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Natural Products in Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 2nd Edition

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A Special Issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (ISSN 1467-3045) belonging to the section "Bioorganic Chemistry and Medicinal Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2026) | Viewed by 6544

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Dr. Ahmed Ezat El Zowalaty

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Institute of Clinical Sciences, Department of Surgery, Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
Interests: redox signaling; Keap1; Nrf2; liver cancer; lung cancer; apoptosis; DNA damage; cellular toxicology; genetic toxicology; gene regulation; cell physiology; xenobiotics; pharmacogenomics; toxicogenomics; carcinogenesis; endocrine disruptors; metabolism; mouse models; structure–activity relationships
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Dear Colleagues,

Bioactive compounds from natural products and their structural analogues have been used for a long time in biomedical and pharmacotherapeutic applications for treating conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and infectious diseases. Following on from the first edition, we invite researchers to present primary research papers, reviews, visionary perspectives, or retrospective analyses that address recent advances in our understanding of the contributions of natural products to biological processes, as well as to the development of new therapeutics with consequences for human health and drug safety. Studies addressing the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of natural products, as well as studies utilizing novel analytical tools, the genome mining of novel natural products, the genetic engineering of natural products’ biosynthetic genes, structure-based methods, molecular dynamics simulations, and computational tools for the analysis of bioactive compounds from natural products, are welcome. Studies utilizing rational genetic engineering, promoter engineering, targeted gene manipulation, and heterologous expression for improving the pharmacological properties of bioactive compounds, as well as for improving the immunomodulatory properties of natural products, would also be an asset.

Dr. Ahmed Ezat El Zowalaty
Guest Editor

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Keywords

natural products
genetic engineering
pharmacotherapy
anticancer
antimicrobials

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 22250 KB

Open AccessArticle

Unraveling the Skeletal Growth-Promoting Mechanism of the Seahorse Hippocampus erectus: From Active Fraction Screening to Signaling Pathway Regulation

by Lianghua Huang, Zhaoji Pan, Meng Bai, Jiyan Guo, Jian Xiao and Chenghai Gao

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(7), 678; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48070678 - 30 Jun 2026

Viewed by 331

Abstract

As a traditional element of Chinese medicine, Hippocampus erectus is well known for promoting adolescent growth, yet its active fractions and underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, the aqueous extract of H. erectus was subjected to in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion and ultrafiltration to separate three molecular weight fractions (<10 kDa, 10–30 kDa, >30 kDa). Their chemical profiles were characterized, and osteogenic activities were systematically evaluated using cell assays, a juvenile rat model, and integrated transcriptomics and data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics. Results revealed that chemical profiling showed the >30 kDa fraction was mainly composed of hemocyanin subunits, and the 10–30 kDa fraction was enriched in growth-related amino acids and steroid derivatives; functionally, the 10–30 kDa fraction promoted preosteoblast proliferation and early differentiation via enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, while the >30 kDa fraction dominated late osteoblast maturation and mineralization. Both fractions significantly increased rat body and bone length by expanding growth plate proliferative zones and elevating serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)/bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) levels. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses identified vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Wingless-related integration site (Wnt), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt), and extracellular matrix (ECM)–receptor interaction as potential core regulatory pathways. Integrated multi-omics analysis further confirmed Frizzled-related protein B (Frzb) and AKT1 substrate 1 (Akt1s1) as candidate key regulatory targets enriched in the Wnt and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathways. These findings elucidate the multi-fraction, multi-pathway mechanism of H. erectus in promoting skeletal development, providing scientific evidence for its traditional use and a theoretical basis for growth-promoting functional food development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products in Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 2nd Edition)

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32 pages, 2952 KB

Open AccessArticle

Fenugreek Seed Powder Attenuates Lead-Induced Hepatic Injury and Renal Dysfunction in Male Mice Co-Exposed to Escalating Lead Doses

by Muhammad Imran, Nosheen Mushtaq and Safdar Hussain

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(7), 650; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48070650 - 24 Jun 2026

