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Innovations in Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal...
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Innovations in Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2025 | Viewed by 8718

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anca Toiu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacognosy, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj, Napoca 8, V. Babeş Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: pharmacognosy; phytochemistry; natural products
Dr. Gabriella Saviano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, IS, Italy
Interests: antioxidants; neurology; alzheimer; anti-inflammatory; polyphenols; natural products; anti-cholinesteraze

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in the isolation and structural characterization of natural compounds from medicinal plants that show biological activity.

Preference will be given to papers that discuss innovative extraction techniques with a lower environmental impact and relative potential with respect to extraction yields.

Regarding structural characterization, spectral technique combinations for the investigation of natural compounds will be considered.

An improved understanding of many biological systems is now possible through several important techniques, including hyphenated methods, which combine NMR spectroscopy with mass spectrometry and chromatography.

Plants produce a huge amount of bioactive compounds that have an essential role in the interaction of plants with their natural environment and their ability to adapt. Metabolomics is therefore a powerful tool in plant ecology and biodiversity research. Furthermore, natural products of plant origin have long been considered a valuable source of lead compounds for drug development.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to this Special Issue, which will focus on, but is not be limited to, the topics outlined above.

Dr. Anca Toiu
Dr. Gabriella Saviano
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

  • metabolomics
  • multivariate data analysis
  • natural products
  • technological advances
  • GC-MS
  • LC-MS
  • NMR

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 3186 KiB  
Article
Unveiling the Pharmacognostic Potential of Peucedanum ostruthium (L.) W.D.J. Koch: A Comparative Study of Rhizome and Leaf Essential Oils
by Cristina Danna, Andrea Mainetti, Souda Belaid, Erminia La Camera, Domenico Trombetta, Laura Cornara and Antonella Smeriglio
Plants 2025, 14(13), 2047; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14132047 - 3 Jul 2025
Viewed by 298
Abstract
Peucedanum ostruthium (L.) W.D.J. Koch (Apiaceae) is a perennial herb native to alpine regions that is renowned in traditional medicine. This study provided a pharmacognostic evaluation, comparing the EOs obtained from its rhizomes and leaves (REO and LEO, respectively). A micromorphological analysis, which [...] Read more.
Peucedanum ostruthium (L.) W.D.J. Koch (Apiaceae) is a perennial herb native to alpine regions that is renowned in traditional medicine. This study provided a pharmacognostic evaluation, comparing the EOs obtained from its rhizomes and leaves (REO and LEO, respectively). A micromorphological analysis, which was carried out using fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy, revealed terpenoid-rich secretory ducts in both organs. The EOs were extracted by hydrodistillation and characterized by gas chromatography, coupled with flame ionization detection and mass spectrometry (GC-FID and GC-MS), revealing distinct chemical profiles. REO was dominated by monoterpenes (80.08%), especially D-limonene (29.13%), sabinene (19.77%), and α-phellandrene (12.02%), while LEO was sesquiterpene-rich (81.15%), with β-caryophyllene (21.78%), β-selinene (14.09%), and germacrene D (10.43%) as the major compounds. The in vitro assays demonstrated that both EOs exhibit significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, with LEO consistently outperforming REO across all tests. However, neither EO showed antimicrobial effects against common bacterial or fungal strains. This may have been due to the absence of polar antimicrobial constituents, such as coumarins, which are poorly recovered by hydrodistillation. To fully exploit the therapeutic potential of P. ostruthium, especially its antimicrobial properties, future studies should aim to develop integrated formulations combining volatile and non-volatile fractions, preserving the complete plant complex and broadening bioactivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants)
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12 pages, 748 KiB  
Article
Determination of Morphological and Quality Characteristics of Naturally Growing Thymus kotschyanus Boiss. & Hohen. var. kotschyanus Populations Around of Van/Türkiye
by Lütfi Nohutçu, Murat Tunçtürk, Rüveyde Tunçtürk, Ezelhan Şelem and Hüseyin Eroğlu
Plants 2025, 14(5), 729; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14050729 - 27 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 518
Abstract
In this study, morphological and quality characteristics (nutritional value, EO ratio and content, TPC, TFC, and TAA) of 12 different naturally growing populations (T1 to T12) of Thymus kotschyanus var. kotschyanus were investigated. In the case of macro and micro nutrients, all the [...] Read more.
In this study, morphological and quality characteristics (nutritional value, EO ratio and content, TPC, TFC, and TAA) of 12 different naturally growing populations (T1 to T12) of Thymus kotschyanus var. kotschyanus were investigated. In the case of macro and micro nutrients, all the populations have a rich ingredient, and for heavy metal content, all population results are within limits. The percentage of essential oils in the population varied between 0.43% to 4.66% (v/w). Thymol was the most abundant compound in the whole population and the percentage of thymol ranged from 4.07% to 81.15%. In the study, eight populations had more than 50% thymol content and the maximum percentage was recorded from the T1 population (81.15%). The total phenolic compound ranged from 152.81 to 195.23 mg GAE/g of dry extract and total flavonoid content ranged from 145.24 to 382.74 mg QE/100 g. Total antioxidant activity varies between 78.43 and 228.55 µmol TE/g and the highest value was obtained from population T7. PCA analysis was carried out to determine the morphological and quality parameters of the populations. Four populations were superior to others for morphological analysis and two populations were superior to others for quality analysis. According to the result of the study, the T10 population has higher yield and quality compared to other populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants)
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Review

