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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 April 2026 | Viewed by 4353

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Dr. Katarzyna Pacyga

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Department of Environment Hygiene and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Biology and Animal Science, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
Interests: plant extract; bioactive compounds; natural products
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants are a notable source of natural chemicals, with different structural and biological features that exhibit multifarious mechanisms of action. Various plant species contain myriad secondary metabolites that greatly influence their competitiveness in the environment and protection against adverse growth conditions. These substances are also known to greatly benefit humans and animals.

This Special Issue welcomes papers that address all the aspects related to natural products containing highly efficient and safe substances with long-term health effects. Manuscripts that facilitate the development and application of innovative products will be considered.

Dr. Katarzyna Pacyga
Guest Editor

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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-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.

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Keywords

plants
extraction methods
bioactive compounds
natural products
application

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 721 KB

Open AccessArticle

Potential of Essential Oils from Different Mint Species Against Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Clinical Cases in Poultry

by Michalina Adaszyńska-Skwirzyńska, Sławomir Zych, Małgorzata Dzięcioł, Paweł Konieczka, Barbara Kowalik, Dorota Witkowska and Mateusz Bucław

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(23), 11263; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262311263 - 21 Nov 2025

Viewed by 395

Abstract

The study presents the potential application of three essential oils (EOs) obtained from various mint species: peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), spearmint (Mentha spicata L.), and pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.), as alternative agents against multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli strains isolated from poultry. The aim of research was to determine the effectiveness of EOs from these mint species and their main chemical components (menthol, menthone, carvone, pulegone) against 19 clinical E. coli strains with varying drug susceptibility and the reference strain E. coli ATCC 25922. GC-MS analysis revealed a unique chemical profile for each mint species. In M. piperita, menthol (35.14%), trans-menthone (23.11%), and menthyl acetate (6.96%) were the dominant compounds. In M. spicata, the main components were carvone (58.61%) and 1,8-cineole (18.74%), while in M. pulegium, pulegone was the dominant ingredient (76.54%). Antibacterial activity tests showed that all tested E. coli strains, both susceptible and multidrug-resistant, were sensitive to the EOs. The strongest antibacterial activity was observed for peppermint oil (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration–MIC 0.5–2.0% v/v), which was attributed to its high menthol content. Menthol was also the most effective single component (MIC 0.125–0.5% v/v). The essential oils containing carvone and pulegone showed lower activity (MIC ≥ 2% v/v). Research indicates that mint EOs, particularly those rich in menthol, represent a promising alternative or complement in the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant E. coli strains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds of Natural Origin: 2nd Edition)

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23 pages, 2698 KB

Open AccessArticle

Bioproduction Optimization, Characterization, and Bioactivity of Extracellular Pigment Produced by Streptomyces parvulus

by Laura Daniela Silva-Arias, Luis Díaz and Ericsson Coy-Barrera

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(21), 10762; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110762 - 5 Nov 2025

Viewed by 520

Abstract

Actinomycetes, especially Streptomyces, are prolific producers of bioactive metabolites, including pigments with potential applications in foods, textiles, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Motivated by increasing concerns about the safety and environmental impact of synthetic pigments, this study aimed to optimize the production of an extracellular pigment-rich fraction from Streptomyces parvulus and to evaluate its bioactivities relevant for cosmeceuticals. A Plackett–Burman design was used to identify key variables influencing metabolite production, followed by optimization with a Box–Behnken design. The pigment-rich fraction was obtained after extraction with ethyl acetate from lyophilized supernatants and chemically characterized by IR and LC–MS. Biological assays were conducted to assess anti-tyrosinase, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial activities. Temperature, incubation time, and agitation speed were identified as the most significant factors, with optimal conditions of 30 °C, 50 rpm, and 7 days yielding a pigment concentration of 465.3 μg/mL. LC–MS analysis revealed three 1,4-naphthoquinone-containing compounds, annotated as juglomycin Z (1), WS-5995B (2), and naphthopyranomycin (3), as the main constituents. The pigment-rich fraction showed modest anti-tyrosinase activity (10.9% at 300 μg/mL), immunomodulatory effects (TNF-α inhibition up to 36.9% and IL-10 stimulation up to 38.4% in macrophages), and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis (15.8 mm inhibition halo, 91% growth reduction). The optimized fermentation model enhances pigment yield while reducing resource consumption, and the pigment-rich fraction exhibits multifunctional bioactivities, underscoring its potential as a natural cosmeceutical ingredient. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds of Natural Origin: 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 15620 KB

Open AccessArticle

Active Peptides Derived from Snail Mucus Promoted Wound Healing by Enhancing Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Angiogenesis

by Guanqiang Li, Yucheng Shi, Junmei Zhu, Kehan Zhu, Bo Hu, Xianchen Huang, Yuan Sun, Duxin Li and Xicheng Zhang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(21), 10341; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110341 - 23 Oct 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 908

