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Advances in Plant-Based Materials

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 4242

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Physical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Interests: separation of biologically active compounds with chromatographic and electromigrational techniques with the use of various mobile phases, including those containing surfactants
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants are sources of many known and unknown compounds. Some of them exhibit bioactive activities and can be used in health protection. Humans can also use plant-origin compounds for other purposes (food and gear). Thus, isolating a group of compounds and determining their activity is essential. Both activities can be performed using various analytical techniques, including extraction, distillation, and different modes of chromatography (gas and liquid). This determination involves a series of tests and analyses to understand the potential effects of these compounds on biological systems. The application of these techniques sometimes requires improvements, leading to the emergence of new modes. Additionally, investigation of isolated compounds or their groups regarding their bioactivity determination approaches reveals new modes of research.

This Special Issue of Molecules, titled “Advances in Plant-Based Materials,” will share the latest achievements on isolation, resolution, and determination of plant-origin material.

We look forward to your submissions.

Dr. Beata Polak
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.

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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

  • isolation
  • investigation
  • plant compounds
  • bioactive activity
  • extraction techniques
  • chromatographic techniques
  • electromigrational techniques

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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29 pages, 15872 KB  
Article
Elderberry and Linden Flowers Ethanol–Water Extracts: Extraction Type Effect, Analysis and Biological Activity Determination
by Beata Polak, Kamila Jaglińska, Aleksandra Boćkowska, Łukasz Świątek, Kinga Salwa, Anastazja Boguszewska, Aleksandra Józefczyk and Grzegorz Jóźwiak
Molecules 2026, 31(5), 764; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31050764 - 25 Feb 2026
Viewed by 928
Abstract
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) and linden (Tilia cordata Mill.) flower extracts are known for their pro-healthy properties. Various extraction methods, both conventional (Soxhlet) and advanced (ultrasound assisted extraction, UAE, accelerated solvent extraction, ASE, and matrix solid phase dispersion, MSPD), were applied [...] Read more.
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) and linden (Tilia cordata Mill.) flower extracts are known for their pro-healthy properties. Various extraction methods, both conventional (Soxhlet) and advanced (ultrasound assisted extraction, UAE, accelerated solvent extraction, ASE, and matrix solid phase dispersion, MSPD), were applied to obtain ethanol–water extracts from the plants. The biological profiles, the total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) in the extracts were determined spectrophotometrically. Almost 40 compounds were identified in extracts by means of HPLC-MS/MS. The contents of the chosen phenolic acids (chlorogenic, p-coumaric, protocatechuic, and gallic) and flavonoids (rutin, catechin, quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin, and naringenin) were determined by HPLC-DAD. It was observed that the elderflower extracts contained higher levels of the compounds investigated than did the linden extracts. Chlorogenic acid was the main phenolic acid in the majority of extracts form the elderberry flower, whereas in the linden extracts, it was protocatechuic acid. Nevertheless, rutin was the main component of both plant extracts. The cytotoxicity of the elderberry and linden flower extracts against VERO, FaDu, H1HeLa, and RKO cell lines were subsequently examined. The elderflower extracts exerted no cytotoxicity, whereas linden extracts showed selective cytotoxicity against FaDu and RKO cells with CC50 of 54.35 and 46.27 µg/mL, respectively. The antiviral potential of the extracts against HHV-1, CVB3, and HRV14 were also examined. The results demonstrate antiviral activity against HHV-1, particularly for linden flower extract in concentration of 62.5 µg/mL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant-Based Materials)
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Review

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28 pages, 1261 KB  
Review
Camphor’s Therapeutic Uses and Potential Hazards: An In-Depth Review of Its Medicinal Applications
by Anam Shabbir and Mazeyar Parvinzadeh Gashti
Molecules 2026, 31(4), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31040648 - 13 Feb 2026
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2957
Abstract
Natural products have long been integral to traditional medicine, offering diverse therapeutic benefits. Increasing concerns about the side effects of synthetic drugs have heightened interest in plant-derived compounds. The camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl) and its derivatives, such as camphor [...] Read more.
Natural products have long been integral to traditional medicine, offering diverse therapeutic benefits. Increasing concerns about the side effects of synthetic drugs have heightened interest in plant-derived compounds. The camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl) and its derivatives, such as camphor oil, have been valued for centuries. Historically, C. camphora was used as a fumigant during the Black Death, a prized ingredient in perfumes, and a key component in embalming fluids. Today, camphor extracted from C. camphora is widely used as a fragrance in cosmetics, a flavoring agent in food, an ingredient in household cleaners, and a topical remedy for minor muscle pain. Camphor is primarily obtained through steam distillation of the wood but can also be synthetically produced from turpentine. Camphor exhibits a broad spectrum of biological activities, including insecticidal, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticoccidial, antinociceptive, anticancer, and antitussive effects, and has historically been employed to alleviate inflammation, congestion, pain, and irritation. This review integrates recently published research (up to 2025) on the biological activities and therapeutic applications of camphor that were not comprehensively addressed in earlier reviews. Furthermore, a mechanistic perspective is provided on camphor’s pharmacological effects, including its antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer actions, highlighting the chemical basis underlying these activities. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the history, applications, and biological properties of camphor, emphasizing its potential in preventing and treating serious diseases such as cancer and diabetes. In addition, sustainability and translational relevance are emphasized, demonstrating how camphor exemplifies the integration of traditional knowledge with contemporary medicinal research. Overall, this review offers new insights into the therapeutic potential of camphor, underscoring its promising role in addressing major medical challenges while supporting the growing importance of plant-based compounds in modern healthcare due to their effectiveness, safety, and sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant-Based Materials)
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