackling Gaps, and Translational Achievements
by Pragya Tiwari and Kyeung-Il Park
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(4), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47040250 - 3 Apr 2025
Viewed by 385
Abstract
Among medicinal plants, the Panax genus (family: Araliaceae) includes plant species widely recognized for their multi-faceted pharmacological attributes. The triterpenoids, designated as ginsenosides, are increasingly recognized as drug-like molecules in cancer therapies due to their therapeutic role in restricting tumor invasion, proliferation, [...] Read more.
Among medicinal plants, the Panax genus (family: Araliaceae) includes plant species widely recognized for their multi-faceted pharmacological attributes. The triterpenoids, designated as ginsenosides, are increasingly recognized as drug-like molecules in cancer therapies due to their therapeutic role in restricting tumor invasion, proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis, and drug resistance reversal in tumor cells. In the nanobiotechnological era, nano-delivery systems provide feasible solutions to address bottlenecks associated with traditional drug delivery methods (low bioavailability, instability in the gastrointestinal tract, high dosage requirements, side effects, poor absorption, and incomplete drug utilization in the body). The dedicated efforts for precise and effective treatment have directed the development of ginsenoside-based nano-delivery systems to achieve potent anticancer efficacies and address the limitations in ginseng pharmacokinetics, facilitating drug development trials. Studies into ginseng pharmacokinetics showed a remarkable prolonged clearance and free drug levels of ~15% (ginsenoside RB1 nanoparticles) in mice (compared to only ~5% for ginsenosides) and better antitumor efficacies, demonstrating key success in ginseng biotechnology for drug development. Delving into the nanobiotechnological interventions in ginseng-derived therapeutics, this study summarizes current advances and achievements, particularly in cancer treatment, tackles existing gaps, focuses on feasible solutions, and examines prospects of translational success. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Product Drug Activity and Biomedicine Application)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop