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Current Research on Phenolic Profiles and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Plants

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Bioactives and Nutraceuticals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 841

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, China Medical University, Taichung 404328, Taiwan
Interests: neurodegenerative disorders; Alzheimer’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; behavioral pharmacology; neuropharmacology; antioxidants; neuroinflammation; pharmacognosy; medicinal herbs

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Guest Editor
School of Chinese Medicines for Post-Baccalaureate, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan
Interests: biochips; pharmacology; traditional Chinese medicine; medicinal herbs
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Inflammation is a complex biological response to harmful stimuli such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants, and it plays a crucial role in the development and progression of various chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative conditions. While inflammation is essential for host defense and tissue repair, prolonged or excessive inflammatory responses can contribute to disease pathogenesis.

Increasing attention has been directed toward the anti-inflammatory properties and potential health benefits of plants. Numerous studies have demonstrated that traditional medicinal plants exhibit significant anti-inflammatory effects. These plants act through multiple mechanisms, such as inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines, modulating signaling pathways (e.g., MAPKs, NF-κB, NLRP3, inflammasome) and suppressing oxidative stress. Their incorporation into diets or therapeutic regimens offers a promising strategy for maintaining physiological balance and preventing inflammation-related disorders. Among the bioactive phytochemicals of plants, phenolic compounds—including flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, and lignans—are particularly noteworthy. Advanced analytical techniques, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS), have enabled the precise characterization of phenolic content in different plant species. Correlations between specific phenolic profiles and anti-inflammatory activities have been increasingly established, providing a scientific basis for the development of functional foods and plant-based therapeutics.

I am pleased to invite you to contribute this Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS), titled “Current Research on Phenolic Profiles and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Plants”. This Special Issue aims to showcase a curated collection of cutting-edge research and contemporary review articles that explore the interplay between plant phenolic composition and anti-inflammatory efficacy to offer promising avenues for the development of natural anti-inflammatory agents and guide their clinical applications from plants. Continued research is essential to fully understand their bioavailability, metabolism, and long-term efficacy in clinical settings. I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Chi-Rei Rei Wu
Prof. Dr. Li-Wei Lin
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • plants
  • phenolic profiles
  • inflammation
  • cardiovascular disorders
  • cancer
  • diabetes
  • neurodegenerative disorders

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

10 pages, 1123 KB  
Article
Isoflavone-Enriched Glycine tomentella Hayata Extract Attenuates Anxiety-like Behavior and Oxidative Stress in Mice via Radical Scavenging Activity
by Ming-Cheng Tsai, Ming-Chung Lee, Ming-Chong Ng, Yun-Kuan Lin, Pei-Fang Lai and Hsin-Tzu Liu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(3), 1560; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27031560 - 5 Feb 2026
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Abstract
Flavonoids exert antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals, chelating metals, and modulating antioxidant enzymes. The root extract of Glycine tomentella Hayata (GTE), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb contains flavonoids, particularly, isoflavones. However, its neuroprotective effects against anxiety remain unclear. In this study, the [...] Read more.
Flavonoids exert antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals, chelating metals, and modulating antioxidant enzymes. The root extract of Glycine tomentella Hayata (GTE), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb contains flavonoids, particularly, isoflavones. However, its neuroprotective effects against anxiety remain unclear. In this study, the effects of GTE on anxiety-like behavior and oxidative stress in male Balb/c mice were investigated. The mice were administered GTE orally once daily for 14 d and subsequently, the anxiolytic-like effects of the extract were observed via elevated plus maze and open field tests. Oxidative stress levels in the treated mice were also measured. The results obtained identified daidzein (9.19 mg/g dry extract) and daidzin (2.95 mg/g dry extract) as the key isoflavones in GTE. Furthermore, free radical scavenging assays confirmed that GTE shows strong antioxidant activity, with an IC50 value of 8.82 μg/mL. It also showed pronounced anxiolytic effects, attenuating reactive oxygen species production in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistic studies attributed these effects to the estrogenic activity of daidzein, which possibly modulates emotional state via estrogen receptor activation and systemic oxidative stress mitigation. These findings suggest that isoflavone-enriched GTE is a natural resource with potential for use as an antioxidant for mitigating anxiety. Full article
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