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Cell Metabolism and Small Natural Compounds (2nd Edition)

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2025) | Viewed by 9821

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department of Sustainability, Trisaia Research Center, Rotondella, Italy
Interests: mitochondria; protein purification; antioxidant activity; biomolecules extraction; agricultural waste valorization; novel food
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Guest Editor
Institute of Research for Food Safety and Health (IRC-FSH), Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Interests: nutraceuticals; mitochondria; membrane proteins; cell metabolism; cardiovascular disease; metabolic syndrome; omics sciences
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is a continuation of our previous Special Issue “Cell Metabolism and Small Natural Compounds”.

Cellular metabolism, and especially its dysregulation, plays a key role in the physiology of the onset of many diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular as well as neurodegenerative diseases.

Over the years, only through in-depth studies of biochemistry and molecular biology has it been possible to better understand the correlation between cellular mechanisms and various chemical mediators.

In particular, the knowledge of and research on the mechanisms that involve the alteration of energy metabolism, the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as nitrogen species (RNS), the imbalance between proliferation and cell death, and the interaction between enzymes and substrates represent useful and fundamental tools with which to create new therapeutic approaches that are more effective and ensure better quality of life.

Therefore, the detailed study of potential natural mediators of cellular metabolism, both endogenous and exogenous (extracted from animal and plant sources), becomes an interesting research topic to be enriched with information. The multiplicity of bioactive molecules present in nature, which is associated with a potential therapeutic effect and increased tolerability as well as bioavailability, is an excellent alternative to synthetic drugs.

The increased knowledge of altered metabolic pathways and the ability of natural compounds to modulate them are achievements, in addition to great steps forward for science.

Given the particular historical moment in which we are living, this Special Issue aims to focus more attention of the entire scientific community on the great therapeutic potential of natural compounds, and especially on their safety for health.

In particular, we encourage the submission of original manuscripts and reviews that bring new insights as well as information on the biochemical interaction of known or novel natural compounds with cellular metabolism, in health and disease, in order to design new and innovative therapeutic approaches.

Dr. Anna Spagnoletta
Dr. Salvatore Nesci
Dr. Francesca Oppedisano
Guest Editors

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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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

  • cell metabolism
  • mitochondria
  • ROS
  • RNS
  • proliferation and cell death
  • metabolic pathways
  • natural compounds
  • bioactive molecules
  • human pathology

