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Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources and Their Functions
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Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources and Their Functions

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 May 2026 | Viewed by 4902

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sonia Del Prete

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Napoli, Italy
Interests: biochemistry; molecular biology; enzyme; gene expression; plant sciences
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mario Pagano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council (CNR), Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
Interests: plant biology; food security; THz imaging; enzyme; molecular biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is well established that primary and secondary metabolic processes are intricately linked, as a cell utilizes primary metabolism to obtain the building blocks necessary for the synthesis of secondary metabolites. However, the cell will only divert resources from primary to secondary metabolism if they are sufficient for the primary metabolic processes to perform all essential functions without interruption or alteration. Indeed, the primary metabolic pathway is crucial for all reactions required for the cell to remain a living entity.

This Special Issue of Molecules aims to enhance the understanding of bioactive natural products and their associated functions by collecting research on the extraction, isolation, and functional elucidation of small molecules naturally produced by any organism, including primary and secondary metabolites. As guest editors, we warmly welcome the submission of reviews and research articles on topics such as natural microbial products, structural and functional determination, bioactive secondary metabolites and their biosynthetic pathways, and the potential roles of natural products in living organisms.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions.

Dr. Sonia Del Prete
Dr. Mario Pagano
Guest Editors

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.

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

  • secondary metabolites
  • primary metabolism
  • living organisms
  • function
  • structure
  • enzymes
  • biosynthetic pathways

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 2679 KB  
Article
Optimization of Stryphnodendron adstringens (Barbatimão) Extraction: Chemical Evaluation, Cytotoxicity, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities
by Cynthia Nara Pereira de Oliveira, Thainá Gomes Peixoto, Luiz Gustavo Modesto Lobo Teixeira, Samuel Beiral Alves Pessoa, Nicole Maia Pedrosa, Viviane Flores Xavier, Paula Melo de Abreu Vieira, Cristina Duarte Vianna Soares, André Augusto Gomes Faraco, Karina Barbosa de Queiroz, Fernanda Guimarães Drummond e Silva and Rachel Oliveira Castilho
Molecules 2026, 31(2), 224; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31020224 - 9 Jan 2026
Viewed by 419
Abstract
Extracts from the stem bark of Stryphnodendron adstringens (barbatimão) exhibit relevant medicinal properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound-healing activities, which reinforce their potential for developing herbal medicines. The $550 billion plant bioactive market (by 2030) demands safer, green-chemistry-aligned extraction methods for [...] Read more.
Extracts from the stem bark of Stryphnodendron adstringens (barbatimão) exhibit relevant medicinal properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound-healing activities, which reinforce their potential for developing herbal medicines. The $550 billion plant bioactive market (by 2030) demands safer, green-chemistry-aligned extraction methods for responsible industrial scaling. In this study, dry extracts obtained from the stem bark of S. adstringens were obtained by ultrasound-assisted maceration in one- and two-step extraction systems. Parameters such as yield, solvent evaporation time, cost, acute toxicity, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) concentration, cell viability, antioxidant potential, and anti-inflammatory activity were evaluated. High-EGCG two-step organic extracts were industrially difficult, needing more raw material and toxic solvents. In contrast, the single-step extracts showed a better balance between yield, cost, safety, and biological efficacy. All extracts showed cell viability above 70% at safe concentrations and significantly reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines. Thus, the results confirm that optimizing single-step extraction, with lower environmental impact solvents, enables producing safe and effective polyphenol-rich extracts, consolidating water as the main candidate for industrial-scale phytotherapeutic formulations of barbatimão, in line with its traditional use in infusions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources and Their Functions)
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22 pages, 3931 KB  
Article
Protective Metabolic Effects of Chickpea Sprout Against Obesity-Induced Insulin Resistance and Hypoestrogenism in Rats
by Patrick Mailloux-Salinas, Cristian Jiménez-Martínez, David Julian Arias-Chávez, Arturo Armando Gordillo-Bernal, María Stephanie Cid-Gallegos, Liliana Alamilla-Beltrán and Guadalupe Bravo
Molecules 2025, 30(24), 4673; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30244673 - 5 Dec 2025
Viewed by 721
Abstract
Obesity and menopausal hypoestrogenism interact in a way that worsens insulin resistance and increases the risk of metabolic diseases. This study evaluated the effects of a diet composed of liquid chickpea sprouts (CS) on these problems. Sixty-four female Wistar rats were assigned to [...] Read more.
Obesity and menopausal hypoestrogenism interact in a way that worsens insulin resistance and increases the risk of metabolic diseases. This study evaluated the effects of a diet composed of liquid chickpea sprouts (CS) on these problems. Sixty-four female Wistar rats were assigned to four experimental groups: a control group (Ctrl); a hypoestrogenic (HE) group, induced by ovariotomy; an obese (Ob) group, fed a high-sucrose diet; and a hypoestrogenic-obese (HE-Ob) group. Each group was subdivided into animals treated with chickpea sprouts (CS, 0.9 g/kg/day) or with a vehicle for four weeks. The results showed that CS significantly improved glucose tolerance and restored insulin sensitivity, normalizing the HOMA-IR index in both the Ob and HE-Ob groups. In addition, CS reduced serum triglycerides, reversed hepatic steatosis, and caused a favorable redistribution of adipose tissue, leading to decreased mesenteric fat accumulation. In conclusion, chickpea sprouts have protective metabolic effects by improving glucose homeostasis, reducing blood lipids, and mitigating liver damage in an estrogen-deficient model of obesity. These findings support the potential of chickpea sprouts as a dietary intervention to help prevent metabolic complications in obese postmenopausal women. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources and Their Functions)
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22 pages, 1802 KB  
Article
Proteolytic Bacillus sp. Isolation and Identification from Tannery Alkaline Baths
by Manuela Lageiro, Fernanda Simões, Nuno Alvarenga and Alberto Reis
Molecules 2025, 30(17), 3632; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30173632 - 5 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2225
Abstract
The application of microbial alkaline proteases holds significant potential for eco-sustainable industrial processes by reducing chemical usage and lowering the costs of effluent treatment. In the search for novel proteases with industrial relevance, several microbial strains were isolated from alkaline baths of the [...] Read more.
The application of microbial alkaline proteases holds significant potential for eco-sustainable industrial processes by reducing chemical usage and lowering the costs of effluent treatment. In the search for novel proteases with industrial relevance, several microbial strains were isolated from alkaline baths of the Portuguese tannery agroindustry. The most promising protease-producing strains were selected for identification and further study. Two isolates demonstrated the highest proteolytic activity, reaching 0.51 ± 0.01 U mL−1 and 0.70 ± 0.01 U mL−1 after 7.5 h of submerged cultivation in nutrient broth. Based on API biochemical tests, molecular biology techniques, and GC-FAME analysis of membrane lipids, the isolates were identified as Bacillus subtilis and incorporated into INIAV’s collection of industrial microbial cultures as B. subtilis CCMI 1253 (BMR2) and B. subtilis CCMI 1254 (BMR1). The most promising protease producer, B. subtilis CCMI 1253 (BMR2), exhibited a maximum specific growth rate of 0.88 ± 0.10 h−1. The proteases produced exhibited good extracellular proteolytic activity, with adaptability to industrial conditions, indicating their suitability for agroindustry applications such as leather making, detergent formulations and the treatment of effluents and protein residues. The results support the potential of microbial proteases as valuable tools in the bioeconomy and green chemistry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources and Their Functions)
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Review

