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Life
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Therapeutic Effects of Natural Products on Human Diseases—3rd Edition
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Therapeutic Effects of Natural Products on Human Diseases—3rd Edition

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmaceutical Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2026 | Viewed by 3049

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Seung Ho Lee

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nano-Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
Interests: natural products; natural extracts; cancer; neurodegenerative diseases; immunological disorders; metabolic diseases; oriental medicine; micro-organisms; algae; functional foods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural products are compounds or substances produced by the living organisms found in nature. Since natural sources are considered potential resources for the development of lead compounds in drug discovery, a significant number of studies have focused on finding new therapeutic effects of natural products on human diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, immunological disorders, and metabolic diseases.

This Special Issue of Life, entitled “Therapeutic Effects of Natural Products on Human Diseases—3rd Edition”, welcomes submissions of either research manuscripts or scientific reviews covering the therapeutic effects of various natural products (plants, microorganisms, algae, foods, animals, etc.) on human diseases. In particular, we are keen to publish mechanistic studies, evaluated by in vitro and/or in vivo experiments, to identify major molecules and/or cellular pathways of the targeted therapeutic action of natural compounds.

Previous Special Issues:
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life/special_issues/1I6AUEYCF3
https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life/special_issues/U1NQR36P0Y

Prof. Dr. Seung Ho Lee
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 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. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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

  • natural products
  • natural extracts
  • cancer
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • immunological disorders
  • metabolic diseases
  • oriental medicine
  • microorganisms
  • algae
  • functional foods

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 2797 KB  
Article
Quercetin–Arctigenin Co-Treatment Induces Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Apoptotic Cell Death Through Metabolic Stress in Malignant Mesothelioma Cells
by Moon-Kyun Cho, Sang-Han Lee, Hae-Seon Nam and Yoon-Jin Lee
Life 2026, 16(5), 774; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16050774 - 6 May 2026
Viewed by 335
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer with limited therapeutic options, highlighting the need for novel strategies targeting metabolic vulnerabilities. Natural polyphenols have gained attention due to their ability to modulate cellular metabolism and apoptosis-related signaling pathways. In this study, we investigated the combined [...] Read more.
Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer with limited therapeutic options, highlighting the need for novel strategies targeting metabolic vulnerabilities. Natural polyphenols have gained attention due to their ability to modulate cellular metabolism and apoptosis-related signaling pathways. In this study, we investigated the combined anticancer effects of quercetin (QUE) and arctigenin (ATG) in human malignant mesothelioma cells. QUE and ATG reduced the viability of MSTO-211H cells in a time-dependent manner, while non-malignant mesothelial MeT-5A cells showed relatively limited sensitivity under the tested conditions. Compared with single treatment, the combination treatment further enhanced growth inhibition, with combination index analysis suggesting a potential synergistic interaction. Co-treatment significantly decreased intracellular ATP levels and increased caspase-3/7 activity, suggesting metabolic stress-associated apoptotic responses. Annexin V analysis confirmed increased apoptotic cell populations following combination treatment. Western blot analysis demonstrated reduced expression of anti-apoptotic proteins Mcl-1 and Bcl-xL, along with increased cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP, consistent with involvement of intrinsic apoptosis-associated signaling pathways. In addition, increased phosphorylation of AMPK and altered expression of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complex proteins were associated with potential alterations in mitochondrial respiratory protein expression. Collectively, these findings suggest that QUE and ATG co-treatment is associated with increased apoptotic cell death in malignant mesothelioma cells in association with metabolic stress–related mitochondrial functional alterations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Effects of Natural Products on Human Diseases—3rd Edition)
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20 pages, 2508 KB  
Article
Bioactive Compounds, Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Anticancer, and Antidiabetic Potential of the Seed and Leaves of Tribulus terrestris
by Sahar Abdulaziz AlSedairy, Ibrahim M. Aziz, Rawan M. Alshalan, Mohamed A. Farrag, Abdulaziz M. Almuqrin, Amal Khalaf Alghamdi and Reem M. Aljowaie
Life 2025, 15(12), 1799; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15121799 - 24 Nov 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1795
Abstract
Background: Tribulus terrestris is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine to treat certain illnesses. Though past efforts mostly focused on the fruits and roots, current research examined the phytochemical composition and bioactivity of leaf extract (LE) and seed extract (SE). Methods: GC-MS [...] Read more.
Background: Tribulus terrestris is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine to treat certain illnesses. Though past efforts mostly focused on the fruits and roots, current research examined the phytochemical composition and bioactivity of leaf extract (LE) and seed extract (SE). Methods: GC-MS compared phytochemical profiles, and total phenolic and flavonoid content were determined. The extracts were tested for antibacterial activity (disc diffusion, MIC/MBC), antioxidant potential (DPPH, ABTS+), cytotoxicity (MTT assay in MCF-7 and HepG2 cells), and anti-diabetic activity (α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition). Expression of apoptotic genes was also investigated. Results: The LE had a superior phytochemical composition, with greater phenolic and flavonoid levels. Compared to SE, it exhibited considerably higher antibacterial activity (MIC = 6.25–25 μg/mL), antioxidant potential (IC50 = 90.71–113.41 μg/mL), cytotoxicity (IC50 = 105.12–126.14 μg/mL), and enzyme inhibition (IC50 = 84–96.62 μg/mL). The LE also drastically reduced the expression of anti-apoptotic genes Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in cancer cells. T. terrestris LE has significantly higher bioactive potential than SE in a range of pharmacological arenas due to its superior phytochemically complete profile. Conclusions: The findings indicate the LE as a promising candidate for the development of standardized phytotherapeutically active compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Effects of Natural Products on Human Diseases—3rd Edition)
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Review

