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Pharmaceuticals
Special Issues
Plant-Based Bioactive Products for Pharmaceutical Applications
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Plant-Based Bioactive Products for Pharmaceutical Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 March 2025) | Viewed by 2017

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rosana Crespo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Farmacología, IFEC—Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (CONICET-UNC), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
Interests: essential oils; chronic inflammatory diseases; lipid metabolism
Dr. Mariela Fernanda Pérez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Farmacología, IFEC—Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (CONICET-UNC), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
Interests: traumatic brain injury, neuroinflammation; synaptic plasticity; learning and memory

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant-based products derived from various plant parts (leaves, roots, etc.) that have biological activity offer a huge and relatively unexplored reservoir of new therapeutic agents with potential benefits for treating, preventing, or alleviating diseases with fewer side effects and sustainable supply. These products include a diverse array of chemical substances such as flavonoids, terpenoids, polyphenols, and alkaloids, which have been found to possess diverse biological activities through multiple mechanisms of action. The vast chemical diversity can lead to the discovery of novel bioactive compounds in the treatment and management of highly prevalent diseases such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. Chronic inflammation is a critical factor in the pathogenesis of these health conditions, and plant-based compounds, known for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and multi-targeted properties, offer promising therapeutic avenues. Exploring and utilizing plant-based bioactive products are becoming increasingly crucial for the development of innovative drugs that can address unmet human medical needs.

This Special Issue aims to explore the potential of herbal bioactive products in the field of pharmaceuticals applied to human health. The focus of this Special Issue will be on the discovery, characterization, and application of bioactive compounds from plants, emphasizing their therapeutic potential, mechanisms of action, and advantages over currently available drugs.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Discovery and isolation of novel bioactive compounds from plants.
  • Pharmacological activities and mechanisms of action.
  • Preclinical and clinical studies.
  • Pharmacokinetics, toxicokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.
  • Cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and metabolic diseases.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Rosana Crespo
Dr. Mariela Fernanda Pérez
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

  • phytochemicals
  • natural bioactive products
  • pharmaceutical applications
  • cardiovascular health
  • neuroprotection
  • anti-inflammatory activity

