Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.7
4.8
Journals
Pharmaceuticals
Special Issues
Promising Natural Products with Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Bioactivities: Extraction, Identification,...
share announcement

Promising Natural Products with Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Bioactivities: Extraction, Identification, and Biological Evaluation

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 3375

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sara Vieira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CIMO, LA SusTEC, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
Interests: plant extracts; extraction techniques; chemical compounds; skin; inflammation; inflammatory molecules; signaling pathways; macrophages; fibroblasts; keratinocytes
Dr. Lillian Barros

grade E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CIMO, LA SusTEC, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Braganza, Portugal
Interests: natural bioactive compounds; medicinal chemistry; bioactivity and toxicology; functional applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nature has long served as a rich and innovative source of inspiration for pharmaceutical discovery. A wide range of natural sources—including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms—have provided structurally diverse and biologically active compounds. The continuous interest in these sources reflects their potential to drive the development of novel therapeutic agents. Notably, bioactive compounds derived from natural matrices are often associated with favorable safety profiles and therapeutic efficacy, offering promising alternatives to restore physiological homeostasis and enhance overall well-being.

Naturally derived bioactive compounds often exhibit potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These molecules interact with various cellular targets, modulating key biological processes such as the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and the regulation of antioxidant defense systems. These mechanisms are closely associated with the prevention and management of numerous chronic conditions, including immune-mediated disorders, dermatological diseases, and metabolic syndromes.

Given the growing global interest in natural therapeutics, there is a pressing need to explore novel bioresources, develop innovative and sustainable extraction methodologies, identify and characterize bioactive constituents, and comprehensively evaluate their biological activities. These efforts are essential for fully harnessing the medicinal potential of natural products and supporting the development of safer, more effective, and sustainable therapeutic strategies.

This Special Issue aims to compile cutting-edge research and comprehensive reviews on innovative and sustainable extraction techniques, advanced analytical methodologies, and the biological validation of natural compounds with anti-inflammatory and/or antioxidant activity, using relevant in vitro and in vivo models. Contributions focusing on natural products derived from plants, mushrooms, marine organisms, bee products, and related by-products are especially welcome.

We hope this Special Issue will contribute to the development of safe, effective, and sustainable therapeutic or preventive strategies, while providing a valuable platform to advance scientific knowledge on natural compounds and promote interdisciplinary collaborations across natural products development, chemistry, cell and molecular biology, and pharmacology.

Dr. Sara Vieira
Dr. Lillian Barros
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • bioactive compounds
  • extraction techniques
  • anti-inflammatory activity
  • antioxidant activity
  • inflammation
  • inflammatory molecules
  • signaling pathways

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 (3 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

24 pages, 7291 KB  
Article
Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activity of Litsea glaucescens Kunth in Rodents, an Aztec Medicinal Plant Used in Pre-Columbian Times
by Dulce Yehimi López-Miranda, Ricardo Reyes-Chilpa, Antonio Nieto-Camacho, Silvia Laura Guzmán-Gutiérrez, Oscar Salvador Barrera-Vázquez, María Sofía Jiménez-Mendoza, Eréndira García-Ríos and Gil Alfonso Magos-Guerrero
Pharmaceuticals 2026, 19(1), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19010040 - 23 Dec 2025
Viewed by 714
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Litsea glaucescens Kunth, commonly known as “laurel,” is a tree native to Mexico. The Codex Cruz-Badiano, from 1552, described it as the main ingredient of a topical anti-inflammatory recipe. This study aims to determine whether L. glaucescens leaf extract can reduce [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Litsea glaucescens Kunth, commonly known as “laurel,” is a tree native to Mexico. The Codex Cruz-Badiano, from 1552, described it as the main ingredient of a topical anti-inflammatory recipe. This study aims to determine whether L. glaucescens leaf extract can reduce experimental inflammation, supporting its use in Aztec medicine. Methods: Methanolic extracts and fractions from the leaves of L. glaucescens were analyzed using techniques such as normal and reverse-phase TLC, 1H-NMR, HPLC-UV, MS, and GC-MS. The anti-inflammatory systemic activity of this methanolic extract was evaluated in mice using carrageenan-induced paw inflammation and TPA-induced ear topical inflammation models. Myeloperoxidase activity, DPPH, and TBARS assays were performed. L. guatemalensis, a closely related species, served as a positive control, as its biological activity has been demonstrated. Results: Thin-layer chromatography analysis reveals flavonoid-type compounds in the methanolic extract of L. glaucescens leaves, and when it was fractionated, pinocembrin and quercitrin were the main compounds found. L. glaucescens in mice significantly reduced carrageenan-induced paw swelling and TPA-induced ear inflammation. A decrease in myeloperoxidase activity and an increase in antioxidant activity were observed. Conclusions: Methanolic extract from L. glaucescens, administered systematically, produced significant in vivo anti-edematous effects and in vitro, antioxidant and anti-infiltrative/anti-neutrophilic activities, qualitatively like those of L. guatemalensis. Quercitrin and pinocembrin could contribute to these actions. It is unclear which of the two plant species was used in pre-Columbian times; However, our results show that both species contain phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting that the Aztecs recognized this medicinal property. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promising Natural Products with Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Bioactivities: Extraction, Identification, and Biological Evaluation)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

