Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.6
4.6
Journals
Molecules
Special Issues
Advances and Opportunities of Natural Products in Drug Discovery
molecules-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Molecules Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Advances and Opportunities of Natural Products in Drug Discovery

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 1081

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Daniel Pereira Bezerra

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (IGM-FIOCRUZ/BA), Salvador 40296-710, BA, Brazil
Interests: natural products; experimental oncology; biotechnology; natural products biotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural products have long been an important component of drug development, providing structurally diverse and pharmacologically active molecules. Recent improvements in analytical techniques such as high-resolution mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, and genome mining have renewed interest in these substances, enabling the rapid identification and characterization of complex natural molecules. In addition, advances in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering are enabling researchers to maximize the production of natural commodities and derivatives, thereby addressing supply and sustainability concerns.

The incorporation of artificial intelligence and machine learning into natural product research has also provided new opportunities to predict biological activities, discover novel biosynthetic pathways, and accelerate lead optimization. Furthermore, research in underexplored ecosystems such as deep-sea environments, extreme habitats, and microbiomes continues to yield novel bioactive chemicals with potential therapeutic applications.

This Special Issue encourages submissions of original research articles and reviews of natural products in drug discovery. We only accept submissions of chemically well-characterized compounds.

Prof. Dr. Daniel Pereira Bezerra
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.

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. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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
  • drug discovery
  • pharmacological activity
  • biological activity
  • new compounds

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

18 pages, 8730 KB  
Article
Ginsenosides Enhanced Apoptosis of Serum-Free Starved A549 Lung Cancer Cells
by Jiwen Li, Keke Li, Mei Sun, Zhihong Gu, Lei Men, Xiaojie Gong and Zhongyu Li
Molecules 2025, 30(18), 3697; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30183697 - 11 Sep 2025
Viewed by 332
Abstract
Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, where conventional chemotherapy is often limited by severe side effects and drug resistance. Ginsenosides, the primary bioactive triterpenoid saponins isolated from the root of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey, have demonstrated potential in [...] Read more.
Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, where conventional chemotherapy is often limited by severe side effects and drug resistance. Ginsenosides, the primary bioactive triterpenoid saponins isolated from the root of Panax ginseng C. A. Mey, have demonstrated potential in combating non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, their efficacy under nutrient-deficient conditions remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ginsenosides on the growth and death of lung cancer cells under low-nutrient conditions and to explore the underlying mechanisms. A549 cells were divided into two groups: one cultured in 10% serum and another under serum-free conditions, followed by treatment with ginsenosides CK, Rh2(S), and Rg3(S) for 24 h. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated using a CCK-8 assay, Calcein/PI fluorescence staining, Hoechst 33258 staining, and flow cytometry. Potential targets and signaling pathways of ginsenosides were predicted using network pharmacology and bioinformatics analyses. The mRNA expression of key genes was measured by qRT-PCR, and mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed using JC-1 staining. The results showed that ginsenosides induced dose-dependent apoptosis in serum-starved A549 cells. Bioinformatics analysis suggested the involvement of the PI3K/Akt/FoxO signaling pathway, which was supported by decreased Akt mRNA levels and increased FoxO mRNA expression. Furthermore, mRNA levels of Bim, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, and Caspase-9 were significantly upregulated, accompanied by a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. These findings indicate that under serum deprivation, ginsenosides enhance apoptosis in A549 cells, likely through the regulation of the PI3K/Akt/FoxO pathway. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Opportunities of Natural Products in Drug Discovery)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 2791 KB  
Article
In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy of the Essential Oil from the Leaves of Annona amazonica R.E. Fries (Annonaceae) Against Liver Cancer
by Maria V. L. de Castro, Milena C. F. de Lima, Gabriela A. da C. Barbosa, Sabrine G. Carvalho, Amanda M. R. M. Coelho, Luciano de S. Santos, Valdenizia R. Silva, Rosane B. Dias, Milena B. P. Soares, Emmanoel V. Costa and Daniel P. Bezerra
Molecules 2025, 30(15), 3248; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30153248 - 2 Aug 2025
Viewed by 489
Abstract
Annona amazonica R.E. Fries (synonyms Annona amazonica var. lancifolia R.E. Fries), popularly known in Brazil as “envireira”, is a tropical tree belonging to the Annonaceae family and is traditionally used as a food source. In this work, the in vitro and in vivo [...] Read more.
Annona amazonica R.E. Fries (synonyms Annona amazonica var. lancifolia R.E. Fries), popularly known in Brazil as “envireira”, is a tropical tree belonging to the Annonaceae family and is traditionally used as a food source. In this work, the in vitro and in vivo anti-liver cancer effects of essential oil (EO) from A. amazonica leaves were investigated for the first time. The chemical composition of the EO was evaluated via GC–MS and GC–FID. The alamar blue assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of EOs against different cancerous and noncancerous cell lines. Cell cycle analyses, YO-PRO-1/PI staining, and rhodamine 123 staining were performed via flow cytometry in HepG2 cells treated with EO. The in vivo antitumor activity of EO was evaluated in NSG mice that were xenografted with HepG2 cells and treated with EO at a dose of 60 mg/kg. The major constituents (>5%) of the EO were (E)-caryophyllene (32.01%), 1,8-cineole (13.93%), α-copaene (7.77%), α-humulene (7.15%), and α-pinene (5.13%). EO increased apoptosis and proportionally decreased the number of viable HepG2 cells. The induction of DNA fragmentation and cell shrinkage together with a significant reduction in the ΔΨm in EO-treated HepG2 cells confirmed that EO can induce apoptosis. A significant 39.2% inhibition of tumor growth in vivo was detected in EO-treated animals. These data indicate the anti-liver cancer potential of EO from A. amazonica leaves. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Opportunities of Natural Products in Drug Discovery)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop