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Compounds
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Compounds–Derived from Nature
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Compounds–Derived from Nature

A special issue of Compounds (ISSN 2673-6918).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1525

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Victoria V. Volkis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, MD 21853, USA
Interests: phytochemistry; materials science; applications in agriculture and food; antifouling; resin extraction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nature stands out as a significant source of bioactive compounds, serving as a cornerstone for numerous breakthroughs in fields like chemistry, materials science, environmental sustainability, and industry. From ancient herbal medicines to innovative applications in synthetic chemistry, compounds sourced from nature continue to pave the way for advancements in research and development. With the ongoing progress in extraction, characterization, and modification techniques, the potential to utilize these compounds across various applications has grown immensely, offering sustainable and cutting-edge solutions.

The Special Issue "Compounds–Derived from Nature" aims to delve into the discovery, analysis, and applications of natural compounds across multiple scientific disciplines. By integrating chemistry, biotechnology, and applied sciences, this Special Issue underscores the transformative role of natural compounds in both foundational research and industrial applications.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Nutrients and phytochemicals derived from nature;
  • Growing plants to boost their phytochemical content;
  • Superfruits and high-value specialty crops and their phytochemicals;
  • Food application of phytochemicals derived from nature;
  • Non-food-related applications of phytochemicals derived from nature;
  • Medical benefits of phytochemicals derived from nature;
  • Methods to derive phytochemicals from nature;
  • Methods of analysis of phytochemicals derived from nature.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Victoria V. Volkis
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. Compounds is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1200 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 compounds
  • phytochemistry
  • extraction techniques
  • processing
  • functional food
  • technical applications
  • antifouling
  • cosmetics
  • pharmaceuticals
  • environmental protection
  • materials science
  • radical scavenging
  • nutraceuticals
  • sustainable technology

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
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  • 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 (3 papers)

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15 pages, 640 KiB  
Article
Bioactive Properties and Fatty Acid Profile of Seed Oil from Amomyrtus luma
by Claudia Giovagnoli-Vicuña, Rafael Viteri, Javiera Aparicio, Issis Quispe-Fuentes and Ady Giordano
Compounds 2025, 5(3), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/compounds5030031 - 11 Aug 2025
Viewed by 94
Abstract
Amomyrtus luma (A. luma), a native Chilean tree species, produces fruits containing 1–3 non-edible seeds, which are typically discarded as waste during processing. This study evaluated the fatty acid composition and bioactive properties of A. luma seed oil obtained through maceration, [...] Read more.
Amomyrtus luma (A. luma), a native Chilean tree species, produces fruits containing 1–3 non-edible seeds, which are typically discarded as waste during processing. This study evaluated the fatty acid composition and bioactive properties of A. luma seed oil obtained through maceration, ultrasound extraction, and Soxhlet extraction, using hexane as the extraction solvent. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were quantified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), revealing that linoleic acid was the most abundant (79.79–80.09%), followed by oleic acid (8.89–9.18%) and palmitic acid (7.29–7.40%), with no significant differences (p < 0.05) among extraction methods. However, extraction conditions significantly influenced the concentration of bioactive compounds, including total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, lycopene, carotenoids, and antioxidant capacity, as determined through DPPH and FRAP assays. A strong correlation was observed between polyphenol content and antioxidant activity, particularly in maceration and ultrasound extraction, whereas Soxhlet extraction favored tocopherols and carotenoids due to the thermal degradation of polyphenols. Soxhlet extraction yielded the highest oil recovery, while ultrasound extraction preserved the highest levels of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity. No antimicrobial activity was detected against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. These findings underscore the key role of extraction methods in determining the nutritional and functional quality of A. luma seed oil. Given its high unsaturated fatty acid content and bioactive potential, A. luma seed oil represents a promising ingredient for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications, while contributing to waste valorization and sustainable resource utilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Compounds–Derived from Nature)
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Review

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30 pages, 1991 KiB  
Review
Emerging Technologies for Extracting Antioxidant Compounds from Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms: An Efficient and Sustainable Approach
by Salome Mamani Parí, Erick Saldaña, Juan D. Rios-Mera, María Fernanda Quispe Angulo and Nils Leander Huaman-Castilla
Compounds 2025, 5(3), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/compounds5030029 - 28 Jul 2025
Viewed by 386
Abstract
Edible mushrooms are well-known for their culinary and nutritional values. Additionally, they serve as a natural source of polyphenols, a group of bioactive compounds that significantly treat diseases associated with oxidative stress. The polyphenolic profile of mushrooms mainly consists of phenolic acids and [...] Read more.
Edible mushrooms are well-known for their culinary and nutritional values. Additionally, they serve as a natural source of polyphenols, a group of bioactive compounds that significantly treat diseases associated with oxidative stress. The polyphenolic profile of mushrooms mainly consists of phenolic acids and flavonoids, whose chemical properties have attracted the attention of both the food and pharmaceutical industries. Consequently, methods for extracting polyphenols from mushrooms encompass conventional techniques (maceration and Soxhlet extraction) as well as innovative or green methods (ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, and pulsed electric field extraction). Nonetheless, extraction with pressurized liquids and supercritical fluids is considered the most suitable method, as they function in a gentle and selective manner, preserving the integrity of the phenolic compounds. The use of mushroom-derived phenolic compounds in food and pharmaceutical formulations continues to face challenges concerning the safety of these extracts, as they might contain unwanted substances. Future applications should incorporate purification systems to yield highly pure extracts, thereby creating safe polyphenol carriers (for food and pharmaceutical products) for consumers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Compounds–Derived from Nature)
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20 pages, 3251 KiB  
Review
Chemical Functionalization of Camelina, Hemp, and Rapeseed Oils for Sustainable Resin Applications: Strategies for Tailoring Structure and Performance
by Elham Nadim, Pavan Paraskar, Emma J. Murphy, Mohammadnabi Hesabi and Ian Major
Compounds 2025, 5(3), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/compounds5030026 - 10 Jul 2025
Viewed by 352
Abstract
This review examines the chemical functionalization of Camelina, hemp, and rapeseed oils for the development of sustainable bio-based resins. Key strategies, including epoxidation, acrylation, and click chemistry, are discussed in the context of tailoring molecular structure to enhance reactivity, compatibility, and material performance. [...] Read more.
This review examines the chemical functionalization of Camelina, hemp, and rapeseed oils for the development of sustainable bio-based resins. Key strategies, including epoxidation, acrylation, and click chemistry, are discussed in the context of tailoring molecular structure to enhance reactivity, compatibility, and material performance. Particular emphasis is placed on overcoming the inherent limitations of vegetable oil structures to enable their integration into high-performance polymer systems. The agricultural sustainability and environmental advantages of these feedstocks are also highlighted alongside the technical challenges associated with their chemical modification. Functionalized oils derived from Camelina, hemp, and rapeseed have been successfully applied in various resin systems, including protective coatings, pressure-sensitive adhesives, UV-curable oligomers, and polyurethane foams. These advances demonstrate their growing potential as renewable alternatives to petroleum-based polymers and underline the critical role of structure–property relationships in designing next-generation sustainable materials. Ultimately, the objective of this review is to distill the most effective functionalization pathways and design principles, thereby illustrating how Camelina, hemp, and rapeseed oils could serve as viable substitutes for petrochemical resins in future industrial applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Compounds–Derived from Nature)
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