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Isolation, Analysis, and Biological Activities of Secondary Metabolites Derived from Plants

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 459

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50162 Kaunas, Lithuania
Interests: secondary metabolites; analysis; extraction; biological activity; application

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacognosy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50162 Kaunas, Lithuania
Interests: antioxidant activity; natural products; plant extracts; phenolic compounds; triterpenic compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical Research, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technologies, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukileliu Av. 13, LT-50162 Kaunas, Lithuania
2. Department of Analytical and Toxicological Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukileliu Av. 13, LT-50162 Kaunas, Lithuania
Interests: plant material; chemical composition; analysis; spectrophotometry; HPLC; method development and validation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The biological effects of raw plant materials and plant extracts are determined by their phytochemical composition. Qualitative and quantitative composition of secondary metabolites could be different depending on environmental and genetic factors. Phytochemical analysis and selecting an appropriate analysis method is one of the crucial stages, as the composition of secondary metabolites derived from plants is a very important parameter assessing the quality of raw plant material as well as products made from them. Knowledge of the composition of secondary metabolites of raw plant materials allows us to assess the possibilities to apply the raw materials or their extracts as well as to isolate biologically active compounds containing fractions, taking into account the target biological effect. Isolation, phytochemical analysis, and studies of the biological activities of secondary metabolites derived from plants are of interest to scientists and the public. The results of comprehensive studies of biologically active compounds provide new detailed data that can be used to develop safe and effective products.

This Special Issue invites papers focusing on the isolation of secondary metabolites using different extraction methods; phytochemical analyses of plant extracts, their fractions, or individual secondary metabolites; and studies on their biological activities.

Dr. Valdimaras Janulis
Dr. Mindaugas Liaudanskas
Dr. Kristina Zymonė
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • isolation
  • analysis
  • phytochemical composition
  • biological activity

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 2601 KiB  
Article
Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles via Medusomyces gisevii Fermentation with Origanum vulgare L. Extract: Antimicrobial Properties, Antioxidant Properties, and Phytochemical Analysis
by Aiste Balciunaitiene, Syeda Hijab Zehra, Mindaugas Liaudanskas, Vaidotas Zvikas, Jonas Viskelis, Yannick Belo Nuapia, Arturas Siukscius, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Valdimaras Janulis and Pranas Viskelis
Molecules 2025, 30(8), 1706; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30081706 - 10 Apr 2025
Viewed by 296
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles belong to a highly versatile group of nanomaterials with an appealing range of potential applications. In the realm of antimicrobial and antioxidant application, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibit auspicious capabilities. This research, for the very first time, endeavors to carry out biosynthesis [...] Read more.
Silver nanoparticles belong to a highly versatile group of nanomaterials with an appealing range of potential applications. In the realm of antimicrobial and antioxidant application, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibit auspicious capabilities. This research, for the very first time, endeavors to carry out biosynthesis of AgNPs coupled with fermentation using Medusomyces gisevii and Origanum vulgare L. (O. vulgare) plant species. Fermentation (F) via Medusomyces gisevii is responsible for chemical, physical, biological, and electrochemical processes. During in vitro study of antioxidant activity, fermented O. vulgare herb extract showed strong reductive activity as evaluated by the cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS•+) assay, with a value of 1.45 ± 0.048 mmol TE/g, 0.95 ± 0.04 mmol TE/g, and 0.59 ± 0.023 mmol TE/g, respectively. The highest antimicrobial activity was shown by Staphylococcus aureus in the inhibition zone, with values of 1.40 ± 0.12 mm of OrV and of 10.30 ± 0.04 mm and 11.54 ± 0.10 mm for OrV-AgNPs and OrV-F-AgNPs, respectively. Analysis of phenolic compounds revealed that the highest total amount of the apigenin, 87.78 µg/g, was detected in OrV-F-AgNPs and the lowest amount, 16.56 µg/g, in OrV-AgNPs. Moreover, in OrV-F-AgNPs, the collective amount of proanthocyanidins, hydroxycinnamic, and flavonoids was prominently high in all cases, i.e., 145.00 ± 0.02 mg EE/g DW, 2.86 ± 0.01 mg CAE/g DW, and 0.55 ± 0.01 mg RE/g DW, respectively, as compared to the original extract (102.1 ± 0.03 mg EE/g DW, 2.78 ± 0.02 mg CAE/g DW, and 0.47 ± 0.01 mg RE/g DW, respectively). During the characterization of biosynthesized nanoparticles by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), AgNPs demonstrated a uniform spherical shape with even distribution. The sample’s elemental composition was confirmed with a signal of 3.2 keV using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed silver nanoparticles that were round and spherical in shape in both stacked and congested form, with a size range of less than 30 nm. Thus, this green and sustainable synthesis of AgNPs, a blend of Medusomyces gisevii and O. vulgare herbal extract, has adequate potential for increased antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Full article
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