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Pharmaceuticals
Special Issues
Pharmaceutical Applications and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Substances from Plant Origin
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Pharmaceutical Applications and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Substances from Plant Origin

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2025 | Viewed by 2544

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Iliya Zhelev Slavov

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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Varna, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria
Interests: pharmacognosy; phytochemistry; phytotherapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Stanislava Ivanova

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
2. Research Institute, Medical University of Plovdiv, 4002 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Interests: nutrition; phytochemistry; phytotherapy; pharmaceutical analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Nadezhda Hvarchanova

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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Varna, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria
Interests: pharmacology; toxicology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Nadezhda Ivanova

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Technologies, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Varna, 9000 Varna, Bulgaria
Interests: drug stability; silver nanoparticles; polymeric nanoparticles; pharmaceutical analysis; transdermal and mucosal drug permeation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants have been a significant source of medicinal compounds for centuries, offering a wide range of bioactive substances with substantial pharmacological potential. Traditional medicine systems in various cultures have long relied on plant-derived medicines, many of which have been subsequently validated by scientific research. The diverse chemical composition of plants, including alkaloids, terpenes, terpenoids, and polyphenols, contributes to their wide range of therapeutic effects, such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties, among many others.

As modern medicine faces challenges such as antibiotic resistance, chronic diseases, and adverse drug reactions, the scientific community is particularly interested in the search for new plant-based pharmaceuticals. Advances in phytochemistry, molecular biology, and pharmacology have further improved plant-derived compounds’ identification, isolation, and modification, paving the way for new therapeutic agents.

The Special Issue of Pharmaceutics welcomes the submission of manuscripts focused on drug delivery systems, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME), pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and therapeutic mechanisms of substances from plant origin.

The Special Issue of Pharmaceuticals also welcomes manuscripts focusing on the analysis of cellular and molecular mechanisms of natural compounds or characterized extracts.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Pharmaceutics.

Dr. Iliya Zhelev Slavov
Dr. Stanislava Ivanova
Dr. Nadezhda Hvarchanova
Dr. Nadezhda Ivanova
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 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 substances
  • phytotherapy
  • phytochemistry
  • chromatography
  • pharmacokinetics
  • pharmacodynamics
  • drug delivery

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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18 pages, 2013 KB  
Article
In Vivo Evaluation of the Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Thymus numidicus Essential Oil
by Ouardia Chaouchi, Velislava Todorova, Stanislava Ivanova, Elizabet Dzhambazova, Farida Fernane, Nacira Daoudi Zerrouki, Lyudmil Peychev, Kremena Saracheva, Michaela Shishmanova-Doseva and Zhivko Peychev
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(7), 1031; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18071031 - 11 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Background: Thymus numidicus Poiret. (Lamiaceae) is an endemic plant with well-known antibacterial properties. It has been largely used in traditional Algerian medicine. This study aimed to compare the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) extracted from leaves and flowers using the gas [...] Read more.
Background: Thymus numidicus Poiret. (Lamiaceae) is an endemic plant with well-known antibacterial properties. It has been largely used in traditional Algerian medicine. This study aimed to compare the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) extracted from leaves and flowers using the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method, as well as to investigate its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Results: The EOs were rich in monoterpenes and classified as a thymol chemotype. In vivo experiments revealed that acute treatment with T. numidicus EO (20 and 80 mg/kg) significantly increased the thermal threshold on the hot-plate at all tested hours compared to the control animals (p < 0.001, respectively), while only the higher dose had a similar effect to the metamizole group at 2 and 3 h. In the mechanical stimulus test, both doses of the EO led to a late analgesic effect presented with increased paw withdrawal threshold only during the third hour compared to the control group (p < 0.05, respectively). In the plethysmometer test both doses of the EO dose-dependently reduced paw volume with nearly 10% and 15% compared to the control animals at all tested hours (p < 0.001, respectively), with a more pronounced volume reduction in the higher dose. In a neuropathic pain model, the EO (20 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg) dose-dependently increased the withdrawal latency time towards thermal stimuli and enhanced the paw withdrawal threshold in response to mechanical pressure at all tested hours compared to the CCI-group (p < 0.001, respectively). These findings demonstrate the potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of T. numidicus EO in models of acute and neuropathic pain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmaceutical Applications and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Substances from Plant Origin)
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Other

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45 pages, 8049 KB  
Systematic Review
A Systematic Review of Advances in Plant-Based Phospholipid Liposomes in Breast Cancer Therapy: Characterization, Innovations, Clinical Applications, and Future Directions
by Marwa Alawi, Najihah Mohd Hashim, Noraini Ahmad, Syed Mahmood and Yi Ge
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(9), 1288; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18091288 - 28 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Introduction: Plant-based phospholipid (PP) liposomes are sustainable, biocompatible, and biodegradable carriers with advantages over synthetic and animal-derived lipids, including lower immunogenic risk and abundant availability from sources such as soy, sunflower, and canola. This systematic review examines their characteristics, innovations, and applications in [...] Read more.
Introduction: Plant-based phospholipid (PP) liposomes are sustainable, biocompatible, and biodegradable carriers with advantages over synthetic and animal-derived lipids, including lower immunogenic risk and abundant availability from sources such as soy, sunflower, and canola. This systematic review examines their characteristics, innovations, and applications in breast cancer (BCA) therapy. Methods: A total of 43 studies published between 2010 and June 2025 were identified from MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, focusing on PP composition, drug delivery mechanisms, and therapeutic efficacy in in vitro, in vivo, and preclinical BCA models. Results: Advances include nanotechnology and ligand-targeted systems that improve stability, control drug release, and enhance tumor-specific uptake. PP liposomes co-loaded with chemotherapeutics showed synergistic anticancer effects, increased tumor accumulation, and reduced systemic toxicity. Personalized targeting strategies further improved therapeutic precision and minimized off-target effects. Conclusions: PP liposomes offer an innovative and environmentally sustainable approach for BCA treatment with demonstrated preclinical benefits in efficacy and safety. Translation to clinical practice requires standardized characterization, scalable production, and well-designed trials to confirm safety, dosing, and long-term effectiveness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmaceutical Applications and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Substances from Plant Origin)
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