Viewed by 300

Abstract

Lead (Pb) induces oxidative stress, inflammation, and hepatorenal injury. We evaluated whether fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed powder (200 mg/kg) protects against subchronic Pb-acetate exposure in male albino mice. Sixty mice were randomized to six groups (n = 10): control (G1), fenugreek-only (G2), Pb 150 mg/kg (G3), and three co-exposure groups receiving fenugreek with Pb at 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg (G4–G6), gavaged daily for 8 weeks. LC–DAD–ESI–MS/MS of the seed batch tentatively identified 32 metabolites, dominated by flavonoid C-glycosides, luteolin dihydrogalloyl-glucosyl-pentosyl glucoside (15.90%), vicenin-3 (14.46%), vicenin-2 (9.66%), vicenin-1 (8.80%), kaempferol 7-O-rhamnosyl-glucoside (8.71%), with additional acylated phenolic conjugates. Pb exposure (G3) significantly reduced growth and intake, elevated serum ALT, AST, ALP, urea, and creatinine, raised blood Pb, and produced hepatic necrosis, vacuolation, and inflammation. Molecularly, Pb upregulated Nrf2, HO-1, SCD-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 and suppressed SOD-3. Fenugreek co-treatment attenuated all these changes across the three Pb doses, with greatest effect at the lowest Pb load (G4). Notably, fenugreek co-treatment reduced rather than further increased Nrf2 and HO-1 expression relative to Pb alone, a pattern most consistent with lowering the upstream oxidative stimulus rather than direct induction of these pathways. The seed’s polyphenolic profile—rich in vicenin-type C-glycosides and luteolin and kaempferol derivatives—offers a plausible chemical basis for the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and modest Pb-lowering effects observed; however, because whole seed powder was administered and metabolite identifications are tentative, these structure–activity relationships are presented as hypotheses for future bioactivity-guided fractionation rather than as demonstrated mechanisms. These preclinical findings support further investigation of fenugreek as a candidate dietary adjunct against environmental Pb exposure, contingent on protein-level validation, pharmacokinetic characterization, benchmarking against a standard chelator, and bioactivity-guided fractionation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products in Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 2nd Edition)

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25 pages, 10724 KB

Open AccessArticle

Olive Leaf Extract Suppresses Sebogenesis and Inflammation via AKT/ERK and SREBP-1/PPAR-γ Signaling in Human Sebocytes

by Jeeyoung Kim, Ye-Won Jo, Weon Jeong Bang, Kwang Won Lee, Yung Hyup Joo, Sung Hyeon Lee and Chang-Seok Lee

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(6), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48060549 - 23 May 2026

Viewed by 699

Abstract

This study evaluated olive leaf extract (OLE) as a multifunctional dermocosmetic candidate for sebum-related and inflammatory responses relevant to oily and acne-prone skin using an axis-aligned in vitro panel: (i) sebocyte lipogenesis, (ii) inflammatory mediator production in keratinocytes, and (iii) fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction. In addition, supportive mechanistic evidence for the sebum-related effects of OLE was obtained by examining signaling proteins associated with sebocyte lipogenesis, including PPAR-γ and SREBP-1. As a result, OLE significantly inhibited linoleic acid-induced lipid accumulation in SEB-1 sebocytes without cytotoxicity. In HaCaT keratinocytes, OLE significantly reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-8, TNF-α, and PGE₂, induced by Cutibacterium acnes or UVB. In dermal fibroblast-containing collagen gels, OLE enhanced fibroblast-mediated gel contraction. Additionally, analysis of the main mechanisms of lipid inhibition using SEB-1 sebocytes revealed that OLE exerts a dual regulatory role in lipid synthesis and inflammation by downregulating AKT and ERK phosphorylation and inhibiting PPAR-γ and SREBP-1 expression. Furthermore, among the tested extracts, the 70% ethanol extract (OLE70) exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity, the greatest gel contraction response, and the highest content of oleuropein, a major bioactive phenolic compound derived from olive. Like OLE, oleuropein also showed sebum-regulatory activity by reducing lipid accumulation in SEB-1 sebocytes, an inhibitory effect on IL-8 expression in HaCaT keratinocytes, and an inhibitory effect on the expression of PPAR-γ and SREBP-1, which are involved in sebum secretion. Taken together, these findings suggest that OLE and its major phenolic constituent, oleuropein, may modulate sebum-related, inflammatory, oxidative, and dermal remodeling-associated responses in skin cell models. These results should be interpreted as exploratory and provide a basis for further mechanistic and translational investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products in Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 2nd Edition)

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23 pages, 3418 KB

Open AccessArticle

Biotransformation of Maclekarpine E in Rats: CYP2C19-Mediated Metabolism, Fecal Enrichment, and Network Pharmacology-Based Anti-Ulcerative Colitis Prediction

by Yingxue Yang, Lin Wang, Jiaojiao Xue, Zhen Dong and Pi Cheng

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(3), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48030335 - 23 Mar 2026