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35 pages, 2287 KB  
Review
Genistein and Butein as Bioactive Polyphenols: Molecular Targets, Metabolic Regulation, and Mechanistic Insights
by Moon-Kyun Cho, Yeji Lee, Ki Dam Kim, Min Hyuk Choi, Sukh Que Park, Sang-Han Lee, Hae-Seon Nam and Yoon-Jin Lee
Life 2026, 16(4), 615; https://doi.org/10.3390/life16040615 - 7 Apr 2026
Viewed by 518
Abstract
Bioactive polyphenols are increasingly recognized as modulators of multiple biological processes relevant to human health and disease. Among these compounds, genistein, a soy-derived isoflavone, and butein, a naturally occurring chalcone, have been investigated for their anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulatory activities, primarily in [...] Read more.
Bioactive polyphenols are increasingly recognized as modulators of multiple biological processes relevant to human health and disease. Among these compounds, genistein, a soy-derived isoflavone, and butein, a naturally occurring chalcone, have been investigated for their anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic regulatory activities, primarily in in vitro and preclinical experimental models. Despite their distinct chemical structures, available evidence indicates that genistein and butein can influence key molecular pathways involved in cell survival, energy metabolism, and programmed cell death. Experimental studies have shown that these compounds may modulate PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK signaling, alter glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolism, and induce apoptotic responses through caspase activation and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the chemical characteristics, bioavailability, and proposed molecular mechanisms of action of genistein and butein, with a particular focus on their potentially convergent roles in metabolic reprogramming and apoptotic signaling networks. In addition, we discuss the conceptual basis for combination approaches involving these compounds, emphasizing systems-level pathway modulation rather than definitive pharmacological synergy. Importantly, many of the reported biological effects have been observed under experimental conditions using concentrations that may exceed physiologically achievable concentrations, thereby limiting direct extrapolation to clinical settings. Furthermore, the current evidence base is constrained by limited in vivo validation and a lack of robust clinical data, particularly for butein. Future studies are required to better define pharmacokinetic properties, physiological relevance, and context-dependent biological effects, thereby providing a more rigorous framework for future evaluation of the translational potential of genistein and butein. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Effects of Natural Products on Human Diseases—3rd Edition)
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