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Molecules
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Cutting-Edge Progress in Natural Product-Derived Antimicrobial Drugs
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Cutting-Edge Progress in Natural Product-Derived Antimicrobial Drugs

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 2861

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Feng Lu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Interests: parasite; protein; antimalarial drugs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Weicheng Hu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Interests: polysaccharide; drug delivery system; formulation science; anti-inflammatory; bioavailability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Jin Hee Han

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medical Environmental Biology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
Interests: malaria; hematology; antigen; antibody; vaccine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a critical challenge to global health, driving the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. Natural products, sourced from plants, fungi, and marine organisms, offer a rich reservoir of bioactive compounds with unique mechanisms of action against resistant pathogens. This Special Issue, “Cutting-Edge Progress in Natural Product-Derived Antimicrobial Drugs”, aims to showcase the latest advancements in discovering and developing antimicrobial agents derived from natural sources.

We invite original research articles, reviews, and brief communications that present advancements in extraction techniques, isolation, identification, characterization, and antimicrobial evaluation of bioactive compounds from natural sources. By compiling diverse research findings, this issue seeks to illuminate the potential of natural products in combating AMR and inspiring novel therapeutic solutions. Together, we can advance the field and effectively contribute to the global effort of addressing infectious diseases.

Dr. Feng Lu
Prof. Dr. Weicheng Hu
Prof. Dr. Jin Hee Han
Guest Editors

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
  • structural elucidation
  • bio-activity guided isolation
  • pathogen
  • antimicrobial

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1139 KiB  
Article
Antibacterial Activity and Chemical Composition of Popular Plant Essential Oils and Their Positive Interactions in Combination
by Petr Mráz, Marek Kopecký, Lucie Hasoňová, Irena Hoštičková, Alena Vaníčková, Kristýna Perná, Martin Žabka and Marian Hýbl
Molecules 2025, 30(9), 1864; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30091864 - 22 Apr 2025
Viewed by 355
Abstract
Bacterial diseases are a global problem that threatens human health and cause many deaths each year. The alarming rise in bacterial resistance to modern antimicrobials is particularly concerning. In practice, this necessitates increasing the dosage of antimicrobial agents, posing a potential risk of [...] Read more.
Bacterial diseases are a global problem that threatens human health and cause many deaths each year. The alarming rise in bacterial resistance to modern antimicrobials is particularly concerning. In practice, this necessitates increasing the dosage of antimicrobial agents, posing a potential risk of adverse effects on human health. Additionally, the development of antibiotic resistance is one of the main factors contributing to the ever-growing costs of the global healthcare system. For these reasons, natural and safe antimicrobial agents are increasingly sought after. In this study, the antibacterial activity of 31 different essential oils (EOs) was investigated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The most effective EOs were further tested both individually and in dual combinations. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and fractional inhibitory concentrations (FICs) were determined to reveal synergistic effects, suggesting potential practical applications. The main bioactive compounds of the EOs with the highest inhibitory activity were identified and quantified using GC-MS/MS analysis. Of the tested EOs, seven demonstrated a strong antimicrobial effect against E. coli, most notably oregano (MIC 128 µg/mL) and the thyme/oregano combination (MIC 64 µg/mL, FIC 0.75), while thirteen were effective against S. aureus, most notably oregano and garlic (MIC 128 µg/mL),and the pelargonium/garlic combination (MIC 32 µg/mL, FIC 0.375). The pharmaceutical, agricultural, and food industries are promising fields for the application of these safe and natural antimicrobial agents, offering a new range of solutions to combat serious bacterial pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Progress in Natural Product-Derived Antimicrobial Drugs)
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13 pages, 2162 KiB  
Article
Ellagic Acid from Geranium thunbergii and Antimalarial Activity of Korean Medicinal Plants
by Hojong Jun, Joon-Hee Han, Min Hong, Fadhila Fitriana, Jadidan Hada Syahada, Wang-Jong Lee, Ernest Mazigo, Johnsy Mary Louis, Van-Truong Nguyen, Seok Ho Cha, Wanjoo Chun, Won Sun Park, Se Jin Lee, Sunghun Na, Soo-Ung Lee, Eun-Taek Han, Tae-Hyung Kwon and Jin-Hee Han
Molecules 2025, 30(2), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30020359 - 17 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1085
Abstract
This study investigates the antimalarial potential of extracts and compounds from various plants used in traditional Korean medicine, in response to the increasing resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to standard treatments such as chloroquine and artemisinin. The antimalarial activity screening was conducted on 151 [...] Read more.
This study investigates the antimalarial potential of extracts and compounds from various plants used in traditional Korean medicine, in response to the increasing resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to standard treatments such as chloroquine and artemisinin. The antimalarial activity screening was conducted on 151 extracts, identifying the top seven candidates, including Geranium thunbergii (50% ethanol and 100% methanol extract), Reynoutria japonica, Amomum villosum (hot water and 50% ethanol extract), Cinnamomum zeylanicum, and Platycodon grandiflorum. Among these, G. thunbergii was identified as the top priority for further analysis due to its high antimalarial activity and high yield of bioactive compounds. The plant extracts were fractionated using ethyl acetate, chloroform, and hot water, and their efficacy against P. falciparum was evaluated through IC50 determination and microscopic analysis. The compounds evaluated included ellagic acid, gallic acid, afzelin, quercetin, and protocatechuic acid. Among the tested compounds, ellagic acid showed the most potent antimalarial activity with an IC50 of 1.60 ± 0.09 µM, followed by gallic acid (39.43 ± 1.48 µM) and afzelin (52.77 ± 1.84 µM). In contrast, quercetin (116.8 ± 3.78 µM) and protocatechuic acid (1.23 ± 0.02 mM) exhibited minimal antimalarial effects. Giemsa staining was employed to visualize parasite morphology and confirmed that ellagic acid is effective in inhibiting growth at the late trophozoite stage. These findings suggest that ellagic acid could serve as a promising lead compound for developing a novel antimalarial agent. This study highlights the importance of exploring plant-based compounds as alternative strategies against drug-resistant malaria. Further investigation into the mechanisms underlying the antimalarial activity of these compounds is necessary to fully validate their therapeutic potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Progress in Natural Product-Derived Antimicrobial Drugs)
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Review

