Advances in Secondary Metabolites: Phytochemical Analysis and Bioactivity Assays—2nd Edition

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 1519

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: medicinal and food plants; secondary metabolites; metabolites identification; phytochemistry; chromatography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: medicinal, aromatic and food plants; secondary metabolites; antidiabetic, antihyperglycemic, antiproliferative, antioxidant and antimicrobic biolog-ical activities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Medicinal, aromatic and food plants are a valuable resource for both human and animal health and well-being, sustaining strong interest within the pharmaceutical industry. They are widely used in both traditional and modern medicine, as well as in the cosmetic, nutritional and supplement sectors, to treat and prevent various medical conditions and to promote and enhance overall well-being.

Each plant species is characterized by the presence of secondary metabolites, which may or may not exhibit specific biological activities. Although the term "secondary" might suggest that these compounds are of lesser importance compared to primary metabolites, secondary metabolites are, in fact, of great interest due to their unique chemical properties. Different classes of molecules can exhibit a range of biological activities that contribute to improving individual well-being. Unlike synthetic drugs, which contain a single active ingredient, plants are characterized by complex mixtures of molecules, known as the phytocomplexes. For this reason, when studying plants to analyze their biological activities, it is essential to consider not only the individual molecules but also the entire metabolic profile.

The second edition of this Special Issue of Metabolites, which follows on from the previous edition (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/metabolites/special_issues/8W7KP14629), continues aiming to provide a platform for research on the characterization and/or quantification of secondary metabolites in medicinal, nutritional, and cosmetic plants, possibly in combination with biological analyses of plant extracts.

Dr. Chiara Toniolo
Dr. Luca Santi
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • secondary metabolites
  • phytochemical analysis
  • biological activity
  • plant extracts
  • bioactive compounds
  • medicinal plants
  • food plants

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 530 KB  
Article
Phytochemical Profiling and Bioactivity Evaluation of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi Mushroom) Fractions: In Vitro Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Antidiabetic Activities
by Neelum Shehzadi, Sarmir Khan, Leonardo Degennaro, Gabriele D’Arienzo, Noshaba Mehmood, Aqsa Chaudhary, Muhammad Afzal and Maria Pia Argentieri
Metabolites 2026, 16(4), 225; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo16040225 - 30 Mar 2026
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst. (commonly known as reishi mushroom), a well-characterized medicinal fungus, contains diverse bioactive metabolites. This study aimed to fractionate, characterize and identify the biologically active inhibitors present in G. lucidum and to evaluate their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst. (commonly known as reishi mushroom), a well-characterized medicinal fungus, contains diverse bioactive metabolites. This study aimed to fractionate, characterize and identify the biologically active inhibitors present in G. lucidum and to evaluate their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic activities. Methods: The ethanol extract of G. lucidum was fractionated using column chromatography, yielding ten distinct fractions (designated as A, B, E, F, K, L, M, N, O, and P based on their elution order and visual characteristics). Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis identified 46 bioactive compounds, including terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. Results: Among the fractions, Fraction L exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity, with an IC50 of 1.59 mg/mL. Fraction O displayed significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 (24.4 ± 0.238 mm), Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883 (20.5 ± 0.035 mm), Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 (8 ± 0.176 mm), and Staphylococcus warneri ATCC 10209 (20 ± 0.080 mm). Regarding antidiabetic activity, Fraction B demonstrated the strongest inhibition of α-amylase (IC50 1.69 ± 0.03 mg/mL), while Fraction E showed the strongest α-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 1.69 ± 0.02 mg/mL), demonstrating reciprocal selectivity between enzyme targets. Conclusions: These results establish that chromatographic fractionation concentrates specific bioactivities into distinct fractions, supporting its potential for the development of novel therapeutic agents with enhanced specificity and efficacy. Full article
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17 pages, 3103 KB  
Article
Multi-Analytical Insight into the Non-Volatile Phytochemical Composition of Coleus aromaticus (Roxb.) Benth.
by Chiara Toniolo, Martina Bortolami, Adriano Patriarca, Daniela De Vita, Fabio Sciubba and Luca Santi
Metabolites 2026, 16(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo16010015 - 23 Dec 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Coleus aromaticus (Lamiaceae), also known as Cuban oregano or Indian borage, is a semi-succulent perennial species widely used in traditional medicine for its therapeutic and nutritional properties. While its essential oils and aromatic fraction have been extensively investigated, the characterization of [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Coleus aromaticus (Lamiaceae), also known as Cuban oregano or Indian borage, is a semi-succulent perennial species widely used in traditional medicine for its therapeutic and nutritional properties. While its essential oils and aromatic fraction have been extensively investigated, the characterization of its non-volatile metabolites remains limited. The aim of this study was to explore the chemical composition of fresh leaves with a focus on the non-volatile fraction. Methods: Fresh leaves of C. aromaticus were cryogenically treated with liquid nitrogen, ground, and subjected to three different extraction procedures: hydroalcoholic maceration, ethyl acetate maceration, and liquid–liquid partitioning to obtain a dichloromethane organic phase and a hydroalcoholic phase. Extracts and fractions were analyzed by HPTLC and HPLC for metabolic profiling. In addition, the Bligh–Dyer method was applied to separate polar and non-polar metabolites, which were subsequently characterized using NMR spectroscopy. Results: Chromatographic analyses highlighted the occurrence and distribution of organic acids, polyphenols (notably flavonoids), and proteinogenic amino acids. Spectroscopic data confirmed the presence of diverse polar and non-polar metabolites, providing a more detailed chemical fingerprint of C. aromaticus. This integrated approach broadened the phytochemical profile of the species beyond the well-documented essential oils. Conclusions: The results contribute to a better understanding of the non-volatile metabolites of C. aromaticus, offering novel insights into its chemical diversity. These findings highlight the potential of this plant as a valuable source of bioactive compounds, supporting its future application in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical research. Full article
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