Advances in Natural Antimicrobial Compounds
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 250
Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The growing global challenge of antimicrobial resistance and increasing consumer demand for safe, sustainable preservatives and bioactive ingredients have propelled natural antimicrobial compounds to the forefront of scientific research. These compounds, derived from plants, microorganisms, algae, and other biological sources, offer sustainable and safer alternatives to synthetic preservatives, holding immense potential for enhancing food safety, extending shelf life, and promoting health. Understanding their chemical diversity, mechanisms of action, efficacy, and stability is crucial for translating potential into practical use.
This Special Issue of Molecules, entitled “Advances in Natural Antimicrobial Compounds,” aims to collate cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews on the discovery, characterization, and application of these bioactive molecules. We welcome original research articles and reviews covering, but not limited to, the following topics: the isolation and structural elucidation of novel antimicrobial natural products; mechanisms of action against foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms; studies on their antimicrobial spectra and synergistic effects; investigations into their modes of action and resistance mechanisms; formulation strategies to enhance their stability and bioavailability; and evaluations of their safety and efficacy in various applied contexts.
By sharing recent advances, we hope to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and accelerate the development of effective natural antimicrobial solutions.
Dr. Xiaochen Chen
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-anonymized 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 antimicrobials
- foodborn pathogens
- antibacterial mechanisms
- food preservation
- essential oils
- extraction and characterization
- synergistic effects
- food safety
- shelf-life extension
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