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 2473 KiB  
Article
An Innovative Method of Improving an Extract of Andrographis paniculata from Leaves: Its Anticancer Effect Involves the Cell Endoplasmic Reticulum
by Jessica Maiuolo, Rosamaria Caminiti, Valeria Mazza, Francesca Oppedisano, Saverio Nucera, Maria Serra, Roberta Macrì, Ernesto Palma, Annie Eng, Vincenzo Mollace and Carolina Muscoli
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(1), 344; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26010344 - 2 Jan 2025
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Abstract
In this manuscript, the effects of two extracts from Andrographis paniculata were tested: (a) an extract titrated to 49.7% of andrographolide and obtained from leaves of the plant: (b) the pure andrographolide titrated to 99%. The extracts were dissolved in 1-butanol and tested [...] Read more.
In this manuscript, the effects of two extracts from Andrographis paniculata were tested: (a) an extract titrated to 49.7% of andrographolide and obtained from leaves of the plant: (b) the pure andrographolide titrated to 99%. The extracts were dissolved in 1-butanol and tested on tumor lines (MCF7 and SH-SY5Y) and the non-tumor line (Huvec) to understand the effects on cell proliferation. The addition of a sonication process improved their dissolution and efficacy making these extracts unique and innovative. The experiments conducted (viability measurements, solubility of the extracts, IC50 tests, measurement of oxidative potential, lipid and cytosolic calcium concentration, and mortality assessment by annexin assay) showed a different behavior of the extracts on cancer cells and not. In particular, the extracts did not cause toxic effects on the viability of the Huvec cells, while both tumor lines were damaged, demonstrating that cancer cells are more susceptible to extracts of A. paniculata than healthy cells. The mechanism of action responsible for the damage detected involved the functioning of the endoplasmic reticulum organelle and finally resulted in apoptotic death. For this reason, the extracts considered have shown a potential anti-tumor role and A. paniculata could be used and exploited in pharmacological therapy against cancer. However, further studies, obtained in clinical practice, should be conducted to increase knowledge of the effects of A. paniculata on the organism and its phytotherapeutic role. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell Metabolism and Small Natural Compounds (2nd Edition))
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19 pages, 7014 KiB  
Article
Protective Role of Ethanol Extract of Cibotium barometz (Cibotium Rhizome) against Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy in C2C12 Myotubes
by Na-Hyung Kim, Joo-Yeon Lee and Choon Young Kim
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(19), 14798; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241914798 - 30 Sep 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2946
Abstract
Sarcopenia is a progressive muscle disease characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, function, and physical performance. Since the disease code was assigned, attention has been focused on natural products that can protect against muscle atrophy. Cibotium barometz (Cibotium Rhizome) has [...] Read more.
Sarcopenia is a progressive muscle disease characterized by the loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, function, and physical performance. Since the disease code was assigned, attention has been focused on natural products that can protect against muscle atrophy. Cibotium barometz (Cibotium Rhizome) has been used as an herbal medicine for the treatment of bone or joint diseases in Asian countries. However, no studies have identified the mechanism of action of Cibotium Rhizome on muscle atrophy related to sarcopenia at the site of myotubes. The aim of this study was to investigate the improvement effect of the ethanol extract of Cibotium Rhizome (ECR) on dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy in an in vitro cell model, i.e., the C2C12 myotubes. High-performance liquid chromatography was performed to examine the phytochemicals in ECR. Seven peaks in the ECR were identified, corresponding to the following compounds: protocatechuic acid, (+)-catechin hydrate, p-coumaric acid, ellagic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid. In atrophy-like conditions induced by 100 μM dexamethasone for 24 h in C2C12, ECR increased the expression of the myosin heavy chain, p-Akt, the p-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), p-p70S6K, and repressed the expression of regulated in development and DNA damage responses 1 (REDD1), kruppel-like factor 15 (KLF 15), muscle atrophy F-box, and muscle-specific RING finger protein-1 in C2C12. In addition, ECR alleviated dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy by repressing REDD1 and KLF15 transcription in C2C12 myotubes, indicating the need for further studies to provide a scientific basis for the development of useful therapeutic agents using ECR to alleviate the effects of skeletal muscle atrophy or sarcopenia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell Metabolism and Small Natural Compounds (2nd Edition))
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Review

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28 pages, 1876 KiB  
Review
Antioxidant Activity of Anthocyanins and Anthocyanidins: A Critical Review
by Izabela Sadowska-Bartosz and Grzegorz Bartosz
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(22), 12001; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252212001 - 8 Nov 2024
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4804
Abstract
Anthocyanins are the main plant pigments responsible for the color of flowers, fruits, and vegetative organs of many plants, and are applied also as safe food colorants. They are efficient antioxidants. In this review, the reactivity of anthocyanins and their aglycones, anthocyanidins, in [...] Read more.
Anthocyanins are the main plant pigments responsible for the color of flowers, fruits, and vegetative organs of many plants, and are applied also as safe food colorants. They are efficient antioxidants. In this review, the reactivity of anthocyanins and their aglycones, anthocyanidins, in the main antioxidant assays, and their reactions with reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, effects of interactions with other compounds and metal ions on the antioxidant activity of anthocyanins and the electrochemical properties of anthocyanins are presented. Numerous cases of attenuation of oxidative stress at the cellular and organismal levels by anthocyanins are cited. The direct and indirect antioxidant action of anthocyanins, the question of the specificity of anthocyanin action in complex extracts, as well as limitations of cellular in vitro assays and biomarkers used for the detection of antioxidant effects of anthocyanins, are critically discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cell Metabolism and Small Natural Compounds (2nd Edition))
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