Biological Activity of Secondary Metabolites

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is related to the biological activities of natural products. Secondary metabolites are largely found in plants, marine organisms, bacteria, fungi, and insects. Natural products are used and marketed as medicines or food supplements for a number of health reasons, like the prevention or treatment of an illness or the reduction of health risks, or the maintenance of good health.

Past practices of compound drugs containing different natural ingredients predominately of plant origin were highly esteemed over centuries, but only recently are scientifically confirmed. The ethno pharmacological properties of healing plants have been used as a primary source of medicines for early drug discovery. The investigation of biological and chemical properties of natural products has, not only revealed new bioactive entities for the treatment of several diseases, but also enabled the development of synthetic organic chemistry. Natural products are the most successful source of leads for potential drug discovery and play a highly significant role in medicinal chemistry.

We particularly have interest in manuscripts dealing with the most recent research on bio-active natural products, including: Isolation and structure elucidation, metabolomic analyses, bio-assays, mechanisms of action of bioactive natural products, SAR studies, ethno-pharmacological studies.

Prof. Dr. Helen D. Skaltsa
Dr. Marina Sokovic
Guest Editors

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