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Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy: Natural Compounds from an Anti-aging Perspective 2024
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Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy: Natural Compounds from an Anti-aging Perspective 2024

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2025) | Viewed by 13941

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Geir Bjørklund

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), Mo i Rana, Norway
Interests: biofactors; vitamins; minerals; trace elements; transition metals; toxic metals; metal interaction; chelating agents; chelation therapy; neurodegeneration; autism spectrum disorder; nutrition; nutritional biochemistry; peptides; polyphenols
Dr. Mariia Shanaida

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacognosy and Medical Botany, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, 46001 Ternopil, Ukraine
Interests: medicinal plants; phytochemistry; terpenoids; phenolic compounds; herbal drug development; natural products; nutraceuticals; antioxidants; biological activities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Olha Mykhailenko

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National University of Pharmacy, Kharkiv, Ukraine
Interests: secondary metabolism; natural products; chromatographic analysis; plant-environment interactions; plant biochemistry; GxP; agrochemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Undoubtedly, aging is a natural, evolutionarily programmed degenerative process characterized by functional impairments, tissue degeneration, cognitive deficits, and a senescent phenotype. Many external and internal factors can cause aging-related oxidative stress, including skin dryness and wrinkles, neurodegenerative disorders, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and cancer.

The true success of modern pharmaceutical and medical sciences in the field of prevention and treatment of diseases related to aging largely depends on drugs originally derived from natural sources. Herbal raw materials, seafood, beekeeping products, and many other natural substances have been used in traditional medicine to treat and prevent various human diseases since time immemorial.

In this Special Issue, we kindly invite you to join the scientific discussion of the latest achievements in the prevention and treatment of age-related disorders using natural compounds: from the theoretical aspects of promising constituents to discovering new natural drugs by involving the latest approaches and techniques. The comprehensive pharmaceutical analysis of natural anti-aging compounds could increase prospects for bringing them in the form of medicines to the pharmaceutical market.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest advances and the newest research to reveal the chemical structures of various natural substances which are promising for anti-aging applications as well as mechanisms and targets of their pharmacological actions.

We are looking forward to receiving your submissions.

Dr. Geir Bjørklund
Dr. Mariia Shanaida
Dr. Olha Mykhailenko
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

  • senescence
  • anti-aging compounds
  • natural products
  • medicinal plants
  • micronutrients
  • cosmetic ingredients
  • bioactive natural substances
  • antioxidant activity
  • pharmacological effect

