Natural Product-Inspired Molecules: From Weed to Remedy

Dear Colleagues,

Natural products and semi-synthetic compounds inspired by these molecules have recently regained increased attention by the scientific community. Based on a great structural and chemical diversity of natural products and related compounds, they have become valid sources for drug leads documented by, e.g., the fact that 60% of chemotherapeutic agents originate from natural products, mainly medicinal plants. However, natural products do not play the forefront role only in anticancer agents, but they also help to combat microbial infections and inflammatory diseases. Moreover, nowadays, there is a very common concept to use natural products also as starting material for semi-synthesis of novel compounds with improved properties. The semi-synthesis enables researchers not only to fine-tune the desired activities but also to create multimodal and theranostic compounds.

The aim of this Special Issue, “Natural product-inspired molecules: from weed to remedy,” is to underline the most recent discoveries and progress in all fields of science dealing with natural products of all sources and related semi-synthetic compounds with the main emphasis on chemistry, semi-synthesis, isolation, identification, chemical characterization, structure-activity relationship, imaging properties, in silico modeling, bioactivity, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antimicrobial potential, synergic effects, but also beyond. Original full research articles as well as review articles on this topic from research groups all over the world are welcome in order to disseminate the scientific knowledge in these uneasy times of SARS-Cov-2. Researchers working in the field of natural products and related disciplines are encouraged to publish their recent findings in this Special Issue of Molecules.

Dr. Silvie Rimpelova
Guest Editor

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