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39 pages, 1181 KiB  
Review
Phytochemical and Pharmacological Insights into Mentha asiatica Boriss.: A Promising Antimicrobial Plant
by Baiken Baimakhanova, Amankeldi Sadanov, Gul Baimakhanova, Diana Tluebekova, Alma Amangeldi, Zere Turlybaeva, Irina Ratnikova, Zhanar Nurgaliyeva, Roza Seisebayeva, Botagoz Ussipbek, Lyazzat Umbetyarova, Akerke Amirkhanova, Gulnaz Seitimova and Aknur Turgumbayeva
Molecules 2025, 30(3), 511; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30030511 - 23 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1034
Abstract
Mentha asiatica Boriss., a species native to Central Asia, has garnered significant attention for its diverse phytochemical profile and antimicrobial potential. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the antimicrobial activities of M. asiatica, focusing on its essential oils and other bioactive constituents. [...] Read more.
Mentha asiatica Boriss., a species native to Central Asia, has garnered significant attention for its diverse phytochemical profile and antimicrobial potential. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the antimicrobial activities of M. asiatica, focusing on its essential oils and other bioactive constituents. The study contextualizes the importance of natural antimicrobials in the era of rising antibiotic resistance and highlights the plant’s traditional use in ethnomedicine. The main methodologies explored include gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for phytochemical characterization and various in vitro assays to assess antimicrobial efficacy against bacterial and fungal pathogens. The essential oils of M. asiatica demonstrate a broad spectrum of activity, attributed to compounds such as menthol, menthone, and carvone. Other phytochemicals, including sesquiterpenes and terpenoids, also contribute to its bioactivity. The review underscores the potential of M. asiatica as a source of novel antimicrobial agents and calls for further research into its mechanisms of action, bioavailability, and safety profiles. The findings position M. asiatica as a promising candidate for developing plant-based antimicrobial formulations, addressing critical needs in healthcare and food preservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Progress in Natural Product-Derived Antimicrobial Drugs)
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