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18 pages, 1551 KB  
Review
Wheat as a Storehouse of Natural Antimicrobial Compounds
by Eva Scarcelli, Domenico Iacopetta, Jessica Ceramella, Daniela Bonofiglio, Alessia Catalano, Giovanna Basile, Francesca Aiello and Maria Stefania Sinicropi
Molecules 2025, 30(24), 4774; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30244774 - 14 Dec 2025
Viewed by 686
Abstract
Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a global health challenge, contributing to elevated rates of morbidity and mortality. This growing problem is attributed to the widespread and indiscriminate use of antimicrobial agents. In response, current research is focused on identifying novel strategies to combat [...] Read more.
Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a global health challenge, contributing to elevated rates of morbidity and mortality. This growing problem is attributed to the widespread and indiscriminate use of antimicrobial agents. In response, current research is focused on identifying novel strategies to combat AMR, with particular attention to alternative therapeutic agents. Natural antimicrobials have emerged as promising candidates. Among these, wheat, one of the most cultivated food crops in the world, is identified as a valuable source of such bioactive compounds. Beyond its nutritional importance and prevalent use in food production, wheat is rich in polyphenols, small peptides, benzoxazinoids, 1,4-benzoquinones, and 5-n-alkylresorcinols. In vitro investigations have demonstrated that these phytochemicals possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities, exhibiting efficacy against Gram–positive and Gram–negative bacteria, as well as various fungi. Methods: Two databases, i.e., Google Scholar and Scopus, were screened using different keywords. Results: A series of key compounds responsible for these effects were identified, evaluating wheat’s potential role as a sustainable source of novel and potent antimicrobial agents. Conclusions: This review aims to collect the latest findings regarding the antimicrobial potential of different wheat varieties and their by-products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources and Their Functions)
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