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 856 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Selected Plant Phenolics via Beta-Secretase-1 Inhibition, Molecular Docking, and Gene Expression Related to Alzheimer’s Disease
by Tugba Uçar Akyürek, Ilkay Erdogan Orhan, F. Sezer Şenol Deniz, Gokcen Eren, Busra Acar and Alaattin Sen
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(11), 1441; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17111441 - 28 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1281
Abstract
Background: The goal of the current study was to investigate the inhibitory activity of six phenolic compounds, i.e., rosmarinic acid, gallic acid, oleuropein, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), 3-hydroxytyrosol, and quercetin, against β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1), also known as β-secretase or memapsin [...] Read more.
Background: The goal of the current study was to investigate the inhibitory activity of six phenolic compounds, i.e., rosmarinic acid, gallic acid, oleuropein, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), 3-hydroxytyrosol, and quercetin, against β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1), also known as β-secretase or memapsin 2, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Methods and Results: The inhibitory potential against BACE1, molecular docking simulations, as well as neurotoxicity and the effect on the AD-related gene expression of the selected phenolics were tested. BACE1 inhibitory activity was carried out using the ELISA microplate assay via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology. Molecular docking experiments were performed in the human BACE1 active site (PDB code: 2WJO). Neurotoxicity of the compounds was carried out in SH-SY5Y, a human neuroblastoma cell line, by the Alamar Blue method. A gene expression analysis of the compounds on fourteen genes linked to AD was conducted using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Rosmarinic acid, EGCG, oleuropein, and quercetin (also used as the reference) were able to inhibit BACE1 with their respective IC50 values 4.06 ± 0.68, 1.62 ± 0.12, 9.87 ± 1.01, and 3.16 ± 0.30 mM. The inhibitory compounds were observed to occupy the non-catalytic site of the BACE1. However, hydrogen bonds were found to be present between rosmarinic acid and EGCG and aspartic amino acid D228 in the catalytic site. Oleuropein and quercetin effectively suppressed the expression of PSEN, APOE, and CLU, which are recognized to be linked to the pathogenesis of AD. Conclusions: The outcomes of the work bring quercetin, EGCG, and rosmarinic acid to the forefront as promising BACE1 inhibitors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy: Natural Compounds from an Anti-aging Perspective 2024)
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25 pages, 2286 KiB  
Article
Rubus urticifolius Compounds with Antioxidant Activity, and Inhibition Potential against Tyrosinase, Melanin, Hyaluronidase, Elastase, and Collagenase
by Luis Apaza Ticona, Javier Sánchez Sánchez-Corral, Carolina Díaz-Guerra Martín, Sara Calderón Jiménez, Alejandra López González and Cristina Thiebaut Estrada
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(7), 937; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17070937 - 13 Jul 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1343
Abstract
In our study, using chromatographic techniques, we isolated three bioactive compounds, which were structurally elucidated as (E)-2-(3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylamido)-N-methylbenzamide (1), 4-Hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylic acid (2), and (E)-2-Cyano-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylic acid (3), using spectroscopic methods. The anti-melanogenic, anti-inflammatory, [...] Read more.
In our study, using chromatographic techniques, we isolated three bioactive compounds, which were structurally elucidated as (E)-2-(3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylamido)-N-methylbenzamide (1), 4-Hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylic acid (2), and (E)-2-Cyano-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylic acid (3), using spectroscopic methods. The anti-melanogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-aging properties were evaluated in vitro by measuring the activity of pharmacological targets including tyrosinase, melanin, NF-κB, hyaluronidase, elastase, collagenase, and Nrf2. Our results show that compound 1 is the most active with IC50 values of 14.19 μM (tyrosinase inhibition), 22.24 μM (melanin inhibition), 9.82–12.72 μM (NF-κB inhibition), 79.71 μM (hyaluronidase inhibition), 80.13 μM (elastase inhibition), 76.59 μM (collagenase inhibition), and 116–385 nM (Nrf2 activation) in the THP-1, HEK001, WS1, and HMCB cells. These findings underscore the promising profiles of the aqueous extract of R. urticifolius at safe cytotoxic concentrations. Additionally, we report, for the first time, the isolation and characterisation of these nitrogenous compounds in the R. urticifolius species. Finally, compound 1, isolated from R. urticifolius, is a promising candidate for the development of more effective and safer compounds for diseases related to skin pigmentation, protection against inflammation, and oxidative stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy: Natural Compounds from an Anti-aging Perspective 2024)
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19 pages, 6406 KiB  
Article
Oral Administration of Nacre Extract from Pearl Oyster Shells Has Anti-Aging Effects on Skin and Muscle, and Extends the Lifespan in SAMP8 Mice
by Hana Yamamoto, Nanami Shimomura and Yasushi Hasegawa
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(6), 713; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17060713 - 31 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1606
Abstract
Pearl oysters have been extensively utilized in pearl production; however, most pearl oyster shells are discarded as industrial waste. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the intraperitoneal administration of pearl oyster shell-derived nacre extract (NE) prevented d-galactose-induced brain and skin aging. In [...] Read more.
Pearl oysters have been extensively utilized in pearl production; however, most pearl oyster shells are discarded as industrial waste. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the intraperitoneal administration of pearl oyster shell-derived nacre extract (NE) prevented d-galactose-induced brain and skin aging. In this study, we examined the anti-aging effects of orally administered NE in senescence-accelerated mice (SAMP8). Feeding SAMP8 mice NE prevented the development of aging-related characteristics, such as coarse and dull hair, which are commonly observed in aged mice. Additionally, the NE mitigated muscle aging in SAMP8 mice, such as a decline in grip strength. Histological analysis of skeletal muscle revealed that the NE suppressed the expression of aging markers, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (p16) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (p21), and increased the expression of sirtuin1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 (PGC1)- α, which are involved in muscle synthesis. These findings suggest that the oral administration of NE suppresses skeletal muscle aging. Moreover, NE administration suppressed skin aging, including a decline in water content. Interestingly, oral administration of NE significantly extended the lifespan of SAMP8 mice, suggesting that its effectiveness as an anti-aging agent of various tissues including skeletal muscle, skin, and adipose tissue. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy: Natural Compounds from an Anti-aging Perspective 2024)
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20 pages, 4962 KiB  
Article
