Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.1
4.3
Journals
Pharmaceuticals
Special Issues
Promising Natural Products in New Drug Design and Therapy
share announcement

Promising Natural Products in New Drug Design and Therapy

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2025) | Viewed by 822

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Mohammad S. Mubarak

grade E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
Interests: natural products; pharmacology; toxicology; pharmaceutics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since ancient times, the natural products and derivatives from various edible and medicinal plants have been used to treat many diseases and diverse medical conditions. These natural compounds include a variety of chemical categories, such as flavonoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, glycosides, and terpenoids. They are a rich source of lead compounds that can be used in drug discovery. Many of these compounds are bioactive and have been used to treat an array of illnesses. If some of these natural products are inactive, they can be converted into potent medicinal products. Research dealing with natural products has led to the synthesis of numerous drugs, such as vincristine, a medication used to treat various types of cancer. Others include the anticancer agents such as vinblastine, taxol, camptothecin, and paclitaxel. Other natural compounds have been used to treat different diseases and conditions. Based on the preceding discussion, this Special Issue will explore the most recent advances in using natural products to treat diseases, including cancer and neurological disorders. It will also focus on the mechanisms of action of the natural compounds, drug delivery solutions for the targeted treatment of cancer using such natural products (including advanced drug delivery systems), and more. The Special Issue will provide an update on the chemistry and bioactivity of natural compounds, including findings on their natural sources and pharmacological properties. Furthermore, the Special Issue will cover these molecules' clinical and preclinical applications.  Research articles and reviews are welcome in this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Mohammad S. Mubarak
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. Pharmaceuticals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2900 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

  • natural products
  • cancer
  • curcumin
  • flavonoids
  • drug delivery
  • nanotechnology
  • drug targeting
  • biological activities
  • medical applications
  • food applications
  • drug discovery
  • mechanisms of action

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.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

25 pages, 7954 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive GC-MS Profiling and Multi-Modal Pharmacological Evaluations of Haloxylon griffithii: In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches
by Iram Iqbal, Mohamed A. M. Ali, Fatima Saqib, Kinza Alamgir, Mohammad S. Mubarak, Anis Ahmad Chaudhary, Mohamed El-Shazly and Heba A. S. El-Nashar
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(6), 770; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18060770 - 22 May 2025
Viewed by 84
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Haloxylon griffithii is a medicinal plant possessing therapeutic effects in disorders associated with the gastrointestinal (GIT) system. This research aims to study the pharmacological activity of Haloxylon griffithii in a multidimensional manner, involving phytochemistry screening and in vitro and in vivo [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Haloxylon griffithii is a medicinal plant possessing therapeutic effects in disorders associated with the gastrointestinal (GIT) system. This research aims to study the pharmacological activity of Haloxylon griffithii in a multidimensional manner, involving phytochemistry screening and in vitro and in vivo experiments. Methods: The whole dried plant was extracted with 80% methanol and further fractionation using solvents of increasing polarity. GC-MS analysis was performed on the crude extract to discover volatile compounds. The spasmolytic/spasmogenic effect was assessed in isolated rabbit jejunum using spontaneous and K⁺-induced contractions, as well as contractions induced by increasing concentrations of calcium ions in depolarized tissue. Antidiarrheal activity was evaluated in Swiss albino rats/mice (n = 6/group) using castor oil-induced diarrhea and peristaltic index models. In silico ADMET screening was conducted via SwissADME and pkCSM. Results: The GC-MS profiling of H. griffithii revealed the presence of 59 phytochemicals and a rare azulene derivative and constituents, including α-santonin and hexadecanoic acid esters, with favorable pharmacokinetic profiles, as predicted using SwissADME and pkCSM computational tools. The in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed the significant calcium channel blocking activity in non-polar fractions (n-hexane and ethyl acetate), while the polar extracts (ethanolic, aqueous) exhibited cholinergic effects, indicating a dual mode of action. Conclusions: This was a first-time demonstration of both antidiarrheal and smooth muscle-relaxant activity in H. griffithii, supported by GC-MS profiling and pharmacological assay. The findings lend scientific credibility to the traditional use of the plant in community healthcare, while also reinforcing the need for further pharmacological and clinical studies to explore its potential in drug development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promising Natural Products in New Drug Design and Therapy)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 16781 KiB  
Article
Exploring Ginseng Bioactive Compound’s Role in Hypertension Remedy: An In Silico Approach
by Sagar Kurmi, Rita Majhi, Hilal Tayara and Kil To Chong
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(5), 648; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18050648 - 28 Apr 2025
Viewed by 391
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Ginseng has been a traditional remedy for centuries, known for its diverse benefits such as anti-inflammation, antioxidant, bactericidal, fungicidal antidiabetic, and anticancer effects. This study employs a network pharmacology approach with molecular dynamics simulation to investigate the potential mechanisms through which [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Ginseng has been a traditional remedy for centuries, known for its diverse benefits such as anti-inflammation, antioxidant, bactericidal, fungicidal antidiabetic, and anticancer effects. This study employs a network pharmacology approach with molecular dynamics simulation to investigate the potential mechanisms through which ginseng-derived compounds control hypertension. Methods: The total of 70 bioactive compounds were identified from the literature and classified as ginsenosides, which fall under Protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides, Protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides, and Ocotillol-type saponins. The target proteins related to hypertension were collected from the drug bank, and interactions between proteins network were examined using STRING 12.0 and Cytoscape 3.10.1. Bioinformatics tools were used to analyze the biological enrichment of genes. The core targets extracted through network pharmacology were subjected to molecular docking studies. Similarly, the docking score below −6.0 kcal/mol was further visualized by performing molecular dynamics simulation to see the binding affinity between the complexes. Finally, pharmacokinetics and toxicity of the compounds were evaluated using computational tools. Results: Molecular docking and simulation results revealed that Floralquinquenoside C, Ginsenoside Rg6, Notoginsenoside T1, and Floralquinquenoside B exhibited strong binding and stability with Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and Carbonic Anhydrase-I (CA-I), which alters the renin–angiotensin system, calcium signaling pathway, adrenergic signaling in cardiomyocytes, c-GMP-PKG signaling pathway, etc., to regulate high blood pressure. Conclusions: The results show that the phytochemicals from ginseng could act as potential candidates for the management of hypertension, which may help minimize the side effects caused by synthetic anti-hypertensive drugs available on the market. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promising Natural Products in New Drug Design and Therapy)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop