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Chemopreventive and Antioxidant Activity of Plant Extracts and Other Phytochemical...
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Chemopreventive and Antioxidant Activity of Plant Extracts and Other Phytochemical Compounds

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2025) | Viewed by 4776

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Dimitrios Stagos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
Interests: antioxidants; chemoprevention; anticancer; oxidative stress; plant extracts; plant polyphenols
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Nikolaos Goutzourelas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
Interests: antioxidants; chemoprevention; anticancer; oxidative stress; plant extracts; plant polyphenols
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Varvara Trachana

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
Interests: anti-aging; oxidative stress; antioxidants; DNA damage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Chemoprevention is the use of natural or synthetic chemical agents to reverse, suppress or prevent carcinogenic progression to invasive cancer. Many chemopreventive agents are plant compounds that have protective or disease-preventive properties. Moreover, natural compounds exert chemoprevention through the modulation of cells’ redox statuses. In several cases, these changes in the cellular redox environment may lead to completely different outcomes. For example, some phytochemicals may act as antioxidants and offer protection against ROS-induced DNA damage, thus preventing mutagenesis and the initiation of carcinogenesis. On the other hand, there are natural compounds that induce the apoptosis of cancer cells by acting as pro-oxidants. We invite you to submit your latest research findings or a review article to this Special Issue, which will bring together the latest research and critical thinking concerning the complex and interesting interplay between the antioxidant/pro-oxidant and chemopreventive activities of compounds of natural origin. These natural compounds may be individual substances or chemical mixtures derived from either terrestrial or marine sources.

Dr. Dimitrios Stagos
Dr. Nikolaos Goutzourelas
Dr. Varvara Trachana
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • plant extracts
  • natural compounds
  • antioxidants
  • anticancer
  • polyphenols
  • ROS-induced DNA damage

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 3840 KiB  
Article
Polyphenolic Composition, Antioxidant Activity, and Cytotoxic Effect of Male Floral Buds from Three Populus Species Growing in the South of Romania
by Mona Luciana Gălăţanu, Mariana Panţuroiu, Luiza Mădălina Cima, Ana Maria Neculai, Emilia Pănuş, Coralia Bleotu, Cristian Mihai Enescu, Ion Mircioiu, Roxana Măriuca Gavriloaia, Sorina Nicoleta Aurică, Mirela Claudia Rîmbu and Roxana Colette Sandulovici
Molecules 2025, 30(4), 913; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30040913 - 16 Feb 2025
Viewed by 643
Abstract
Three poplar species widely distributed in southern Romania were investigated for their chemical composition and bioactivity. Male buds from black poplar (Populus nigra L.), white poplar (Populus alba L.), and Euroamerican hybrid poplar (Populus × euramericana (Dode) Guinier.) were analyzed [...] Read more.
Three poplar species widely distributed in southern Romania were investigated for their chemical composition and bioactivity. Male buds from black poplar (Populus nigra L.), white poplar (Populus alba L.), and Euroamerican hybrid poplar (Populus × euramericana (Dode) Guinier.) were analyzed using HPTLC, HPLC, GC-MS, and spectrophotometric assays. The analysis revealed predominantly polyphenolic compounds, including phenolic acids and flavonoids, secondary metabolites recognized for their antioxidant properties, particularly valuable in alleviating oxidative stress disorders. Heavy metal content was measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy, and antioxidant capacity was assessed through DPPH and FRAP assays alongside a cytotoxicity evaluation. Polyphenolic content ranged from 19.26 to 33.37 mg GAE/g DW and flavonoid content from 2.15 to 4.45 mg RE/g DW. All three species demonstrated notable antioxidant capacity and cytotoxic activity. Hydroethanolic extracts of P. nigra and P. euramericana showed higher antioxidant activity than aqueous extracts, with P. nigra achieving the lowest IC50 value overall, highlighting the influence of solvent choice on antioxidant efficacy. Furthermore, poplar hydroethanolic extracts exhibited concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against fibroblast-like human osteosarcoma MG63 cell lines, with IC50 values of 42.55 µg/mL for P. nigra, 40.87 µg/mL for P. × euramericana, and 132.49 µg/mL for P. alba, underscoring significant interspecies variability in cytotoxic potency. These findings suggest that male floral buds from Romanian poplar species may serve as valuable sources of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemopreventive and Antioxidant Activity of Plant Extracts and Other Phytochemical Compounds)
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18 pages, 1210 KiB  
Article
Phenolic Compounds in Fractionated Blackcurrant Leaf Extracts in Relation to the Biological Activity of the Extracts
by Monika Staszowska-Karkut, Barbara Chilczuk, Małgorzata Materska, Renata Kontek and Beata Marciniak
Molecules 2023, 28(22), 7459; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28227459 - 7 Nov 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2105
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between antioxidant and anticancer properties of extracts from blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) leaves and their fractions and chemical contents. Dried ethanolic extract was divided into three fractions using solid phase extraction: aqueous [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between antioxidant and anticancer properties of extracts from blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) leaves and their fractions and chemical contents. Dried ethanolic extract was divided into three fractions using solid phase extraction: aqueous (F1), 40% MeOH (F2), and 70% MeOH (F3). Both the extract and the fractions were analyzed in terms of antiradical activity (DPPH• and ABTS+•), total phenolic compounds, and total flavonoids. The antitumor potential of the fractions was evaluated in vitro on human colorectal (HCT 116) and prostate (PC-3) cancer cells. Phenolics were identified using HPLC-QTOF-MS, and twelve compounds were quantified by HPLC-DAD. Finally, principal component analysis was carried out to assess the relationship between the tested factors. The results confirmed that blackcurrant leaves are a rich source of phenolics with high antioxidant activity and anticancer properties. It was demonstrated that the F2 fraction had the highest content of phenolics and the highest antiradical activity. Additionally, only this fraction showed cytotoxic activity against HCT 116 cells. It was confirmed that both the blackcurrant leaf extract and its fractions are a promising source of condensed active compounds and can be used as natural functional food additives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemopreventive and Antioxidant Activity of Plant Extracts and Other Phytochemical Compounds)
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Review

