Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.5
4.0
Journals
Plants
Special Issues
Biological Activity of Plant Extracts: Applications in Modern Pharmacology
share announcement

Biological Activity of Plant Extracts: Applications in Modern Pharmacology

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2025 | Viewed by 3648

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Eimad Dine Tariq Bouhlali

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Rabat, Morocco
Interests: food analysis; extraction; antioxidants; antioxidant activity; phytochemicals; natural product chemistry; chromatography; antibacterial activity; food & nutrition; antimicrobials
Dr. Mohammed Ajebli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Ethnopharmacology and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques Errachidia, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco
Interests: diabetes; hypertension pharmacology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The urgent need for new medicines to combat various diseases, which significantly contribute to rising mortality and morbidity rates worldwide, has never been more critical. In this context, plant extracts have emerged as a valuable source of diverse natural products that hold great potential for the discovery of new therapeutic molecules. By harnessing the unique properties of these extracts, researchers can explore innovative solutions to address pressing health challenges and improve patient outcomes globally. This special issue of Plants offers researchers a dedicated platform to share their findings and publish their recent research. This special issue aims to explore the diverse biological activities of plant extracts and their potential applications in pharmacology. We encourage submissions that highlight innovative research, including but not limited to, the extraction, characterization, and bioactivity assessment of plant-derived compounds. By sharing your findings, you will contribute to a growing body of knowledge that underscores the significance of natural products in drug discovery and development. We look forward to your valuable contributions that will advance our understanding of the therapeutic potential of plant extracts.

Dr. Eimad Dine Tariq Bouhlali
Dr. Mohammed Ajebli
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. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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
  • medicinal plants
  • extraction methods
  • natural compounds
  • phytochemicals
  • secondary metabolites
  • plant-derived compounds
  • polyphenols
  • flavonoids
  • tannins
  • alkaloids
  • terpenoids
  • glycosides
  • antioxidants
  • herbal medicine
  • bioactivity
  • biological activity
  • in vivo and in vitro
  • pharmacological effect
  • pharmacognosy
  • therapeutic potential
  • toxicity
  • antimicrobial
  • anti-inflammatory
  • synergistic effects
  • cytotoxicity
  • drug discovery

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

Jump to: Review

20 pages, 3045 KiB  
Article
Using In Vitro and In Silico Analysis to Investigate the Chemical Profile and Biological Properties of Polygonum istanbulicum Extracts
by Giancarlo Angeles Flores, Gaia Cusumano, Gokhan Zengin, Mehmet Veysi Cetiz, Abdullahi Ibrahim Uba, Ismail Senkardes, Ismail Koyuncu, Ozgur Yuksekdag, Alina Kalyniukova, Carla Emiliani, Roberto Venanzoni and Paola Angelini
Plants 2024, 13(23), 3421; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13233421 - 5 Dec 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1315
Abstract
The present study investigates the chemical profile and biological activities of Polygonum istanbulicum M. Keskin, a species endemic to Turkey, aiming to explore its potential applications in pharmacology. We assessed its phenolic and flavonoid content by employing ethyl acetate, methanol, and water as [...] Read more.
The present study investigates the chemical profile and biological activities of Polygonum istanbulicum M. Keskin, a species endemic to Turkey, aiming to explore its potential applications in pharmacology. We assessed its phenolic and flavonoid content by employing ethyl acetate, methanol, and water as extraction solvents. The methanol extract demonstrated the highest concentrations of these compounds, with liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-qTOF) analysis identifying a wide range of bioactive substances, such as derivatives of quercetin and myricetin. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and phosphomolybdenum assays, with the methanol extract showing the most potent activity (DPPH: 892.22 mg Trolox equivalent (TE)/g; ABTS: 916.21 mg TE/g; CUPRAC: 1082.69 mg TE/g; FRAP: 915.05 mg TE/g). Enzyme inhibition assays highlighted the efficacy of P. istanbulicum extracts against key enzymes, with potential implications for managing Alzheimer’s disease, hyperpigmentation, and type 2 diabetes. Cytotoxicity tests against various cancer cell lines showed notable activity, particularly with the aqueous extract on the HGC-27 cell line (IC50: 29.21 µg/mL), indicating potential for targeted anti-cancer therapy. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations further supported the binding affinities of quercetin and myricetin derivatives to cancer-related proteins, suggesting significant therapeutic potential. This study underscores the value of P. istanbulicum as a source of bioactive compounds with applications in antioxidant, anti-cancer, and enzyme-inhibitory treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activity of Plant Extracts: Applications in Modern Pharmacology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 784 KiB  
Article
Herbal Medicine in Three Different Mediterranean Living Areas During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Polyphenolic-Rich Thyme-like Plants
by Mohamad Khalil, Hala Abdallah, Maria Calasso, Nour Khalil, Ahmad Daher, Jihen Missaoui, Farah Diab, Lama Zeaiter, Laura Vergani, Agostino Di Ciaula and Piero Portincasa
Plants 2024, 13(23), 3340; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13233340 - 28 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1559
Abstract
Despite herbal medicine being popular across the Mediterranean basin, there is no evidence in favor of COVID-19 infection. This study investigates the utilization and effects of medicinal plants in Italy, Lebanon, and Tunisia during COVID-19 and its effects on post-COVID-19 pandemics. We used [...] Read more.
Despite herbal medicine being popular across the Mediterranean basin, there is no evidence in favor of COVID-19 infection. This study investigates the utilization and effects of medicinal plants in Italy, Lebanon, and Tunisia during COVID-19 and its effects on post-COVID-19 pandemics. We used a tailored, web-based “Google Form” questionnaire with the random sampling method. We gathered 812 complete responses (Italy: 116, Lebanon: 557, and Tunisia: 139), revealing diverse demographics and symptom experiences. Fatigue prevailed across all groups (89.0–94.2%), while psychological impacts ranged from 20.1% to 30.9%, with higher rates in Lebanon. Post-COVID-19 symptoms affected 22.4% (Italy), 48.8% (Lebanon), and 31.7% (Tunisia). General use of herbs was consistent (41.4–50.4%), with 23.3% (Italy), 50.2% (Lebanon), and 65.5% (Tunisia) employing herbs for COVID-19 therapy. Notably, in Lebanon, Za’atar, a thyme-like plant, correlated with reduced symptoms, suggesting potential protective effects that are likely due to its polyphenol richness. This study underscores the persistent reliance on traditional medicinal plants remedies in the Mediterranean area, with regional variations. Further exploration of herbal compounds for COVID-19-like symptoms is warranted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activity of Plant Extracts: Applications in Modern Pharmacology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

36 pages, 2769 KiB  
Review
Scorzonera undulata: Traditional Applications, Phytochemical Analysis, and Biological and Pharmacological Attributes
by Mohammed Ajebli, Ayoub Amssayef, Maryame Sabiri, Fatima Zahrae Radi, Eimad Dine Tariq Bouhlali and Mohamed Eddouks
Plants 2025, 14(11), 1606; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14111606 - 24 May 2025
Abstract
Scorzonera undulata (S. undulata) is a medicinal plant that is traditionally used to treat various health conditions, including diabetes, constipation, diarrhea, and other digestive issues. However, comprehensive analysis of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological applications is still lacking. This review [...] Read more.
Scorzonera undulata (S. undulata) is a medicinal plant that is traditionally used to treat various health conditions, including diabetes, constipation, diarrhea, and other digestive issues. However, comprehensive analysis of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological applications is still lacking. This review aims to systematically consolidate available information on the ethnopharmacological relevance, chemical profiles, and pharmacological activities of S. undulata. A comprehensive literature review of S. undulata was conducted across multiple scientific databases. Based on predefined inclusion criteria (full-text English publications providing relevant data on S. undulata) and exclusion criteria (abstracts only, studies on other species), 29 relevant studies were selected. This review systematically integrated traditional ethnobotanical knowledge with modern scientific insights, analyzing phytochemical compositions, biological activities, and pharmacological potential through a methodology designed to ensure unbiased selection from diverse sources. Traditional uses of S. undulata include treatments for diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, snake bites, dehydration, and burns. Phytochemical studies revealed a wealth of polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, and sesquiterpenoids. In vitro and in vivo assays showed antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, cytotoxic, and antioxidant properties. There are insufficient toxicity studies to assess the safety of this species. However, pharmacological research on this species remains limited. This review is the first to synthesize the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and biological activities of S. undulata, highlighting its pharmacological potential. However, further comprehensive research, including clinical trials, toxicological evaluations, and mechanistic studies, is necessary to fully identify active compounds and confirm their therapeutic applications, thus warranting additional investigation into this medicinal herb's complete benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activity of Plant Extracts: Applications in Modern Pharmacology)
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