Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
10.0
5.6
Journals
IJMS
Special Issues
Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds for Pharmacological Applications, 2nd Edition
ijms-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds for Pharmacological Applications, 2nd Edition

A Special Issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067) belonging to the section "Bioactives and Nutraceuticals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 922

Editors

Dr. Ilian Badjakov

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Agrobioinstitute, Agricultural Academy, 8 Dr. Tsankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: biotechnology; molecular biology; genomics; metabolomics; DNA markers; RAPDs; microsatellites; CAPs; AFLPs; SNPs; chromatography LC-MS/MS; GC-MS; bioactive compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ivayla Dincheva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agrobiotechnologies, Agrobioinstitute, Agricultural Academy, 8 “Dragan Tsankov” Blvd., 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: phytochemistry; metabolomics; bioactive compounds; natural products chemistry; medicinal and aromatic plants; LC-MS and GC-MS analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant-derived bioactive compounds are integral to advancing human health, revealing their wide-ranging biological properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and neuroprotective effects. These compounds hold significant potential in preventing and managing non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, autoimmune conditions, cancer, metabolic syndromes, and neurodegenerative diseases. The exploration and application of these natural molecules continue to be central pursuits across various scientific disciplines, including phytochemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, molecular biology, biotechnology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmaceutical innovation.

Volume 1.0 of this Special Issue, titled “Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds for Pharmacological Applications” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms/special_issues/0PD1Y4N65P), has been highly successful. We therefore aim to reopen this topic in volume 2.0.

The second edition of this Special Issue seeks contributions highlighting recent advancements in the discovery, characterization, and application of plant-based bioactive compounds. Topics of interest include high-throughput screening techniques, novel extraction and isolation methods, structural analysis, and in vivo or in vitro evaluations of pharmacological activities. We also encourage studies leveraging state-of-the-art technologies, such as CRISPR, genome editing, bioprocess engineering, and bioreactor-based production, to optimize the identification, synthesis, and therapeutic application of these bioactive molecules.

We look forward to your valuable submissions.

Dr. Ilian Badjakov
Dr. Ivayla Dincheva
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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

  • plant-derived bioactive compounds
  • pharmacological applications
  • antioxidant activity
  • anti-inflammatory agents
  • antimicrobial properties
  • neuroprotective effects
  • drug discovery
  • high-throughput screening
  • extraction and isolation techniques
  • structural characterization
  • CRISPR technology
  • genome editing
  • bioprocess engineering
  • bioreactor production
  • therapeutic potential
  • metabolite profiling

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • 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 (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

