Chemical Analyses and Therapeutic Properties of Plant Extracts

Dear Colleagues,

There is an impressive body of work on the therapeutic properties of medicinal and culinary plant extracts and their bioactive constituents (e.g., polyphenols, carotenoids, alkaloids, terpenes and saponins). In vivo and in vitro studies have revealed a plethora of properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-carcinogenic, antimalarial, and analgesic, that may be of significance in the treatment of communicable and/or non-communicable diseases. On its own, the ongoing identification of the chemical composition and therapeutic properties of extracts of plants indigenous to different regions of the world provides sufficient justification for this Special Issue. However, and taking the rationale for this Special Issue one step further, ascertaining the clinical significance of these therapeutics’ properties and understanding how best to utilize them puts a spotlight on the following challenge: identifying the contribution of the bioactive constituents of plant extracts to their therapeutic properties. Factors that add to the difficulty of resolving these challenges include the impact of extraction techniques on the therapeutic properties of plant extracts; ensuring the efficient extraction of bioactive constituents from plants; developing and utilizing methods that simulate and model as closely as possible disease processes in humans; and utilizing appropriate biomarkers of therapeutic effect. This Special Issue aims to bring together works that range from the identification of the therapeutic properties of plant extracts and their bioactive constituents to those that provide insights into the clinical significance of these properties.

We welcome contributions to this Special Issue in the form of original research articles and reviews that augment our knowledge and understanding of this exciting area of research.

Prof. Dr. Elizabeth Opara
Prof. Dr. Kenneth N. White
Dr. Peter Orji Uvere
Guest Editors

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