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The Green Revolution in Cancer Research: Bioactive Substances from Plants as Promising Therapeutics

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 1992

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Specialistiche ed Odontostomatologiche, Facoltà di Medicina, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
Interests: bioactive compound; antioxidant; phytochemical-mediated cancer prevention and treatment; cell signalling; novel drug delivery system

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

This Special Issue, titled "The Green Revolution in Cancer Research: Bioactive Substances from Plants as Promising Therapeutics", relates to the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the anticancer effects of bioactive compounds sourced from plants.

In cancer research, exploring plant-derived bioactive substances is gaining more attention as it attempts to alter conventional therapeutic approaches. Traditional treatments often carry significant side effects and limitations, prompting scientists to investigate plant-based compounds with medicinal properties, such as those found in tea, which may mitigate the adverse effects of standard interventions. Evidence suggests that various bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, curcumin, and terpenoids, exhibit promising anti-cancer properties.

Current research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects, highlighting the potential for these compounds to target multiple cancer pathways. The integration of plant-based therapies presents a compelling complementary approach, potentially enhancing the efficacy of conventional treatments while reducing adverse effects.

Although the findings are encouraging, there are still obstacles to overcome, such as challenges with bioavailability, the necessity for standardization, and regulatory issues that must be addressed for clinical use. This Special Issue seeks to highlight progress in this exciting field, focusing on the potential of plant-derived treatments to transform cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes. Through cutting-edge research, the future of oncology may be closely connected to the resources provided by nature.

Dr. Johura Ansary
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.

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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

  • bioactive compound
  • cancer research
  • plant-derived
  • anti-cancer properties
  • therapeutic strategies

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 3063 KB  
Article
Evaluation of the Safety and Antiproliferative Activity of Bulgarian Rose Essential Oil: An In Vitro and In Silico Model of Colorectal Adenocarcinoma
by Rayna Nenova, Kalin Kalinov, Deyana Nedeva, Ana Dobreva, Neli Vilhelmova-Ilieva, Ani Georgieva and Ivan Iliev
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(8), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47080649 - 13 Aug 2025
Viewed by 752
Abstract
The side effects of conventional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc., worsen the quality of life of patients. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the possibilities of creating new drugs containing natural products with low toxicity. The experimental scientific pharmacological research of [...] Read more.
The side effects of conventional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc., worsen the quality of life of patients. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the possibilities of creating new drugs containing natural products with low toxicity. The experimental scientific pharmacological research of rose preparations in Bulgaria began in the first half of the 20th century. Bulgarian rose essential oil (BREO) is qualified by GC FID analysis. To study the effect of the BREO, we used HCT-8 and HT-29 tumor cell lines. As a model of healthy tissue, we used the non-tumorigenic cells MCF-12F. Cells were treated with twofold increasing concentrations of BREO from 7.5 µg/mL to 1000 µg/mL. The NRU test and MTT assay were used for evaluation of the safety, antiproliferative activity and colony formation assay. Our results showed low cytotoxicity (CC50 = 629.72 ± 22.38 μg/mL) and high level of photosafety (PIF = 0.92) of BREO. The antiproliferative activity test shows that the BREO has an IC50 = 290.45 ± 10.79 μg/mL for the HT-29 cells. In the normal cell line MCF-12F, this effect is lower (IC50 = 383.90 ± 34.75 μg/mL). Furthermore, colony forming assay showed a significant reduction in IC50 value (IC50 = 163.79 ± 10.25 μg/mL) in HT-29 cells. The in silico experiments confirmed the potential of the BREO for antiproliferative effect and further activation of different pathways leading to apoptosis. Full article
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Review

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23 pages, 3101 KB  
Review
Hydroxytyrosol and Brain Tumors: Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Potential
by Cristina Cueto-Ureña, María Jesús Ramírez-Expósito, María Pilar Carrera-González and José Manuel Martínez-Martos
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(8), 667; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47080667 - 18 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 970
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) tumors, especially gliomas and IDH-wildtype glioblastoma, present high aggressiveness, low response to current treatments and limited survival. Several biological processes such as oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy are involved in their development. Hydroxytyrosol (HTX), a phenolic compound present [...] Read more.
Central nervous system (CNS) tumors, especially gliomas and IDH-wildtype glioblastoma, present high aggressiveness, low response to current treatments and limited survival. Several biological processes such as oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy are involved in their development. Hydroxytyrosol (HTX), a phenolic compound present in olives, has shown relevant effects on these processes in experimental models. This review analyzes its chemical characteristics, bioavailability, and ability to cross the blood–brain barrier, as well as its mechanisms of action. Despite its rapid metabolism, HTX can reach the brain in small but functional amounts, and various formulation methods can enhance its delivery to nervous tissue. HTX acts on cellular pathways such as Nrf2, NF-κB, JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt and SIRT1, regulating redox balance, inflammation, programmed cell death, and autophagy. It can also influence gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms. In cell models, it has shown inhibitory effects on tumor growth and activation of apoptosis, without affecting non-tumor cells. These results support its possible usefulness as an adjunct in the treatment of brain tumors, although further studies in animal and human models are required. Full article
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