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Pharmaceutics
Special Issues
Plant Extracts and Their Biomedical Applications
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Plant Extracts and Their Biomedical Applications

A special issue of Pharmaceutics (ISSN 1999-4923). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Targeting and Design".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2025 | Viewed by 7978

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Ewelina Szliszka

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Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Jordana 19, 41-808 Zabrze, Poland
Interests: polyphenols; cancer; apoptosis; inflammation
Dr. Małgorzata Kłósek

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Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Jordana 19, 41-808 Zabrze, Poland
Interests: flavonoids; propolis; immune system; cytokines; apoptosis; cancer cells
Dr. Anna Kurek-Górecka

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Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, St. Kasztanowa 3, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland
Interests: bee products; polyphenols; antioxidant activity; dental plaque; oral care
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Radosław Balwierz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Chemistry, University of Opole, Oleska 48, 45-052 Opole, Poland
Interests: skin; natural products; nanoparticles; release profiles; drug delivery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Many substances of natural origin have a long history of use in medicine and demonstrate anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, neurodegenerative, or anticancer effects, as confirmed by numerous in vitro and in vivo studies. Recently, there has been an increased interest in certain compounds, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenes. Additionally, there has been a surge in interest in bee products as natural products. Advances have also been made in synthesis pathways of bioactive compounds from natural sources for pharmacological and biomedical applications. This Special Issue focuses on potential biomedical application of plant extracts, bee- derived products and their bioactive compounds. The aim of this issue will be presenting beneficial impact of natural products in different pharmaceutical formulations and innovative drug delivery system on health.

Prof. Dr. Ewelina Szliszka
Dr. Małgorzata Kłósek
Dr. Anna Kurek-Górecka
Dr. Radosław Balwierz
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. Pharmaceutics 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

  • plant extracts/secondary metabolites
  • bee products
  • nanoparticle drug delivery system
  • microencapsulation
  • biomedical applications

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 6701 KiB  
Article
Therapeutic Effects of Nanocoating of Apitoxin (Bee Venom) and Polyvinyl Alcohol Supplemented with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles
by Husam Qanash, Abdulrahman S. Bazaid, Shahad F. Alharbi, Naif K. Binsaleh, Heba Barnawi, Bandar Alharbi, Ahmed Alsolami and Majed N. Almashjary
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(2), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17020172 - 28 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1555
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Bee venom (BV), as a natural product, is one of the foundations of the pharmaceutical industry, through which many diseases, including serious ones, can be effectively treated. The BV nanofilm is an effective antidote delivered into the human body to target the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Bee venom (BV), as a natural product, is one of the foundations of the pharmaceutical industry, through which many diseases, including serious ones, can be effectively treated. The BV nanofilm is an effective antidote delivered into the human body to target the affected area and address the issue without major side effects. In this study, we investigated the intriguing therapeutic effects of apitoxin (bee venom) used in isolation, combined with the powerful properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Methods and Results: BV nanofilm was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The BV extract was analyzed using mass spectrometry (MS), which identified 84 active components present at varying concentrations. BV was treated with both polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs) to increase the intensity of OH and CH2 groups and to enhance the dispersion of C=O. BV has demonstrated anti-type 2 diabetes activity by inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase, which are starch-degrading enzymes. The nanofilm is an active mixture of BV, PVA, and ZNPs, which exhibited the highest antidiabetic activity with IC50 values of 30.33 μg/mL and 5.55 μg/mL for the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, compared to IC50 of 51.69 µg/mL and IC50 of 7.30 µg/mL for BV, respectively. The nanofilm also showed higher anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis, with an IC50 of 16.99 μg/mL in comparison to IC50 of 72.99 µg/mL for BV alone. The nanofilm demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, effectively targeting both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 and Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633) and Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella typhi ATCC 6539, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739). Furthermore, increased antioxidant activity was recorded by inhibiting the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging effect with an IC50 of 4.26 μg/mL and 19.43 μg/mL for nanofilm and BV, respectively. BV was found to be more toxic to liver tissue (HepG2 cell line) than nanofilm, with IC50 values of 18.5 ± 0.08 μg/mL and 52.27 ± 0.7 μg/mL, respectively. The BV extract displayed higher toxicity to liver tissue (2.3%) with 97.7% viability at 250 μg/mL, compared to nanofilm, which showed 0.09% toxicity and 99.9% viability at the same concentration. Conclusions: the BV nanofilm emerges as a promising alternative medicine, offering an innovative solution for treating various diseases through its high concentration of therapeutically active compounds and effortless targeting delivery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Extracts and Their Biomedical Applications)
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13 pages, 2341 KiB  
Article
Combinatorial Treatment with Praziquantel and Curcumin Reduces Clonorchis sinensis Parasite Burden and Clonorchiasis-Associated Pathologies in Rats
by Soon-Ok Lee, Ki Back Chu, Keon-Woong Yoon, Su In Heo, Jin-Ho Song, Jianhua Li, Sung-Jong Hong and Fu-Shi Quan
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(12), 1550; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16121550 - 3 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1240
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Clonorchiasis is a foodborne parasitic disease that can lead to severe biliary fibrosis and cholangiocarcinoma. While praziquantel (PZQ) is available for clonorchiasis treatment, it cannot revert the histopathological damage incurred through parasite-induced fibrosis. Curcumin (CUR) is an emerging experimental drug possessing [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Clonorchiasis is a foodborne parasitic disease that can lead to severe biliary fibrosis and cholangiocarcinoma. While praziquantel (PZQ) is available for clonorchiasis treatment, it cannot revert the histopathological damage incurred through parasite-induced fibrosis. Curcumin (CUR) is an emerging experimental drug possessing anti-inflammatory and fibrosis-alleviating effects, thus signifying its potential as an anthelmintic drug. Here, we evaluated the effect of CUR+PZQ combinatorial drug treatment on C. sinensis infection as well as its effect on ameliorating fibrotic tissue damage in rats. Methods: Worm viabilities following CUR and PZQ treatments were confirmed through microscopy and tetrazolium salt absorption. Anthelminthic effect and hepatobiliary damage mitigation in rats were determined by quantifying worm recovery, histopathological staining, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: CUR+PZQ at LD50 doses demonstrated a time- and dose-dependent antiparasitic effect in vitro, which was markedly greater than either drug alone. Rats were infected with C. sinensis, and drugs were administered at 1 and 4 weeks post-infection (wpi) to assess drug-induced changes in worm burden. Significant reductions in worm burden recoveries were observed following CUR+PZQ treatment at both time points, accompanied by markedly reduced serum and mucosal IgG responses. ALT and AST levels were also substantially lower in combinatorial drug treatment groups than controls. Histopathological examinations confirmed that parasite-induced bile duct lumen widening and liver fibrosis were suppressed at 1 wpi, implying that CUR+PZQ co-treatment can alleviate clonorchiasis-associated pathologies. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that CUR+PZQ co-treatment improved parasite clearance and promoted the resolution of hepatobiliary tissue damage resulting from chronic clonorchiasis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Extracts and Their Biomedical Applications)
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Review

