Essential Oils and Their Derivatives: Characterization, Biological Activity and Application
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 123
Special Issue Editor
Interests: natural products; essential oils; medicinal chemistry; drug discovery; biological activities; novel bioactive compounds; structure elucidation; preclinical research
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue will examine various aspects of essential oils and their derivatives, focusing on their chemical composition, biological activities, and practical applications. Sourced from different aromatic plants, essential oils possess a broad range of therapeutic properties. The goal in creating this issue is to compile innovative research that investigates the chemical profiles of these oils, including extraction methods, purification processes, and advanced analytical techniques for their characterization. Additionally, this issue will highlight the in vitro and in vivo biological activities of essential oils, such as their antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anticonvulsant, antidepressant, antinociceptive, and antibiotic effects. Contributions may also explore the mechanisms behind these biological effects and their significance for health and disease treatment. While phytochemical research on medicinal plants has historically led to the discovery of many therapeutic compounds, these plants remain crucial sources for new drug development. Their compounds also serve as promising starting points for synthetic modifications aimed at creating more potent therapeutics.
Besides characterization and biological properties, this issue will explore the practical uses of essential oils across various industries, including pharmaceuticals, food preservation, aromatherapy, and cosmetics. Other relevant topics include new properties of bioactive compounds from aromatic plants; mechanistic insights; structure–function relationships; synergistic interactions with other substances; the safety and potential toxicity of natural aromatic compounds; biosynthesis pathways and enzymes involved; and bioavailability, stability, and innovative delivery systems. Researchers are encouraged to submit original research articles and review papers that contribute to this comprehensive theme, advancing the field of natural products and their diverse applications.
Dr. Noura Ahmed
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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-blind 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
- essential oils
- aromatic plants
- natural products
- bioactive compounds
- biological activities
- pharmacology of volatiles
- structure elucidation
- isolation techniques
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
