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The Role of Natural Products in Inflammation
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The Role of Natural Products in Inflammation

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 633

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Antonia Cianciulli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
Interests: neuroinflammation; signaling; bioactive compounds; evolutionary computational study
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is widely known that inflammation, a complex biological response, plays a critical role in various diseases. While conventional anti-inflammatory drugs have shown efficacy, concerns regarding adverse effects have prompted interest in exploring natural alternatives. Natural products derived from plants, marine organisms, and microorganisms have been recognized for their potential to modulate inflammatory responses thus representing a starting point for the identification of new potential therapeutic compounds. This Special Issue aims to collect original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that explore the mechanisms of action of natural products in modulating inflammatory responses and their therapeutic applications, as well as the challenges and opportunities in this field. Papers that address the identification and characterization of novel natural products with anti-inflammatory activity, the mechanisms of action of natural products in regulating inflammatory pathways, and in vitro and in vivo studies evaluating the efficacy of natural products in inflammatory models are invited.

Prof. Dr. Antonia Cianciulli
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.

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Keywords

  • inflammation
  • natural products
  • immunomodulation
  • bioactive compounds
  • drug discovery
  • drug target identification
  • anti-inflammatory activity
  • antioxidant activity
  • cellular signalling pathways

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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39 pages, 1246 KiB  
Review
Gaultherin, a Natural Alternative to Aspirin: A Comprehensive Review of Molecular Mechanisms, Pharmacokinetics, Biocompatibility, Isolation Techniques, and Plant Sources
by Piotr Michel
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(15), 7280; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157280 - 28 Jul 2025
Viewed by 331
Abstract
Gaultherin [methyl salicylate 2-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside] is a natural salicylate found in some plant species belonging primarily to the Ericaceae and Rosaceae families. Biological studies conducted since the beginning of the 21st century have suggested the potential use of gaultherin in treating various [...] Read more.
Gaultherin [methyl salicylate 2-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside] is a natural salicylate found in some plant species belonging primarily to the Ericaceae and Rosaceae families. Biological studies conducted since the beginning of the 21st century have suggested the potential use of gaultherin in treating various diseases related to inflammation and oxidative stress, including rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, neuralgia, and muscular pain. The accumulated results indicated a targeted range of biological effects, particularly anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and anti-rheumatic properties associated with reduced adverse outcomes. The molecular mechanisms involve the influence on several signalling pathways, including NF-κB, MAPK, and potentially AMPK, as well as the inhibition of critical pro-inflammatory enzymes, such as COX-2. This inhibition is achieved without affecting the COX-1 isoform, thereby preventing side effects such as bleeding ulcers or intracranial haemorrhage. This overview summarises the current knowledge about pharmacokinetics, molecular mechanisms, pharmacology, and biocompatibility of gaultherin. Additionally, four methods for isolating gaultherin from plant material and its distribution within the plant kingdom were the focal points of review and discussion. The paper also describes significant differences between synthetic aspirin and natural gaultherin in their biological potential and side effects, resulting from their different mechanisms of action. As a prodrug of salicylic acid, gaultherin releases salicylic acid gradually through enzymatic hydrolysis in the gastrointestinal tract. This controlled release minimises direct gastric irritation and accounts for its superior gastrointestinal safety profile compared to aspirin. Unlike aspirin, which irreversibly inhibits COX-1 and can lead to serious side effects with chronic use, gaultherin selectively inhibits COX-2 while sparing COX-1. These properties position gaultherin as a compelling natural alternative for patients requiring long-term anti-inflammatory therapy with reduced risk of gastrointestinal or bleeding complications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Natural Products in Inflammation)
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