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19 pages, 1341 KiB  
Review
Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Traditional Medicinal Plants for Urolithiasis: A Scoping Review
by Brenda Pacheco-Hernández, Teresa Ayora-Talavera, Julia Cano-Sosa, Lilia G. Noriega, Neith Aracely Pacheco-López, Juan M. Vargas-Morales, Isabel Medina-Vera, Martha Guevara-Cruz, Rodolfo Chim-Aké, Ana Ligia Gutiérrez-Solis, Roberto Lugo and Azalia Avila-Nava
Plants 2025, 14(13), 2032; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14132032 - 2 Jul 2025
Viewed by 584
Abstract
Urolithiasis (UL) is the presence of stones in the kidneys or urinary tract; its prevalence has increased worldwide. Thus, strategies have been sought to reduce it and one of them is the use of medicinal plants due to their accessibility, low cost, and [...] Read more.
Urolithiasis (UL) is the presence of stones in the kidneys or urinary tract; its prevalence has increased worldwide. Thus, strategies have been sought to reduce it and one of them is the use of medicinal plants due to their accessibility, low cost, and cultural traditions. Studies on traditional medicinal plants in UL mainly documented results of litholytic and urinary parameters. Although, stone formation is related to oxidative stress and inflammation, and only a few studies are focused on these types of biomarkers. Thus, the aim of the present review was to summarize studies showing the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of traditional medicinal plants used in UL management. We performed a scoping review; the database sources used were MEDLINE/PubMed, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, Scielo and Redalyc. From a total of 184 studies screened, six were included from China (2), India (3), and Corea (1). These studies have shown the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of traditional medicinal plants, including Glechoma longituba (G. longituba), Bergenia ligulate (B. ligulate), Lygodium japonicum (L. japonicum), Citrus limon (C. limon), Xanthium strumarium (X. strumarium) and Tribulus terrestris (T. terrestris). They have also described their molecular mechanism of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects through the activation of antioxidant genes induced by Nrf2 or by suppressing the inflammatory gene expression by the inhibition of NFκ-B. These effects could be modulated by their bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and terpenes, present in these plants. This review summarizes the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of traditional medicinal plants and highlights their molecular mechanisms of action and main bioactive compounds. This evidence may be used in biotechnology and synthetic biology areas for the development of new products from plant-derived compounds to reduce the high recurrence rates of UL. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants)
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54 pages, 5547 KiB  
Review
Soothing the Itch: The Role of Medicinal Plants in Alleviating Pruritus in Palliative Care
by Sara Gonçalves, Lisete Fernandes, Ana Caramelo, Maria Martins, Tânia Rodrigues and Rita S. Matos
Plants 2024, 13(24), 3515; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13243515 - 16 Dec 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6788
Abstract
Chronic pruritus, or persistent itching, is a debilitating condition that severely impacts quality of life, especially in palliative care settings. Traditional treatments often fail to provide adequate relief or are associated with significant side effects, prompting interest in alternative therapies. This review investigates [...] Read more.
Chronic pruritus, or persistent itching, is a debilitating condition that severely impacts quality of life, especially in palliative care settings. Traditional treatments often fail to provide adequate relief or are associated with significant side effects, prompting interest in alternative therapies. This review investigates the antipruritic potential of eight medicinal plants: chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis), calendula (Calendula officinalis), curcumin (Curcuma longa), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), peppermint (Mentha piperita), and evening primrose (Oenothera biennis). These plants are analyzed for their traditional applications, active bioactive compounds, mechanisms of action, clinical evidence, usage, dosage, and safety profiles. Comprehensive searches were conducted in databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and b-on, focusing on in vitro, animal, and clinical studies using keywords like “plant”, “extract”, and “pruritus”. Studies were included regardless of publication date and limited to English-language articles. Findings indicate that active compounds such as polysaccharides in aloe vera, curcuminoids in turmeric, and menthol in peppermint exhibit significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune-modulating properties. Chamomile and calendula alleviate itching through anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing effects, while lavender and licorice offer antimicrobial benefits alongside antipruritic relief. Evening primrose, rich in gamma-linolenic acid, is effective in atopic dermatitis-related itching. Despite promising preclinical and clinical results, challenges remain in standardizing dosages and formulations. The review highlights the necessity of further clinical trials to ensure efficacy and safety, advocating for integrating these botanical therapies into complementary palliative care practices. Such approaches emphasize holistic treatment, addressing chronic pruritus’s physical and emotional burden, thereby enhancing patient well-being. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants)
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