Viewed by 761

Abstract

Maclekarpine E is a minor alkaloid from Macleaya species with reported in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, but its in vivo metabolism remains unexplored. This study investigated the metabolic fate of maclekarpine E in rats and evaluated the potential pharmacological relevance of its metabolites. Maclekarpine E was orally administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats (250 mg/kg). Plasma, urine and feces were collected and analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. CYP phenotyping was performed using recombinant human enzymes. Molecular docking against ABCG2 and ABCC2 was conducted to assess potential interactions of all fecal compounds with these efflux transporters. Network pharmacology was employed to predict potential anti-ulcerative colitis-related targets of the metabolites, generating hypotheses for future experimental validation. Nineteen phase I metabolites were identified. Biotransformations included ring-opening, demethylation and oxidation. All 19 metabolites were detected in feces, nine in plasma and two in urine. No phase II conjugates were observed. CYP2C19 was the only significantly active isoform under the tested conditions, mediating approximately 16.5% substrate depletion (p < 0.05). All 20 fecal compounds bound ABCG2 (ΔG < −5.0 kcal/mol); 19 bound ABCC2. Network pharmacology yielded 57 overlapping targets with ulcerative colitis, enriched in PI3K-Akt and MAPK pathways. This study provides the first comprehensive metabolic profile of maclekarpine E in rats. The compound undergoes CYP2C19-mediated oxidation and is predominantly excreted into feces. Its fecal metabolites are potential ABCG2/ABCC2 substrates and may target UC-associated pathways based on network pharmacology predictions, warranting further experimental validation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products in Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 2nd Edition)

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Review

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39 pages, 3498 KB

Open AccessReview

Natural Products in Epilepsy Treatment: From Traditional Medicine Towards Computational Drug Discovery

by Muhammad Yasir, Jin-Hee Han, Jongseon Choe and Wanjoo Chun

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(5), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48050483 - 6 May 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1550

Abstract

Epilepsy affects approximately 50 million people worldwide, with nearly one-third of patients experiencing drug-resistant seizures despite available antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Natural products remain an important source of bioactive scaffolds for drug discovery, offering diverse chemical structures capable of modulating key pathological pathways in epilepsy. This review examines major classes of natural compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds, and their activity against validated targets such as GABAergic and glutamatergic systems, voltage-gated ion channels, and neuroinflammatory pathways. Advances in computational drug discovery have significantly accelerated the identification and optimization of these compounds. Approaches such as virtual screening, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and machine learning models, particularly graph neural networks (GNNs), enable the efficient prediction of compound target interactions, binding stability, and pharmacokinetic properties, including blood–brain barrier (BBB) penetration and ADMET profiles. These methods support the prioritization and rational modification of natural product leads from large chemical libraries. Notable clinical approval of cannabidiol (Epidiolex) highlights the translational potential of natural product-based therapeutics. However, challenges such as limited bioavailability, pharmacokinetic constraints, and variability in natural sources continue to hinder development. This review provides an integrated perspective on natural product scaffolds, their molecular targets, and the computational strategies driving their advancement toward novel antiepileptic therapies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products in Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 2nd Edition)

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36 pages, 1849 KB

Open AccessReview

Mechanistic Insights into the Wound Healing Activity of Plant Species in Diabetic Ulcers

by Rodson Glauber Ribeiro Chaves, Fernanda Farias Costa, Letícia Andrade Fuchs, Lays Scherrer Rodrigues, Rhuan Antonio Nogueira Moraes, Paulo Sila da Silva Alves Junior, Márcia Cristina Goncalves Maciel, Flavia Maria Mendonça Amaral, Denise Fernandes Coutinho and Aramys Silva Reis

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(12), 972; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47120972 - 24 Nov 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2104

Abstract

Diabetic foot ulcers represent a major complication driven by chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, impaired angiogenesis, and defective extracellular matrix remodeling. This integrative review synthesizes mechanistic evidence from 51 preclinical studies evaluating plant-derived interventions in diabetic animal models. Database searches (PubMed, Embase, Scopus) identified species modulating discrete molecular targets across healing phases. In the inflammatory phase, extracts suppressed NF-κB-dependent cytokine production (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6), reduced oxidative stress via Nrf2/HO-1 activation, and disrupted AGE-RAGE signaling, facilitating neutrophil resolution and macrophage reprogramming. During proliferation, interventions upregulated angiogenic factors (VEGF, bFGF, IGF-1) through ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt-eNOS pathways, stimulated fibroblast proliferation, and enhanced collagen deposition. In the remodeling phase, extracts improved tensile strength by modulating MMP-2/9 and TIMP-2 balance, promoting type I collagen maturation and organized fiber architecture. Polyphenol-rich species (Punica granatum, Quercus infectoria, Polygonatum kingianum) demonstrated the most robust multi-target activity. However, translational gaps persist due to extract heterogeneity, limited phytochemical standardization, and overreliance on young male rodent models. Future development requires standardized bioactive quantification, dose–response characterization, advanced delivery systems (hydrogels, nanofibers), and validation in aged animals with comorbidities. These mechanistic insights support plant-based therapies as multi-component adjuvants targeting the complex pathophysiology of diabetic ulcers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products in Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 2nd Edition)

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