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Molecular Insights: Mechanisms Underlying the Biological Activities of Natural Products—2nd Edition

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: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 1324

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Premalatha Balachandran

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
Interests: natural products research; drug discovery and development; signaling pathways; target identification; immune modulation; cancer treatment and prevention; diabetic nephropathy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

This Special Issue is a continuation of our previous Special Issue, “Molecular Insights: Mechanisms Underlying the Biological Activities of Natural Products” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cimb/special_issues/4G80955PE1).

This Special Issue, titled “Molecular Insights: Mechanisms Underlying the Biological Activities of Natural Products”, aims to delve into the intricate molecular mechanisms that govern the diverse biological activities of natural products. It seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these compounds interact with molecular targets, cellular components, and signaling pathways while also influencing gene expression and metabolic processes to elicit physiological responses in organisms. By elucidating these mechanisms, researchers aim to comprehend the broad spectrum of biological effects exerted by natural products, including, but not limited to, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. Molecular studies offer insights into the structural features of natural products that contribute to their pharmacological properties, informing drug discovery, nutraceutical development, and therapeutic interventions. This understanding is crucial for maximizing the therapeutic potential of natural products and advancing their use in medicine and other fields.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, target identification, and mode of action of natural products. By uncovering such molecular insights, this Special Issue strives to shed light on the therapeutic potential of natural products in various fields such as medicine, agriculture, and environmental science. Researchers are encouraged to contribute original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that contribute to our understanding of the molecular basis underlying the biological activities of natural products.

Dr. Premalatha Balachandran
Guest Editor

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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
  • molecular mechanisms
  • biological activities
  • pharmacodynamics
  • drug discovery
  • therapeutic potential
  • signaling pathways
  • target identification
  • pharmacological properties
  • bioactive compounds

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 1654 KB  
Article
Astaxanthin Attenuates Chlorpyrifos-Induced Pulmonary Cytotoxicity by Modulating Mitochondrial Redox and Inflammatory Pathways
by Mediha Demet Okudan Altındaş and Adem Güner
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(8), 663; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47080663 - 17 Aug 2025
Viewed by 378
Abstract
Chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphate pesticide, is known to induce pulmonary toxicity through oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation. Astaxanthin (ASX), a xanthophyll carotenoid derived primarily from marine microalgae (Haematococcus pluvialis), possesses strong antioxidant properties and has demonstrated cellular protective effects in numerous oxidative [...] Read more.
Chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphate pesticide, is known to induce pulmonary toxicity through oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation. Astaxanthin (ASX), a xanthophyll carotenoid derived primarily from marine microalgae (Haematococcus pluvialis), possesses strong antioxidant properties and has demonstrated cellular protective effects in numerous oxidative stress studies. However, its efficacy against CPF-induced lung cell damage remains uncharacterized. This study revealed the protective role of ASX, as a pretreatment and co-treatment, against CPF-induced cytotoxicity in human A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells by assessing cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (IROS), total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), intracellular calcium ions (Ca2+), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, DNA fragmentation, and apoptosis/inflammation-associated gene expression. CPF treatment significantly decreased cell viability and TAC, while elevating IROS, TOS, MMP, intracellular Ca2+, and LDH release. CPF also increased MDA levels and suppressed GPx and SOD activities. DNA fragmentation and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis revealed upregulation of pro-apoptotic and inflammatory markers such as BCL2-associated X protein (BAX), caspase-3 (CASP3), tumor protein p53 (TP53), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), and voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 1 (VDAC1) and suppression of anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and antioxidant defense genes nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). ASX treatment, particularly when administered as a pretreatment, significantly reversed CPF-induced oxidative and inflammatory responses by restoring SOD, GPx, and TAC levels, reducing IROS, TOS, MDA, and LDH release, and downregulating apoptotic and inflammatory gene expressions. ASX pretreatment notably decreased MMP and intracellular Ca2+ levels, indicating protection against mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium dysregulation. ASX upregulated Nrf2 and HO-1 expression and restored the BCL2/BAX balance, suggesting inhibition of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. Additionally, ASX significantly attenuated CPF-induced anti-angiogenic effects in the in ovo Hen’s Egg Test Chorioallantoic Membrane (HET-CAM) assay. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, that ASX exerts a broad spectrum of protective effects against CPF-induced cytotoxicity in lung cells, mainly through the stabilization of mitochondrial redox status and modulation of apoptosis- and inflammation-related gene pathways, highlighting ASX as a promising candidate for further therapeutic development. Furthermore, the pronounced efficacy observed in the pretreatment regimen suggests that ASX can be evaluated as a potential nutritional preventive strategy in high-risk populations with occupational or environmental CPF exposure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights: Mechanisms Underlying the Biological Activities of Natural Products—2nd Edition)
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Review

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21 pages, 693 KB  
Review
Selected Protective Mechanisms of Human Milk Against Intestinal Protozoal Infections in Infants
by Joanna Wróblewska, Anna Długosz, Marcin Wróblewski, Jarosław Nuszkiewicz, Paweł Sutkowy and Alina Woźniak
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2025, 47(8), 674; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47080674 - 21 Aug 2025
Viewed by 591
Abstract
Human milk, especially colostrum, is a biologically complex fluid with potent protective properties against gastrointestinal disturbances in infants. Among intestinal protozoa transmitted via the fecal–oral route, this review focuses on Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica, as the protective role of milk-derived factors [...] Read more.
Human milk, especially colostrum, is a biologically complex fluid with potent protective properties against gastrointestinal disturbances in infants. Among intestinal protozoa transmitted via the fecal–oral route, this review focuses on Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica, as the protective role of milk-derived factors against these parasites is the most extensively documented. Its protective effects result from a wide range of bioactive components, including mucins, lactoferrin, human milk oligosaccharides, melatonin, and secretory IgA, which support the integrity of the intestinal barrier, regulate immune responses, and inhibit the adhesion and activity of pathogens. The composition of human milk can be influenced by maternal factors such as nutritional status, stress, sleep quality, and physical activity, which may modulate its immunological potential. Dietary intake of micronutrients, fermentable fibers, and fermented foods also appears to play a role in shaping the milk’s protective properties. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms by which selected milk components contribute to the defense against protozoan infections in early life and considers how maternal health and lifestyle may affect the effectiveness of these protective mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights: Mechanisms Underlying the Biological Activities of Natural Products—2nd Edition)
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