cimb-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Phytochemical-Based Therapeutics: Emerging Mechanisms and Biomedical Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 659

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang Univeristy, Cheonan 31151, Republic of Korea
Interests: anticancer; signal pathway

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in phytochemical-based therapeutics, with a particular focus on emerging molecular mechanisms and biomedical applications. Studies exploring novel plant-derived compounds, their interactions with cellular signaling pathways, and their therapeutic relevance across various diseases—including cancer, inflammation, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases—are welcome. We encourage submissions involving molecular and cellular studies, animal models, innovative extraction or formulation techniques, and translational approaches. Research on structure–activity relationships, drug delivery systems, nanotechnology applications, and synergistic effects with conventional therapies is also of interest. Reviews, original articles, and short communications that expand our understanding of how phytochemicals can be developed into effective therapeutic agents will contribute valuable insights to this Special Issue.

Dr. Yoon-Jin Lee
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. 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

  • phytochemicals
  • therapeutic mechanisms
  • natural products
  • signal transduction
  • bioactivity
  • drug delivery
  • translational research
  • biomedical applications

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.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

17 pages, 3346 KB  
Article
Genistein–Butein Co-Treatment Suppresses Glycolytic Metabolism and Induces Apoptotic Signaling in PC-3 Prostate Cancer Cells
by Moon-Kyun Cho, Yeji Lee, Sang-Han Lee, Hae-Seon Nam and Yoon-Jin Lee
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(3), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48030258 - 27 Feb 2026
Viewed by 434
Abstract
Prostate cancer progression involves metabolic reprogramming that supports sustained proliferation and survival, highlighting metabolic pathways as potential targets for intervention. While genistein (GEN) and butein (BTN) are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds with reported anticancer activities, their combined effects on prostate cancer cell metabolism [...] Read more.
Prostate cancer progression involves metabolic reprogramming that supports sustained proliferation and survival, highlighting metabolic pathways as potential targets for intervention. While genistein (GEN) and butein (BTN) are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds with reported anticancer activities, their combined effects on prostate cancer cell metabolism and apoptotic signaling remain unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of GEN and BTN, administered individually and in combination, on human PC-3 prostate cancer cells, with normal human prostate epithelial cells (HPrEC) used for comparison. Cell viability was assessed using MTT and trypan blue exclusion assays. Glycolytic metabolism was evaluated by measuring glucose consumption, lactate production, hexokinase and pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, and intracellular ATP levels, while apoptotic and survival signaling pathways were analyzed by means of Annexin V staining and Western blotting. GEN/BTN co-treatment selectively reduced PC-3 cell viability, producing greater inhibitory effects than either compound alone. This enhanced response was accompanied by suppression of glycolytic metabolism, ATP depletion, attenuation of AKT and ERK phosphorylation, and activation of apoptotic signaling, as evidenced by increased cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP. Collectively, these findings indicate that GEN/BTN co-treatment cooperatively disrupts glycolytic metabolism while activating apoptotic signaling in prostate cancer cells. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop