Phytochemical Compounds and Antioxidant Properties of Plants

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 312

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department Biology, Multidisciplinary Faculty of Nador, Nador 62702, Morocco
Interests: antioxidant activity; natural products; bioactive compounds; phytochemistry; natural product chemistry; HPLC analysis; plyphenols; essential oils

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Phytochemical compounds are essential bioactive molecules found in plants, playing a crucial role in their defense mechanisms against environmental stressors, pathogens, and herbivores, while simultaneously offering substantial benefits for human health. Among their many biological activities, antioxidant properties stand out due to their potential health benefits and diverse applications in medical, food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries.

Recent advances in analytical techniques have revolutionized our understanding of the structural diversity and biological activities of plant antioxidants, including polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, alkaloids, and terpenes.

This Special Issue aims to explore recent advances in the identification, characterization, and utilization of plant-derived phytochemicals with antioxidant properties.

We welcome original research, review articles, and short communications covering various aspects, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Extraction, isolation, and characterization of antioxidant phytochemicals.
  • Molecular mechanisms underlying their antioxidant activity.
  • Advanced extraction and analytical methods for plant antioxidants.
  • Potential applications in food preservation, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
  • Bioavailability and metabolism of plant antioxidants in humans.
  • Sustainable production and green extraction of plant antioxidants.
  • Traditional knowledge and ethnobotanical approaches to antioxidant-rich plants.
  • The role of phytochemicals in plant defense and stress responses.

By gathering cutting-edge research in this field, we hope to provide a comprehensive understanding of plant-based antioxidants and their impact on human health and sustainable agriculture.

I look forward to your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Smail Aazza
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • phytochemical compounds
  • antioxidant activity
  • oxidative stress
  • health benefits
  • chronic disease management
  • analytical techniques
  • plant metabolomics
  • medicinal plants
  • functional foods
  • food preservation
  • polyphenols
  • essential oils
  • pharmaceutical applications
  • cosmetics
  • anti-aging
  • skincare

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

34 pages, 5246 KB  
Article
Mechanisms Underlying the Cognitive Benefits of Solanum macrocarpon Leaf n-Butanol Extract: Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition and Oxidative Stress Modulation
by Ion Brinza, Ibukun Oluwabukola Oresanya, Ilkay Erdogan Orhan, Hasya Nazlı Gök, Lucian Hritcu and Razvan Stefan Boiangiu
Plants 2025, 14(21), 3283; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14213283 (registering DOI) - 27 Oct 2025
Abstract
This study investigates the neuroprotective and anxiolytic effects of Solanum macrocarpon L. leaf n-butanol extract (SMB) in a zebrafish model of scopolamine (SCOP; 100 μM)-induced cognitive and behavioral impairments. SCOP, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, is commonly used to mimic memory deficits and anxiety-like [...] Read more.
This study investigates the neuroprotective and anxiolytic effects of Solanum macrocarpon L. leaf n-butanol extract (SMB) in a zebrafish model of scopolamine (SCOP; 100 μM)-induced cognitive and behavioral impairments. SCOP, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, is commonly used to mimic memory deficits and anxiety-like behaviors associated with neurodegenerative conditions. Zebrafish were chronically exposed to SMB at concentrations of 1, 3, and 6 mg/L. Behavioral assessments included anxiety-related paradigms, such as novel tank diving (NTT), novel approach (NA), and light–dark transition (LD) tests, as well as cognitive assays, including the Y-maze and novel object recognition (NOR) tests. SMB significantly mitigated SCOP-induced anxiety-like behaviors and cognitive deficits in a dose-dependent manner. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that SMB inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) overactivity, indicating restoration of cholinergic function. Furthermore, SMB enhanced the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and significantly reduced oxidative stress biomarkers, including malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyls. These findings suggest that SMB may exert neuroprotective effects through modulation of cholinergic signaling and oxidative stress. Overall, SMB represents a promising phytotherapeutic candidate for mitigating cognitive and anxiety-related symptoms linked to oxidative damage. Further investigations are warranted to characterize its active constituents and assess long-term efficacy and safety in models of neurodegeneration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Compounds and Antioxidant Properties of Plants)
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