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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13 pages, 1977 KiB  
Article
Computational Screening and Experimental Evaluation of Wheat Proteases for Use in the Enzymatic Therapy of Gluten-Related Disorders
by Lyudmila V. Savvateeva, Olga E. Chepikova, Alena D. Solonkina, Artemiy A. Sakharov, Neonila V. Gorokhovets, Andrey V. Golovin and Andrey A. Zamyatnin, Jr.
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(4), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18040592 - 18 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Background: Gluten-related disorders, particularly celiac disease, are triggered in susceptible individuals by the toxic effects of gluten, the major storage protein of wheat grains. This toxicity can be reduced by wheat glutenases. Members of the papain-like cysteine protease family, which can act in [...] Read more.
Background: Gluten-related disorders, particularly celiac disease, are triggered in susceptible individuals by the toxic effects of gluten, the major storage protein of wheat grains. This toxicity can be reduced by wheat glutenases. Members of the papain-like cysteine protease family, which can act in the human gastrointestinal tract, are promising candidates for the enzymatic treatment of celiac disease. Methods: Two wheat proteases were selected using AlphaFold2, produced in recombinant forms, and characterized. Their glutenase potentials under acidic or slightly acidic conditions were evaluated and compared with the properties of the previously characterized wheat glutenase Triticain-α. Results: All enzymes tested, Ta-P7, Ta-V6, and Triticain-α, were able to hydrolyze the model substrate (α-gliadin-derived epitope) in the pH range of 3.6–7.5. Nevertheless, Triticain-α performs the most efficient hydrolysis of the peptide substrate under the conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, according to its kinetic characteristics. In the wheat gluten degradation experiment at pH 4.6 and 37 °C, both Ta-P7 and Triticain-α cleaved the mixture almost completely within 5 min. In addition, Triticain-α and Ta-P7 significantly reduced the levels of toxic peptides compared to both intact gluten and gluten treated with pepsin-trypsin digestion as tested by the Ridascreen Gliadin Kit. Conclusions: Novel wheat proteases under investigation possess the expected glutenase activity to varying degrees; however, Triticain-α is a primary candidate for potential use in the enzymatic therapy of gluten-related disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Based Bioactive Products for Pharmaceutical Applications)
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37 pages, 24138 KiB  
Article
Phytotherapeutic Analysis of Chloroform-Based Fractions of Alstonia scholaris and Wrightia tinctoria Extracts Reveals Potent Anti-Psoriatic Activity: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study
by Madhavi Ojha, Nilanshu Manocha, Vinod Kumar, Ganeshan Karthikeyan and Devinder Toor
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(3), 304; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18030304 - 22 Feb 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Psoriasis, a prevalent dermatological disorder, poses therapeutic challenges due to limited effective treatments or adverse side-effects. Traditional medicinal plants like Alstonia scholaris and Wrightia tinctoria, historically used in Ayurvedic and Siddha practices, show potential in treating inflammatory skin diseases. This study [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Psoriasis, a prevalent dermatological disorder, poses therapeutic challenges due to limited effective treatments or adverse side-effects. Traditional medicinal plants like Alstonia scholaris and Wrightia tinctoria, historically used in Ayurvedic and Siddha practices, show potential in treating inflammatory skin diseases. This study aims to explore their in vitro and in vivo anti-psoriatic properties to develop safer and more effective therapies. Methods: Chloroform:methanol fractions from ethanol extracts of Alstonia scholaris and Wrightia tinctoria were evaluated for anti-psoriatic activity. In vitro assays using HaCaT cells assessed cell viability, apoptosis, and inflammatory markers. In vivo studies utilized an IMQ-induced psoriasis mouse model, evaluating skin lesions, histopathology, and cytokine profiles. Results: Chloroform fractions significantly reduced HaCaT cell viability and induced apoptosis. They also dose-dependently downregulated IL-8 and RANTES levels. In vivo, these fractions reduced skin inflammation, edema, and psoriasis scores. Histopathological analysis showed decreased epidermal thickness and dermal inflammation. Key psoriasis biomarkers IL-17 and IL-23 were significantly reduced. Conclusions: Chloroform:methanol fractions from Alstonia scholaris and Wrightia tinctoria demonstrated potent anti-psoriatic effects in vitro and in vivo. These findings support their potential as novel phytotherapeutic agents for managing psoriasis, offering promise for further development and clinical application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Based Bioactive Products for Pharmaceutical Applications)
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13 pages, 902 KiB  
Brief Report
Anxiolytic-like Effect Characterization of Essential Oil from Local Lavender Cultivation
by Sol Micaela Angulo, Victoria Belén Occhieppo, Cristian Moya, Rosana Crespo and Claudia Bregonzio
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(5), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18050624 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 408
Abstract
Background: Anxiety disorders have a 7.3% worldwide prevalence and, considering the long period of treatment, developing new efficient and safer pharmacological tools is critical. Essential oils consist of highly concentrated lipophilic compounds from plants with therapeutic potential effects, such as Lavandula burnatii, [...] Read more.
Background: Anxiety disorders have a 7.3% worldwide prevalence and, considering the long period of treatment, developing new efficient and safer pharmacological tools is critical. Essential oils consist of highly concentrated lipophilic compounds from plants with therapeutic potential effects, such as Lavandula burnatii, produced in Córdoba, Argentine, with high levels of active pharmaceutical ingredients in its essential oil (linalyl acetate and linalool). The evidence indicates that lavender essential oil could induce anxiolytic effects; however, more systematic studies are needed. Methods: To test the anxiolytic attributes of Lavandula burnatii, male Wistar rats (200–260 g) were injected intraperitoneally with two different doses of essential oil (30/80 mg/kg) or vehicle (Myritol 318, a high-purity vegetable oil), once (acute) or for 7 days. One hour after the last administration, the anxiolytic effects were evaluated using the following behavioral tests: the dark–light test and the elevated plus maze test. The open-field test was used to assess locomotor activity. Results: Our results showed that the lower dose of lavender essential oil induces anxiolytic effects since it increases the time spent in the aversive compartment in each evaluation. The acute administration has no impact on the behaviors evaluated. The higher dose is comparable with the control group and does not show significant differences. Conclusions: More studies are needed to better characterize the beneficial effects of this essential oil for anxiety disorders and to establish an adequate dosage range. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Based Bioactive Products for Pharmaceutical Applications)
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