27 pages, 2462 KB  
Article
Unveiling the Phytochemical Diversity of Pereskia aculeata Mill. and Pereskia grandifolia Haw.: An Antioxidant Investigation with a Comprehensive Phytochemical Analysis by Liquid Chromatography with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry
by Eduarda C. Amaral, Alan de A. Veiga, Juliana C. Atherino, Wesley M. de Souza, Diogo H. Kita, Francislaine A. Lívero, Gustavo da Silva Ratti, Simony R. B. Rosa, Ezilda Jacomassi and Lauro M. de Souza
Pharmaceuticals 2026, 19(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19010038 - 23 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 796
Abstract
Background/Objectives:Pereskia aculeata and Pereskia grandifolia belong to the Cactaceae family, despite their foliar and woody stem characteristics. Both species are commonly known as Ora-pro-nóbis (derived from Latin, meaning “pray for us”), a name rooted in their historical use in colonial Brazil due [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives:Pereskia aculeata and Pereskia grandifolia belong to the Cactaceae family, despite their foliar and woody stem characteristics. Both species are commonly known as Ora-pro-nóbis (derived from Latin, meaning “pray for us”), a name rooted in their historical use in colonial Brazil due to their nutritional value, particularly P. aculeata, which is frequently described as a high-protein food source. The goal of the present study was to compare these species based on phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity. Methods: Both species were investigated for their chemical antioxidant properties (DPPH and phosphomolybdenum complex) and cellular anti-ROS activity using the CACO-2 cell line. A comprehensive phytochemical analysis was performed using LC-MS and GC-MS. Results: P. aculeata exhibited a more abundant content of phenolics and flavonoids, with greater structural variability in phenolic compounds and glycosylated flavonoids than P. grandifolia. Still, P. aculeata showed a more potent chemical antioxidant effect. By contrast, in P. grandifolia, a series of novel saponins was now discovered and characterized. In addition, the compounds from this species exhibited a greater cellular antioxidant activity than those of P. aculeata. Tryptophan-derived alkaloids, such as abrine (N-methyltryptophan), were present in both species, but hypaphorine only in P. aculeata. Conclusions: Both species of Pereskia exhibit potential health benefits, including distinct antioxidant activity, among other unexplored effects, given their significant variability in phytochemicals. These differences could be investigated in greater depth using combined LC-MS and GC-MS, thereby enabling more confident structural investigations of these natural compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promising Natural Products with Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Bioactivities: Extraction, Identification, and Biological Evaluation)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

38 pages, 9026 KB  
Article
Integrative Metabolomic, Network Pharmacology, and Experimental Evidence for Lepidium sativum Seed Extract as a Natural Modulator of Pulmonary Fibrosis via the ncNRFR/Let-7d Regulatory Pathway
by Ibrahim M. Alanazi, Hebatallah H. Abo Nahas, Doaa I. Mohamed, Nora Hosny, Yaser H. A. Elewa, Manisha Agarwal, Ibrahim Abdel Aziz Ibrahim, Alaa Hisham Falemban, Ghazi A. Bamagous, Emad Rashad Sindi, Tarek A. Yousef, Sanchaita Rajkhowa, Maha Alsunbul and Essa M. Saied
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(12), 1820; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18121820 - 28 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1152
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease with limited therapeutic options. Lepidium sativum (cress seeds) possess recognized antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, yet its potential antifibrotic activity has not been investigated. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition and antifibrotic efficacy [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease with limited therapeutic options. Lepidium sativum (cress seeds) possess recognized antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, yet its potential antifibrotic activity has not been investigated. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition and antifibrotic efficacy of cress seed extract (CSE) and examined whether its effects are associated with modulation of the ncNRFR/let-7d pathway in methotrexate (Mtx)-induced PF. Methods: Comprehensive metabolite profiling was performed using GC–MS, HPLC, and UPLC–T-TOF–MS/MS. Antioxidant capacity and antiproliferative effects were assessed in vitro. Network pharmacology was used to identify CSE-related PF targets and regulatory pathways. In vivo, PF was induced in adult male Wistar rats by Mtx, followed by oral CSE administration (50–150 mg/kg). Biochemical markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, extracellular matrix deposition, EMT, and ncRNA expression (ncNRFR and let-7d) were quantified alongside histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Results: CSE contained diverse terpenes, phenolics, flavonoids, glucosinolates, and amino acid derivatives. It exhibited potent antioxidant activity and antiproliferative effects against A549 and Hep2 lung cancer cells. Network analysis identified 997 overlapping CSE–PF targets and highlighted IL6 and MMP1 as relevant miR-let-7d–associated nodes. In vivo, Mtx-induced marked fibrosis characterized by increased ncNRFR, reduced let-7d, elevated IL6, HMGB1, TGF-β, MMP1, collagen, and hydroxyproline, and reduced antioxidant enzyme activity. CSE treatment dose-dependently mitigated these alterations, improved histoarchitecture, and reduced collagen deposition. Conclusions: CSE showed antifibrotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity in MTX-induced PF in rats and modulated the reciprocal expression patterns of ncNRFR and let-7d. These findings support CSE as a potential source of bioactive constituents for PF management and identify the putative ncNRFR–let-7d regulatory relationship as a novel pathway in fibrotic lung disease, warranting further mechanistic investigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Promising Natural Products with Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Bioactivities: Extraction, Identification, and Biological Evaluation)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop