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Innovations in Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 14215

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anca Toiu

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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

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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

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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 (7 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 841 KB

Open AccessArticle

In Vivo Investigation of Cardioprotective Effects of Melilotus officinalis and Melilotus albus Aerial Parts Extracts for Potential Therapeutic Application

by Anca Toiu, Ana-Maria Vlase, Laurian Vlase, Tibor Casian, Alina Elena Pârvu and Ilioara Oniga

Plants 2025, 14(17), 2639; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14172639 - 25 Aug 2025

Viewed by 289

Abstract

Globally, cardiovascular diseases represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality, despite the availability of preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic measures in contemporary allopathic medicine. In accordance with their ethnomedical applications, herbal medicines may offer valuable options for the prevention, treatment, and management of cardiovascular disorders. Considering that cardioprotective effects are associated with antioxidant mechanisms, and that our knowledge of the antioxidant properties of polyphenolic compounds, as well as of the effects of Melilotus species on the heart, is limited, the present study aimed to evaluate the cardioprotective potential of hydroalcoholic extracts of M. officinalis and M. albus aerial parts. The extracts were evaluated for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total coumarin content (TCC) by spectrophotometric methods and by LC-MS/MS. The effect of pretreatment with Melilotus sp. extracts on the isoprenaline-induced infarct-like lesion in rats was evaluated by ECG monitoring and the assessment of serum oxidative stress markers and serum cardiac injury markers. Various polyphenolic compounds were identified by LC-MS/MS in M. officinalis and M. albus aerial parts: catechin, syringic acid, protocatechuic acid, and vanillic acid. Gallic acid and chlorogenic acid were found only in M. officinalis. The extracts showed good in vivo antioxidant activity: M. officinalis and M. albus extracts induced a significant decrease in the levels of oxidative stress index (OSI) and total oxidant status (TOS), while pre-treatment with M. albus extract induced a significant reduction in nitric oxide production, and pretreatment with M. officinalis increased total thiols (SH) levels. In the same way, ECG and cardiac injury markers were also improved. These results show that M. officinalis and M. albus extracts may exert cardioprotective effects against myocardial ischemia by reducing oxidative stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants)

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22 pages, 1637 KB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemistry and Bioactivity of Essential Oil and Methanolic Extracts of Origanum vulgare L. from Central Italy

by Francesca Fantasma, Marco Segatto, Mayra Colardo, Francesca Di Matteo, Maria Giovanna Chini, Maria Iorizzi and Gabriella Saviano

Plants 2025, 14(16), 2468; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162468 - 9 Aug 2025

Viewed by 450

Abstract

Origanum vulgare L. is an important aromatic plant traditionally used in folk medicine since ancient times. Its growing interest for the scientific community is mainly attributed to its distinctive chemical profile, which includes bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols (phenolic acids and flavonoids) and volatile compounds (essential oil). These components collectively contribute to oregano’s wide spectrum of biological activities. In this study, the volatile components of the essential oil (WEO_OR) and the polyphenolic fraction of the methanolic extract (ME_OR) obtained from leaves and inflorescences of wild Origanum vulgare collected in central Italy were characterized using GC-MS and UHPLC-DAD, respectively. Carvacrol was identified as the major compound in the essential oil, while rosmarinic acid was predominant in the methanolic extract. A comparative analysis was also carried out with a commercially available essential oil (CEO_OR), aiming to evaluate potential differences in chemical composition and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays). ME_OR showed the strongest antioxidant activity (DPPH IC₅₀ = 0.052 mg mL⁻¹; ABTS = 3.94 mg TE mL⁻¹; FRAP = 30.58 mg TE g⁻¹), followed by CEO_OR (DPPH IC₅₀ = 0.45 mg mL⁻¹; ABTS = 9.57 mg TE mL⁻¹; FRAP = 7.33 mg TE g⁻¹), while WEO_OR displayed the lowest values (DPPH IC₅₀ = 1.54 mg mL⁻¹; ABTS = 0.10 mg TE mL⁻¹). Furthermore, ME_OR and WEO_OR were tested in vitro using the human hepatoblastoma cell line HepG2 to assess their potential biological activities related to cell survival and oxidative stress. The results indicated that at the tested doses, neither the ME nor the EO showed significant toxicity, as evidenced by the unchanged proliferation rate of HepG2 cells. However, the ME at low doses (50 and 100 μg mL⁻¹) and the EO (0.005%), administered as a pre-treatment, exhibited a protective effect against oxidative stress, as inferred from the reduction in 8-OHdG levels, a marker of oxidative damage to nucleic acids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants)

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14 pages, 1742 KB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Biological Components of Leaves and Flowers in Moringa peregrina and Their Effect on Proliferation of Staurogyne repens in Tissue Culture Conditions

by Hamideh Khajeh, Bahman Fazeli-Nasab, Ali Salehi Sardoei, Zeinab Fotoohiyan, Mehrnaz Hatami, Alireza Mirzaei, Mansour Ghorbanpour and Filippo Maggi

Plants 2025, 14(15), 2340; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152340 - 29 Jul 2025

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Abstract

Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori is a tropical tree in southern Iran known as the most important natural coagulant in the world. Today, plant tissue culture is a new method that has a very high potential to produce valuable medicinal compounds on a commercial level. Advances in in vitro cultivation methods have increased the usefulness of plants as renewable resources. In this study, in addition to the phytochemical analysis of the extract of M. peregrina using HPLC, the interaction effect of different concentrations of aqueous extract of M. peregrina (0, 1, 1.5, and 3 mg/L) in two types of MS and ½ MS basal culture media over three weeks on the in vitro growth of Staurogyne repens (Nees) Kuntze was studied. The amounts of quercetin, gallic acid, caffeic acid, and myricetin in the aqueous extract of M. peregrina were 64.9, 374.8, 42, and 4.6 mg/g, respectively. The results showed that using M. peregrina leaf aqueous extract had a positive effect on the length of the branches, the percentage of green leaves, rooting, and the fresh and dry weight of S. repens samples. The highest increase in growth indices was observed in the MS culture medium supplemented with 3 mg/L of M. peregrina leaf aqueous extract after three weeks of cultivation. Of course, this effect was significantly greater in the MS medium and at higher concentrations compared to the ½ MS medium. Three weeks after cultivation at a concentration of 3 mg/L of the extract, the length of the S. repens branches was 5.3 and 1.8 cm in the two basic MS and ½ MS culture media, and the percentage of green leaves was 14 and 4 percent, respectively. Also, rooting was measured at 9.6 and 3.6 percent, fresh weight at 6 and 1.4 g, and dry weight at 1.1 and 0.03 g, respectively. Therefore, adding M. peregrina leaf aqueous extract as a stimulant significantly increased the in vitro growth of S. repens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in Isolation and Characterization of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants)

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17 pages, 3186 KB

Open AccessArticle

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 448

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 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 KB

Open AccessArticle

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 585

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 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 KB

Open AccessReview

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 1132

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 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 KB

Open AccessReview

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 10229

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 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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