Biotransformation of Natural Products and Phytochemicals: Metabolites, Their Preparation and Properties

Dear Colleagues,

Biotransformation features two major meanings: (i) biocatalysis and enzymatic modification of various compounds and (ii) biotransformation in terms of metabolic changes of xenobiotics in organism. In this special issue we want to focus on both connotations of biotransformation; specifically to the biotransformation of natural products and phytochemicals. Metabolites of xenobiotics have often different biological and biophysical properties compared to the parent compounds. Besides inactivation, also toxication and/or alteration of their activities often happen. Phytochemicals and other natural products have received increased attention due to their considerable benefits in preventing and managing chronic diseases. These compounds generally suffer from low bioavailability, they are extensively metabolized and their metabolites are often responsible for their biological effects. Therefore preparation and detailed study of their metabolites is of utmost importance. Due to the complexity of phytochemicals enzymatic methods were recently introduced in the preparation of their (tentative) metabolites. Topics for this Special Issue include the discovery of new chemical and biochemical methods for metabolite preparation including multienzyme methods, advanced structural and analytical methods for their characterization, and determination of biological and biophysical properties of the metabolites.

Major requirements for papers submitted to this Special Issue are (i) clear novelty; (ii) reproducibility; (iii) molecular bases of reactions and processes; and (iv) defined chemical reactions and structures. Papers dealing with minor optimizations of known procedures, those using poorly defined substrates and products and poorly defined biocatalysts (enzymes) or organisms unavailable to other researchers will be returned without further review.

Dr. Kateřina Valentová
Prof. Dr. Vladimír Křen
Guest Editors

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