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24 pages, 944 KiB  
Review
Trifolirhizin: A Phytochemical with Multiple Pharmacological Properties
by Varun Jaiswal and Hae-Jeung Lee
Molecules 2025, 30(2), 383; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30020383 - 17 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1193
Abstract
Trifolirhizin is an important flavonoid glycoside reported from the roots of medicinal plants such as Astragalus membranaceus, Sophora tonkinensis, Ononis vaginalis, Euchresta formosana, Sophora Subprostrate, Ononis spinose, and Sophora flavescens. It is considered one of the important constituents responsible for the various medicinal [...] Read more.
Trifolirhizin is an important flavonoid glycoside reported from the roots of medicinal plants such as Astragalus membranaceus, Sophora tonkinensis, Ononis vaginalis, Euchresta formosana, Sophora Subprostrate, Ononis spinose, and Sophora flavescens. It is considered one of the important constituents responsible for the various medicinal properties of these medicinal plants. Studies have revealed the multiple pharmacological properties of trifolirhizin: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-ulcerative colitis, antiasthma, hepatoprotective, osteogenic, skin-whitening, wound-healing, and anticancer (against various types of cancers). Mechanistic studies of trifolirhizin showed that it could act on important target genes and pathways such as the NF-κB-MAPK, EGFR-MAPK, AMPK/mTOR, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. These pathways are also implicated in various other diseases, suggesting the potential of trifolirhizin in therapeutic applications. Initial pharmacokinetic studies support the therapeutic candidature of trifolirhizin and provide the initial track that may be pursued for its development. Still, a compilation of pharmacological activities and target pathways of trifolirhizin is missing in the literature. This review uniquely compiles the pharmacological properties and mechanistic insights of trifolirhizin, addressing critical gaps in its therapeutic development and proposing strategies for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemopreventive and Antioxidant Activity of Plant Extracts and Other Phytochemical Compounds)
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