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The Role of Plant Extracts in the Treatment and Prevention of Human Diseases

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: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 69

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute of Physiology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
Interests: nutrition science; chemical carcinogens; toxicology; chemoprevention; environmental pollution; epigenetics; molecular pathomechanisms
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the face of rising global health challenges and limitations of conventional therapeutics, there is growing scientific and clinical interest in plant-derived compounds as safe, accessible, and multifaceted alternatives. Plants produce a vast array of bioactive secondary metabolites with therapeutic potential, many of which form the basis of modern pharmaceuticals. This Special Issue explores the evolving role of plant extracts in treating and preventing human diseases, highlighting recent advances in mechanistic understanding, pharmacological profiling, and clinical applications. By combining ethnopharmacology with molecular medicine, this Special Issue aims to highlight novel research results that connect traditional knowledge with modern scientific approaches to advance evidence-based therapy development.

Throughout human history, plants have served as a foundation for traditional medicine systems, with countless cultures relying on botanical remedies to manage various health conditions. In recent decades, there has been a resurgence of scientific interest in plant extracts due to their rich content of bioactive phytochemicals, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, polyphenols, saponins, and glycosides. These compounds exhibit diverse pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancer, and neuroprotective effects.

Modern advances in analytical chemistry, molecular biology, and pharmacology have enabled researchers to elucidate the mechanisms of action of many plant-derived compounds. Plant extracts are being studied for their potential to modulate key cellular pathways, including those involved in inflammation (e.g., NF-κB, COX-2), oxidative stress (e.g., Nrf2, ROS scavenging), apoptosis, and immune regulation. These pathways are critically implicated in chronic and degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmune conditions, etc. Moreover, plant-based therapies offer a promising complementary or alternative strategy considering the growing concerns about antibiotic resistance, side effects of synthetic drugs, and the need for sustainable healthcare solutions. However, challenges remain, including the standardization of extracts, dose optimization, bioavailability enhancement, and clinical validation.

This Special Issue aims to bridge traditional knowledge with modern biomedical research by elucidating the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic applications, and molecular mechanisms of plant extracts, plant-derived molecules, or synthetic analogues. Emphasis is placed on both experimental research and clinical trials, as well as on novel delivery systems and computational modeling approaches that enhance the development of plant-based therapeutics.

Dr. Ferenc Budán
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. 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

  • phytotherapy
  • herbal medicine
  • nutrition science
  • disease prevention
  • epigenetics
  • molecular mechanisms
  • biomarkers

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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