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Pharmaceuticals
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Natural Pharmacons: Biologically Active Plant-Based Pharmaceuticals—4th Edition
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Natural Pharmacons: Biologically Active Plant-Based Pharmaceuticals—4th Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 29 July 2025 | Viewed by 797

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Dejan Stojković

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mycological Laboratory, Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"—National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: pathogenic fungi; mushrooms; mycomedicines; natural products; dermatomycetes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Marina Soković

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mycological Laboratory, Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"—National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: microfungi; macrofungi; antibacterial activity; antifungal activity; natural products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Medicinal plants represent a valuable source of chemicals with potential therapeutic properties. They are widely used in traditional medicine as supportive therapeutics for various conditions and diseases. In recent years, there have been extensive studies in the area of medicinal plant research dealing with their various pharmacological effects. Novel research on this subject is necessary, since this is an emerging and rather interesting domain. Many in vitro studies describe the beneficial effects of plants for human health, highlighting promising pharmacological effects.

This Special Issue will cover the biological activity of medicinal plants and isolated compounds. Screening natural preparations for their biological activities is of prime importance, since natural raw materials represent an excellent source of pharmaceuticals with a wide variety of different biologically active chemical structures. If your research addresses plant mixtures, please visit the following link to find out more information about submitting your manuscript:

https://www.mdpi.com/journal/pharmaceuticals/instructions#mixtures

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Chemical characterization of natural preparations;
  • Therapeutic potential of natural matrices in cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases;
  • Antimicrobial activity;
  • Antioxidant activity;
  • Anti-enzymatic activity;
  • Anti-inflammatory activity;
  • Mechanism of pharmacological actions;
  • Structure–activity relationship studies.

Dr. Dejan Stojković
Dr. Marina Soković
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

  • chemical characterization of natural preparations
  • therapeutic potential of natural matrices in cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases
  • antimicrobial activity
  • antioxidant activity
  • anti-enzymatic activity
  • anti-inflammatory activity
  • mechanism of pharmacological actions
  • structure–activity relationship studies

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 3083 KiB  
Article
Unveiling the Antioxidant Power and Secondary Metabolites of Tabebuia chrysantha (Jacq.) Leaves and Flowers from Ecuador
by Raluca A. Mihai, Ramiro Fernando Vivanco Gonzaga, Nelson Santiago Cubi Insuaste, Nilo Rigoberto Maza Morocho and Rodica D. Catana
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(5), 649; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18050649 (registering DOI) - 29 Apr 2025
Abstract
Background: Tabebuia chrysantha (Jacq.) Nichols, commonly known as Guayacan, is a prominent species within the Bignoniaceae family known for its medicinal value and ecological significance. This study aimed to characterize the antioxidant capacity and secondary metabolite composition of Guayacan leaves and flowers [...] Read more.
Background: Tabebuia chrysantha (Jacq.) Nichols, commonly known as Guayacan, is a prominent species within the Bignoniaceae family known for its medicinal value and ecological significance. This study aimed to characterize the antioxidant capacity and secondary metabolite composition of Guayacan leaves and flowers grown in Ecuador, a region where its chemical profile remains unexplored. Methods: Comprehensive analyses were conducted to determine the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity using ABTS, DPPH, FRAP assays, and LC-MS. Results: The results revealed remarkable differences between mature leaves and flowers. Leaves exhibited consistently higher flavonoid levels (e.g., 0.280 ± 0.005 mg QE/g DW) and superior antioxidant capacity across all assays (e.g., 10.84 ± 0.51 µmol Trolox g−1 DW in ABTS) compared to flowers, which showed greater variability but lower overall activity. These findings highlight a functional specialization, with leaves synthesizing more flavonoids to mitigate oxidative stress from environmental factors such as UV radiation. LC-MS analysis unveiled various bioactive compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and terpenoids. Unique metabolites like α-lipoamide in leaves and oleanolic acid in flowers suggest distinct adaptive roles, potentially linked to stress tolerance and reproductive functions. Additionally, strong correlations among antioxidant assays (e.g., FRAP vs. DPPH, r = 0.993, p < 0.001) emphasize the pivotal role of phenolics and flavonoids in free radical scavenging and reduction mechanisms. Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrate the superior antioxidant capacity of leaves, driven by their higher accumulation of flavonoids and phenolic compounds. This research represents a foundational step toward uncovering the therapeutic potential of Ecuadorian Guayacan as a source of natural antioxidants and bioactive compounds, supporting its future applications in phytotherapy and drug development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Pharmacons: Biologically Active Plant-Based Pharmaceuticals—4th Edition)
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23 pages, 3615 KiB  
Article
Lipophilic Extracts of Portulaca oleracea L.: Analysis of Bioactive Fatty Acids Targeting Microbial and Cancer Pathways
by Dejan Stojković, Jelena Živković, Stefani Bolevich, Gokhan Zengin, Mehmet Veysi Cetiz, Sergey Bolevich and Marina Soković
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(4), 587; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18040587 - 17 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane) is a widely distributed plant known for its medicinal and nutritional properties. This study aims to evaluate the fatty acid composition and bioactivities of crude lipophilic extracts (chloroform/methanol 2:1) from purslane collected in Serbia and Greece, with [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane) is a widely distributed plant known for its medicinal and nutritional properties. This study aims to evaluate the fatty acid composition and bioactivities of crude lipophilic extracts (chloroform/methanol 2:1) from purslane collected in Serbia and Greece, with a focus on its antimicrobial and anticancer potential. Methods: Chemical analysis was conducted to determine the fatty acid composition of the extracts. Antibacterial activity was assessed using standard microdilution assays, while antibiofilm assays evaluated the extracts’ ability to inhibit biofilm formation. Cytotoxicity was tested on cancer cell lines (MCF7, HeLa, CaCo2, HepG2) and normal keratinocyte cells (HaCaT). Molecular docking and dynamics simulations were performed to explore the interactions of bioactive fatty acids with microbial and cancer-related proteins. Results: The analysis revealed significant levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, with linoleic acid as the predominant fatty acid in both samples (31.42% and 34.51%). The Greek extract exhibited stronger antibacterial activity than the Serbian extract, particularly against Aspergillus versicolor, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiofilm assays showed up to 89.54% destruction at MIC levels, with notable reductions in exopolysaccharide and extracellular DNA production, especially for Greek samples. Cytotoxicity testing indicated moderate effects on cancer cell lines (IC50 = 178.17–397.31 µg/mL) while being non-toxic to keratinocytes. Molecular docking identified strong interactions between key fatty acids and microbial and cancer-related proteins. Conclusions: These results highlight purslane’s potential as a source of bioactive compounds, particularly in antimicrobial and anticancer applications. The findings suggest that purslane extracts could be developed for therapeutic purposes targeting microbial infections and cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Pharmacons: Biologically Active Plant-Based Pharmaceuticals—4th Edition)
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17 pages, 1870 KiB  
Article
Mixture Containing 5% Polysaccharide Extract of Cerioporus squamosus (Huds.) Quélet, 5% Dexpanthenol, and 0.2% Hyaluronic Acid Shows In Vitro and In Vivo Wound Healing Properties
by Jovana D. Petrović, Tamara A. Carević Milićević, Jasmina M. Glamočlija, Jelena B. Kulaš and Ivana I. Mirkov
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(3), 416; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18030416 - 15 Mar 2025
Viewed by 602
Abstract
Background: This study explores wound healing and the antimicrobial potential of a natural formulation containing a polysaccharide extract from Cerioporus squamosus, hyaluronic acid, and dexpanthenol. Methods: Wound healing effects were assessed using HaCaT keratinocytes, while antimicrobial activity was evaluated against human skin [...] Read more.
Background: This study explores wound healing and the antimicrobial potential of a natural formulation containing a polysaccharide extract from Cerioporus squamosus, hyaluronic acid, and dexpanthenol. Methods: Wound healing effects were assessed using HaCaT keratinocytes, while antimicrobial activity was evaluated against human skin pathogens using a microdilution assay. In vitro cytotoxicity tests ensured formulation safety, whereas in vivo wound healing was further investigated using an animal model. Gene expression analysis was performed to assess the molecular mechanisms involved. Results: The unique glucan composition of C. squamosus (15.38% α-glucans and 7.91% β-glucans) deviated from typical mushroom polysaccharide profiles, warranting further exploration of its bioactivity. In vitro mushroom polysaccharides promoted 25.35% wound closure after 24 hours, while the three-component formulation achieved 35.81% closure. Antibacterial activity showed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.44–1.75 mg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBCs) of 0.88–3.50 mg/mL, while antifungal activity ranged from 0.22 to 0.44 mg/mL (MICs) and 0.44 to 0.88 mg/mL (minimum fungicidal concentration—MFC). In vivo data showed that 60% of treated wounds fully closed by day 11, despite no statistically significant difference from the control. However, gene expression analysis highlighted VEGF and collagen upregulation, indicating an enhancement of wound healing on a molecular level. Conclusions: The novel three-component formulation demonstrated consistent wound healing and antimicrobial properties, supporting its potential as a safe and effective treatment for chronic and acute wounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Pharmacons: Biologically Active Plant-Based Pharmaceuticals—4th Edition)
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