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17 pages, 1153 KiB  
Review
The Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol in the Management of Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain
by Karolina Walczyńska-Dragon, Anna Kurek-Górecka, Jakub Fiegler-Rudol, Aleksandra Nitecka-Buchta and Stefan Baron
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(3), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17030328 - 3 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1276
Abstract
Background: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and associated muscles, leading to pain, restricted jaw movement, and impaired quality of life. Conventional treatments, including physical therapy, medications, and surgical interventions, have varying degrees of success [...] Read more.
Background: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of conditions affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and associated muscles, leading to pain, restricted jaw movement, and impaired quality of life. Conventional treatments, including physical therapy, medications, and surgical interventions, have varying degrees of success and potential side effects. Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, has gained attention for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anxiolytic properties. This study explores the potential role of CBD in TMD management. Methods: A review of existing literature was conducted (2007–2024), focusing on preclinical and clinical studies assessing the efficacy of CBD in pain modulation, inflammation reduction, and muscle relaxation. Relevant studies were sourced from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Additionally, potential mechanisms of action, including interactions with the endocannabinoid system, were analyzed. Results: Studies suggest that CBD exerts analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects by modulating CB1 and CB2 receptors, reducing cytokine release, and influencing neurotransmitter pathways. Preliminary clinical evidence indicates that CBD may alleviate TMD-related pain and muscle tension with minimal adverse effects. However, high-quality randomized controlled trials are limited. Conclusions: CBD demonstrates promise as a potential adjunctive treatment for TMD. Further research, including well-designed clinical trials, is necessary to establish its efficacy, optimal dosage, and long-term safety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Extracts and Their Biomedical Applications)
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20 pages, 2476 KiB  
Review
Exploring the Biomedical Frontiers of Plant-Derived Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Biological Reactions
by Selvaraj Barathi, Srinivasan Ramalingam, Gopinath Krishnasamy and Jintae Lee
Pharmaceutics 2024, 16(7), 923; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16070923 - 11 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2626
Abstract
As contemporary technology advances, scientists are striving to identify new approaches to managing several diseases. Compared to the more popular physiochemical synthesis, the plant-derived combination of metallic nanoparticles using plant secondary metabolites as a precursor has a number of benefits, including low expenses, [...] Read more.
As contemporary technology advances, scientists are striving to identify new approaches to managing several diseases. Compared to the more popular physiochemical synthesis, the plant-derived combination of metallic nanoparticles using plant secondary metabolites as a precursor has a number of benefits, including low expenses, low energy consumption, biocompatibility, and medicinal usefulness. This study intends to explore the impacts of using plant-derived synthetic materials including metallic nanoparticles (NPs), emphasizing the benefits of their broad use in next-generation treatments for cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and vector diseases. This comprehensive analysis investigates the potential of plant-derived remedies for diseases and looks at cutting-edge nanoformulation techniques aimed at addressing the function of the nanoparticles that accompany these organic substances. The purpose of the current review is to determine how plant extracts contribute to the synthesis of Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), Gold nanoparticles (GtNPs), and platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs). It provides an overview of the many phytocompounds and their functions in biomedicine, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, this study placed a special focus on a range of applications, including drug delivery systems, diagnostics and therapy, the present benefits of nanoparticles (NPs), their biomedical uses in medical technology, and their toxicities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Extracts and Their Biomedical Applications)
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