Effects of Water–Ethanol Extracts from Four Sphagnum Species on Gene Expression of Selected Enzymes in Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts and Their Antioxidant Properties
by Maria Zych, Katarzyna Urbisz, Magdalena Kimsa-Dudek, Maria Kamionka, Sławomir Dudek, Barbara Klaudia Raczak, Stanisław Wacławek, Damian Chmura, Ilona Kaczmarczyk-Żebrowska and Adam Stebel
Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16(8), 1076; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16081076 - 28 Jul 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2408
Abstract
Mosses (Bryophyta), particularly species of the genus Sphagnum, which have been used for centuries for the treatment of skin diseases and damage, are still not explored enough in terms of their use in cosmetics. The purpose of this study was to determine [...] Read more.
Mosses (Bryophyta), particularly species of the genus Sphagnum, which have been used for centuries for the treatment of skin diseases and damage, are still not explored enough in terms of their use in cosmetics. The purpose of this study was to determine the antioxidant properties of water–ethanol extracts from four selected species of the genus Sphagnum (S. girgenshonii Russow, S. magellanicum Brid., S. palustre L., and S. squarrosum Crome) and their impact on the expression of genes encoding key enzymes for the functioning of the skin. In this study, the effects of Sphagnum extracts on the expression of genes encoding tyrosinase, collagenase, elastase, hyaluronidase and hyaluronic acid synthase in human dermal fibroblasts were determined for the first time in vitro. The extracts inhibited tyrosinase gene expression and showed antioxidant activity. The experiment showed an increase in the expression of some genes encoding collagenase (MMP1) or hyaluronidase (HYAL2, HYAL3 and HYAL4) and a decrease in the hyaluronan synthase (HAS1, HAS2 and HAS3) genes expression by the tested extracts. The obtained results suggest that using extracts from the tested Sphagnum species in anti-aging cosmetics does not seem beneficial. Further studies are needed to clarify their impact on the skin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy: Natural Compounds from an Anti-aging Perspective 2024)
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16 pages, 2850 KiB  
Article
Investigation on the Biological Safety and Activity of a Gluconolactone-Based Lotion for Dermocosmetic Application
by Nicola Zerbinati, Serena Di Francesco, Maria Chiara Capillo, Cristina Maccario, Giorgio Stabile, Hassan Galadari, Raffaele Rauso, Sabrina Sommatis and Roberto Mocchi
Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16(5), 655; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16050655 - 27 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3661
Abstract
(1) Background: Cosmeceuticals are formulas enriched with active ingredients that exert efficacy on different skin molecular targets. (2) Methods: Cell viability and the absence of potential irritant risk were evaluated on keratinocytes (HaCaT), fibroblasts (NHDF), adipocytes (3T3-L1), sebocytes (PCi-SEB_CAU) and reconstructed human epidermis [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Cosmeceuticals are formulas enriched with active ingredients that exert efficacy on different skin molecular targets. (2) Methods: Cell viability and the absence of potential irritant risk were evaluated on keratinocytes (HaCaT), fibroblasts (NHDF), adipocytes (3T3-L1), sebocytes (PCi-SEB_CAU) and reconstructed human epidermis (RHE), respectively. Several treatments were performed to evaluate the ability of the lotion to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, stimulate the differentiation of keratinocytes and reduce the number of senescent cells following UVB stimulation. In addition, the modulation of genes involved in the production, storage and accumulation of sebum were investigated. (3) Results: The results obtained demonstrated the biosafety of the formula in all cell lines tested. The 24-h treatment with non-cytotoxic concentrations determined an increase in the expression of the collagen (COL1A1), elastin (ELN) and involucrin (IVL) genes, while a reduction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) gene expression and a reduction of SA-βgal-positive cells were found. Moreover, the treatment did not interfere with normal steroid 5-alpha reductase (5RDA3) gene expression levels. (4) Conclusions: Data collected demonstrated the biosafety of the lotion, the non-comedogenic property and a multi targets anti-aging effect. In particular, data collected on the booster lotion make it a valid way to counteract the pore dilatation aging related. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy: Natural Compounds from an Anti-aging Perspective 2024)
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50 pages, 1777 KiB  
Review
Carotenoids for Antiaging: Nutraceutical, Pharmaceutical, and Cosmeceutical Applications
by Mariia Shanaida, Olha Mykhailenko, Roman Lysiuk, Nataliia Hudz, Radosław Balwierz, Arkadii Shulhai, Nataliya Shapovalova, Volodymyr Shanaida and Geir Bjørklund
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(3), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18030403 - 13 Mar 2025
Viewed by 287
Abstract
Background: Carotenoids are bioactive tetraterpenoid C40 pigments that are actively synthesized by plants, bacteria, and fungi. Compounds such as α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, astaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, fucoxanthin, and zeaxanthin have attracted increasing attention for their antiaging properties. They exhibit antioxidant, [...] Read more.
Background: Carotenoids are bioactive tetraterpenoid C40 pigments that are actively synthesized by plants, bacteria, and fungi. Compounds such as α-carotene, β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, astaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, fucoxanthin, and zeaxanthin have attracted increasing attention for their antiaging properties. They exhibit antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties, contributing to the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases. Objectives: The aim of this study was to comprehensively analyze the pharmacological potential and biological mechanisms of carotenoids associated with age-related disorders and to evaluate their application in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmeceuticals. Methods: A systematic review of studies published over the past two decades was conducted using the databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The selection criteria included clinical, in silico, in vivo, and in vitro studies investigating the pharmacological and therapeutic effects of carotenoids. Results: Carotenoids demonstrate a variety of health benefits, including the prevention of age-related macular degeneration, cancer, cognitive decline, metabolic disorders, and skin aging. Their role in nutraceuticals is well supported by their ability to modulate oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways. In pharmaceuticals, carotenoids show promising results in formulations targeting neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic disorders. In cosmeceuticals, they improve skin health by protecting it against UV radiation and oxidative damage. However, bioavailability, optimal dosages, toxicity, and interactions with other bioactive compounds remain critical factors to maximize therapeutic efficacy and still require careful evaluation by scientists. Conclusions: Carotenoids are promising bioactive compounds for antiaging interventions with potential applications in a variety of fields. Further research is needed to optimize their formulas, improve bioavailability, and confirm their long-term safety and effectiveness, especially in the aging population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy: Natural Compounds from an Anti-aging Perspective 2024)
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