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Pharmaceuticals
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Medicinal Plants: Exploring Plant-Based Bioactive Compounds for Metabolic Diseases Prevention...
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Medicinal Plants: Exploring Plant-Based Bioactive Compounds for Metabolic Diseases Prevention and Intervention

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 4244

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Nceba Gqaleni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Discipline of Traditional Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa
Interests: herbal medicine; infectious diseases; immunomodulation; diabetes
Dr. Suresh Babu Naidu Krishna

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa
Interests: antimicrobial resistance; medicinal plants; diabetes; silver nanoparticles (nanotechnology)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The exploration of medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds has emerged as a promising frontier in the prevention and intervention of metabolic diseases. Metabolic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and metabolic syndrome, pose significant health challenges globally, affecting millions of individuals and contributing to increased morbidity and mortality rates. Despite advancements in pharmacological treatments, the side effects and limitations of conventional drugs have spurred interest in alternative therapies derived from natural sources.

Medicinal plants offer a rich repository of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic benefits. These natural compounds, including flavonoids, saponins, and polyphenols, have demonstrated efficacy in modulating key metabolic pathways, reducing oxidative stress, and improving insulin sensitivity. For instance, plants like Dioscorea spp. and constituents of the Mediterranean diet have shown promise in managing conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases through their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

The current body of research underscores the need for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which these plant-based compounds exert their effects. Studies have highlighted the role of these bioactives in enhancing beta cell function, regulating glucose metabolism, and modulating immune responses, thereby offering a multifaceted approach to disease management. Furthermore, the integration of these natural compounds into therapeutic regimens could complement existing treatments, providing a holistic approach to health promotion and disease prevention.

We invite researchers and authors to contribute to this journal’s Special Issue by sharing their insights and findings on the role of medicinal plants in metabolic disease management. Your contributions will help advance scientific discourse and pave the way for innovative, plant-based therapeutic strategies that address the growing burden of metabolic disorders.

Prof. Dr. Nceba Gqaleni
Dr. Suresh Babu Naidu Krishna
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

  • metabolic diseases
  • diabetes
  • medicinal plants
  • bioactives
  • metabolic disorders

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 622 KB  
Article
Effect of Celery Seed (Apium graveolens L.) Administration on the Components of Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin Sensitivity, and Insulin Secretion: A Clinical Trial
by Miriam de J. Escobedo-Gutiérrez, Marisol Cortez-Navarrete, Esperanza Martínez-Abundis and Karina G. Pérez-Rubio
Pharmaceuticals 2026, 19(1), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19010110 - 7 Jan 2026
Viewed by 2418
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of cardiometabolic risk factors whose current management relies on lifestyle changes and pharmacological interventions, frequently involving multiple medications. Therefore, the demand for therapies capable of delivering comprehensive management of MetS is increasing. In this context, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of cardiometabolic risk factors whose current management relies on lifestyle changes and pharmacological interventions, frequently involving multiple medications. Therefore, the demand for therapies capable of delivering comprehensive management of MetS is increasing. In this context, nutraceuticals such as celery seed have attracted increasing scientific interest. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of celery seed (Apium graveolens L.) administration on the components of MetS, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out in 28 patients with MetS. Fourteen patients randomly received celery seed (150 mg/day) for 12 weeks, and 14 subjects received a placebo. Clinical and laboratory determinations were evaluated at baseline and the end of the study. Results: After celery seed administration, patients showed a significant decrease in their systolic blood pressure (SBP) (121.0 ± 9.7 mmHg vs. 115.7 ± 12.8 mmHg, p = 0.005), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (82.2 ± 5.9 mmHg vs. 78.5 ± 8.6 mmHg, p = 0.013), triglycerides (TG) (2.3 ± 0.9 mmol/L vs. 1.8 ± 0.6 mmol/L, p = 0.016), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) (0.4 ± 0.1 mmol/L vs. 0.3 ± 0.1 mmol/L, p = 0.016) and uric acid (297.4 ± 53.5 µmol/L vs. 261.7 ± 53.5 µmol/L, p = 0.009). Insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion showed no statistically significant differences in the celery seed group. Conclusions: Celery seed administration significantly reduced SBP, DBP, TG, VLDL, and uric acid. The protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier NCT06061926. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Exploring Plant-Based Bioactive Compounds for Metabolic Diseases Prevention and Intervention)
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24 pages, 6719 KB  
Article
6,7-Dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin Suppresses Adipogenesis via AMPK and MAPK Signaling with In Silico Analysis of Adipogenic Proteins
by Ye-Jin Lee, Yang Xu and Chang-Gu Hyun
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(12), 1780; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18121780 - 23 Nov 2025
Viewed by 691
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Coumarin-based compounds exhibit diverse pharmacological properties, and 4-methylcoumarin (4MC) has emerged as a promising scaffold for drug development. However, its anti-obesity mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-adipogenic potential of 4MC derivatives in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and to [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Coumarin-based compounds exhibit diverse pharmacological properties, and 4-methylcoumarin (4MC) has emerged as a promising scaffold for drug development. However, its anti-obesity mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-adipogenic potential of 4MC derivatives in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and to elucidate their underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were treated with structurally diverse 4MC derivatives. Lipid accumulation was analyzed using Oil Red O staining, cell viability by MTT assay, and the expression of adipogenic proteins by Western blotting. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to predict the interactions between lead compounds and key adipogenic regulators. Results: Among the tested derivatives, 6,7-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (6,7DH-4MC) markedly inhibited lipid accumulation in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. It suppressed the expression of major adipogenic transcription factors (PPAR-γ, C/EBPα, SREBP-1c) and FABP4. Additionally, 6,7DH-4MC inhibited ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation while activating AMPK. It also reduced CREB phosphorylation, indicating suppression of early adipogenesis. Computational analyses revealed stable binding of 6,7DH-4MC within the active sites of multiple adipogenic regulators, supporting its pleiotropic mode of action. Conclusions: 6,7DH-4MC exerts potent anti-adipogenic effects by modulating key adipogenic signaling pathways and transcriptional networks. These findings highlight 6,7DH-4MC as a promising lead compound for anti-obesity drug development, warranting further in vivo studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Exploring Plant-Based Bioactive Compounds for Metabolic Diseases Prevention and Intervention)
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