Abstract

Snail mucus has shown promise in promoting wound healing; however, its active components and their mechanisms of action are poorly understood. In the present study snail mucus was isolated and hydrolyzed using trypsin to obtain snail mucus active peptides (SMAPs). SMAPs were analyzed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics screening. Among the screened peptides, an active 12-amino-acid peptide, EK-12 (molecular weight: 1366.2 Da), was identified and synthesized using a solid-phase peptide synthesis approach. In vitro functional verification showed that EK-12 significantly promoted endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation. An in vivo experiment demonstrated that EK-12 significantly accelerated wound healing in mouse models. Pathological examination revealed a significantly upregulated expression of CD31 and vascular endothelial growth factors in wound tissues, suggesting that this is the mechanism by which the active peptide promotes angiogenesis and wound healing. Thus, snail mucus-derived peptides hold strong potential for development as therapeutic agents for wound healing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds of Natural Origin: 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 743 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Sunlight-Induced Isomerisation on the Biotransformation of 4′-Hydroxychalcones by Yarrowia lipolytica KCh 71

by Paweł Chlipała, Tomasz Janeczko and Marcelina Mazur

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(18), 9027; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26189027 - 16 Sep 2025

Viewed by 492

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of light exposure on the biotransformation of chalcones in yeast cultures. 4′-Hydroxychalcones, with a hydroxyl group in the A-ring, are characteristic substrates efficiently converted into 4′-hydroxydihydrochalcones—compounds naturally occurring in medicinal plants such as Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice), Stevia rebaudiana, and Angelica keiskei (ashitaba). These compounds are valued for their bioactivity and are relevant to natural product research. In this research, we present the outcomes of the selective microbial reduction of chalcones to dihydrochalcones using the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica KCh 71, cultivated under both light and dark conditions. The aim was to determine whether light exposure affects the efficiency or selectivity of the transformation. Furthermore, the effect of substrate photoisomerisation induced by light was investigated, as the trans–cis isomerisation of chalcones may affect their availability and affinity toward enzymatic systems. The resulting metabolites were analysed using chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. No significant differences in transformation efficiency were observed between light and dark conditions. In all tested conditions, the 4′-hydroxydihydrochalcones were obtained with high yield, typically exceeding 90% conversion. Additionally, the selective bioreduction of the α,β-unsaturated bond in selected 4′-hydroxychalcones by the studied yeast culture is an exceptionally efficient process. The primary factor influencing the reaction rate is the structure of the substrate, particularly the number and distribution of methoxyl groups on the B-ring. In addition, we establish biocatalytic access to three target dimethoxy dihydrochalcones—4′-hydroxy-2,4-dimethoxydihydrochalcone (5a), 4′-hydroxy-2,5-dimethoxydihydrochalcone (6a), and 4′-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxydihydrochalcone (7a)—under mild conditions using Yarrowia lipolytica KCh 71. Under preparative-scale conditions (7-day incubation), a minor additional product (≤10%) was detected only for the 4′-hydroxy-2,5-dimethoxydihydrochalcone transformation and identified as 4′,5-dihydroxy-2-methoxydihydrochalcone (6b); no such side reaction was observed in short-term experiments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds of Natural Origin: 2nd Edition)

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18 pages, 5696 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Cnidium officinale, Pueraria lobata Ohwi, and Leonurus japonicus Extract on Vascular Endothelial Dysfunctions in Ovariectomized Rats and Molecular Mechanisms

by Joohee Oh, Minseo Kim, Jinsoo Kim, Jiwon Jang, Dongjin Noh and Hyun-Sook Kim

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(10), 4708; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26104708 - 14 May 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1713

Abstract

Menopause is the natural period of aging in women induced by ovary deterioration, resulting in estrogen deficiency. We evaluated the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of Cnidium officinale, Pueraria lobata Ohwi, and Leonurus japonicus (CPL) extracts on vascular endothelial dysfunction. After treatment, CPL extracts decreased serum lipid profiles, serum vasoactive substances, tail temperatures, and cardiovascular risk indices. In ovariectomized rats, vasodilation significantly increased, with an increase in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the CPL200 and CPL500 groups compared with the OVX group (p < 0.05). The extracts also significantly reduced vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM-1) in the CPL50, CPL100, and CPL200 groups compared with the OVX group (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, and p < 0.001, respectively). Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) was also reduced in the CPL100 and CPL200 groups compared with the OVX group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively); this was achieved through the downregulation of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and inducible nitric oxide (iNOS), which resulted in the synthesis of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and eNOS in HUVECs. Our results show that CPL extracts could provide cardioprotective effects against vascular endothelium dysfunction by decreasing inflammation and upregulating vasodilation, ascertained by evaluating the antioxidant systems of ovariectomized rats. Further studies are needed to explore the long-term cardioprotective effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds of Natural Origin: 2nd Edition)

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