31 pages, 21058 KB  
Article
Structural Characterization and In Vivo Gastric Mucosal Protective Activity of a Polysaccharide from Laoxianghuang (Fermented Finger Citron) in Mice
by Heming Liu, Cheng Zhong, Dan Yang, Yuxiao Wu, Junyun Luo and Aimei Zhou
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(17), 7919; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27177919 - 5 Sep 2026
Viewed by 197
Abstract
PFCP-2-1 (polysaccharide-2-1 of Finger Citron-pickled products), a water-soluble polysaccharide enriched in galacturonic acid, was isolated from Laoxianghuang by hot water extraction and purified using DEAE-52 and agarose CL-6B chromatography. Structural analysis showed that PFCP-2-1 had a smooth surface, flakes of varying sizes and [...] Read more.
PFCP-2-1 (polysaccharide-2-1 of Finger Citron-pickled products), a water-soluble polysaccharide enriched in galacturonic acid, was isolated from Laoxianghuang by hot water extraction and purified using DEAE-52 and agarose CL-6B chromatography. Structural analysis showed that PFCP-2-1 had a smooth surface, flakes of varying sizes and shapes, irregular ellipsoidal structures, and cylindrical-like forms, which likely represent aggregated assemblies formed by the association and curling of polysaccharide chains. It was determined to have an average molecular weight of 749.38 kDa and to consist of rhamnose, galactose, glucose, and galacturonic acid (molar ratio 0.147:0.238:0.059:0.556). FT-IR spectroscopy revealed both α- and β-pyranose configurations, while methylation and NMR analyses identified 16 types of glycosidic linkages, of which 9 were the main types, consistent with a pectic-type structure. In an ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcer mouse model, PFCP-2-1 exhibited significant mucosal protection by elevating prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α), and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) levels and upregulating Occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression. It also modulated the gut microbiota by increasing the abundance of Bacteroides and Prevotella_UCG-001, and enhanced short-chain fatty acid (acetate and butyrate) levels. These findings suggest that PFCP-2-1 may exhibit a protective effect against ethanol-induced gastric damage under the conditions of this experiment, suggesting its potential for further development as a functional food ingredient. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds for Pharmacological Applications, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 453 KB  
Article
Comprehensive Phytochemical Characterization of Echinophora tenuifolia subsp. sibthorpiana Reveals Radical Scavenging, Antimicrobial, and Antiproliferative Activities Associated with Apoptosis and G2/M Cell Cycle Accumulation
by Yılmaz Uğur, Turgay Kolaç, Muhammed Dündar, Rukiye Zengin, Tahir Macit, Umay Sena Alan, Hüseyin Karcı, Zeynep Maraş, Feyza Yılmaz Dündar, Onural Özhan and Selim Erdoğan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(16), 7385; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27167385 - 18 Aug 2026
Viewed by 350
Abstract
Echinophora tenuifolia subsp. sibthorpiana is an aromatic and traditionally used plant whose phytochemical diversity and pharmacological potential remain incompletely characterized. This study aimed to integrate comprehensive chemical profiling with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative evaluations of an acidified methanolic extract prepared from its aerial [...] Read more.
Echinophora tenuifolia subsp. sibthorpiana is an aromatic and traditionally used plant whose phytochemical diversity and pharmacological potential remain incompletely characterized. This study aimed to integrate comprehensive chemical profiling with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative evaluations of an acidified methanolic extract prepared from its aerial parts. Phenolic constituents, volatile compounds, and fatty acids were characterized using LC–MS/MS, GC–MS, and GC–FID, respectively. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using DPPH and ABTS assays, antimicrobial effects were evaluated by disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods, and antiproliferative activity was investigated in six human cancer cell lines and non-cancerous BEAS-2B cells. Apoptosis induction and cell-cycle alterations were further examined by flow cytometry. The extract contained a high total phenolic content of 181.78 ± 5.03 mg GAE/g and exhibited substantial DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of 333.65 ± 2.94 and 262.18 ± 6.80 mg TE/g, respectively. LC–MS/MS analysis identified rutin hydrate, quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, narcissin, and vicenin-2 as the predominant non-volatile constituents. The essential oil was dominated by methyl eugenol (51.10%) and Δ-3-carene (32.23%), whereas lauric acid (29.71%) was the major fatty acid. The extract also exhibited measurable antimicrobial activity and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity, with the greatest sensitivity observed in MCF-7 breast cancer cells (IC50 = 32.96 ± 4.80 μg/mL), followed by A549 and MDA-MB-231 cells. However, the relatively close IC50 values observed in cancer and non-cancerous BEAS-2B cells indicated limited cancer-cell selectivity under the tested conditions. Flow-cytometric analyses demonstrated marked apoptosis induction in MCF-7 cells, reaching 57.93 ± 1.80%, together with a cell-line-dependent accumulation in the G2/M phase. Collectively, these findings indicate that E. tenuifolia subsp. sibthorpiana is a chemically diverse source of plant-derived bioactive compounds with notable radical scavenging and measurable antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects. Further bioactivity-guided fractionation and mechanistic studies are required to identify the active constituents and clarify their pharmacological relevance and selectivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds for Pharmacological Applications, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop