Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Cytotoxic Activity of Plant Extracts

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2025 | Viewed by 11874

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Centre for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
2. Institute of Public Health Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Interests: cell biology; microbiology; immunology; cancer research

E-Mail Website1 Website2 Website3
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Radoja Domanovica 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Interests: phytochemistry; chromatographic analysis and isolation of secondary metabolites; antioxidant; antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of major and minor secondary metabolites presented in plant extract

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as numerous scientific research, almost 80% of the world’s population relies on usage of medicinal plants in primary health care. The medicinal importance of these plants and their extracts are closely related to the presence of specific active secondary metabolites (alkaloids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, terpenes, etc...). Many of these biomolecules can exhibit several pharmacological properties. Hence, herbal extracts often interfere with several animal organs, tissues, cells, and molecular targets, resulting in relieving (or reducing) symptoms of ailments or diseases.

The focusses of this Special Issue are on antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activity of plant extracts. We would like to invite researchers to submit its original scientific results (in the form of manuscripts, reviews, mini-reviews, and short communications) which cover phytochemistry, as well as appropriate pharmacological properties of plant extracts and their major and minor bioactive constituents.

Prof. Dr. Dejan D. Baskić
Prof. Dr. Nenad L. Vuković
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
  • bioactive secondary metabolites chromatographic analysis of major and minor constituents of plant extracts and essential oils
  • antioxidant activity of plant extracts and essential oils
  • antimicrobial activity of plant extracts and essential oils
  • cytotoxic activity of plant extracts and essential oils

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.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

22 pages, 2222 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Antioxidant, Xanthine Oxidase-Inhibitory, and Antibacterial Activity of Syzygium cumini Linn. Seed Extracts
by Jitendra Pandey, Nitesh Jaishwal, Mamta Jayswal, Deep Chand Gupta, Bishnu Dhakal, David Budean, Gopal Lamichhane and Hari Prasad Devkota
Plants 2025, 14(3), 316; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030316 - 22 Jan 2025
Viewed by 722
Abstract
Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, commonly known as the Jamun or Indian blackberry, is a tropical evergreen tree native to the Indian subcontinent, and it belongs to the Myrtaceae family. This research aimed to assess the antibacterial properties of the extracts derived from S. [...] Read more.
Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, commonly known as the Jamun or Indian blackberry, is a tropical evergreen tree native to the Indian subcontinent, and it belongs to the Myrtaceae family. This research aimed to assess the antibacterial properties of the extracts derived from S. cumini seed kernels and evaluate their total flavonoid content, total phenol content, total carbohydrate content, antioxidant capacity, and inhibitory effects on xanthine oxidase. Cold maceration was chosen for its ability to preserve thermolabile compounds and efficiently extract bioactive constituents with minimal energy and equipment requirement, with hexane and methanol employed as extraction solvents. The methanolic seed kernel extract of S. cumini showed the highest flavonoid (127.78 μg quercetin equivalent/mg dried extract vs. 21.24 μg quercetin equivalent/mg in hexane dried extract) and polyphenol content (153.81 μg gallic acid equivalent/mg dried extract vs. 38.89 μg gallic acid equivalent/mg in hexane dried extract), along with significant carbohydrate content (475.61 μg glucose equivalent/mg dried extract vs. 5.57 μg GE/mg in hexane dried extract). It also demonstrated potent antioxidant activity (IC50: 9.23 μg/mL; ascorbic acid: 5.10 μg/mL) and xanthine oxidase inhibition (IC50: 14.88 μg/mL), comparable to the standard drug allopurinol (IC50: 6.54 μg/mL), suggesting its therapeutic potential. Moreover, the methanolic extract of seed kernels exhibited strong antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones of 19.00 mm against S. epidermidis, higher than the standard antibiotic (gentamicin: 18.33 mm) against K. pneumonia (ciprofloxacin: 33.66 mm). The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of 0.32 mg/mL and 0.52 mg/mL, respectively, were observed for the same extract against S. epidermis. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the remarkable antibacterial effects of S. cumini methanolic seed kernel extract against various pathogenic microorganisms as well as significant inhibitory effects on xanthine oxidase and antioxidant activity. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 8767 KiB  
Article
Coinhibitory Effects of Resveratrol- and Protopanaxadiol-Enriched Rice Seed Extracts Against Melanogenic Activities in Melan-a Cells
by Chaiwat Monmai, Yong-In Kuk and So-Hyeon Baek
Plants 2024, 13(23), 3385; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13233385 - 1 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1074
Abstract
In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the combined antimelanogenic effects of resveratrol- and protopanaxadiol (PPD)-enriched rice seed extracts (DJ526 and DJ-PPD) in melan-a cells. The treatment antioxidant capacity was evaluated using the ABTS radical scavenging method. TR_3 (70% [wight (w [...] Read more.
In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the combined antimelanogenic effects of resveratrol- and protopanaxadiol (PPD)-enriched rice seed extracts (DJ526 and DJ-PPD) in melan-a cells. The treatment antioxidant capacity was evaluated using the ABTS radical scavenging method. TR_3 (70% [wight (w)/w] of DJ526 and 30% [w/w] of DJ-PPD) markedly increased the antioxidant activity at a level similar to that of DJ526 and DJ-PPD alone. The antimelanogenic activities in melan-a cells were evaluated after co-culturing of treatments at the concentration of 100 μg/mL. The in vitro melan-a cell experiment showed that treatment with the DJ526 and DJ-PPD mixture significantly reduced the cellular tyrosinase activity and melanin content; suppressed the expression of melanogenesis-related genes and proteins; decreased the number and size of melanin-containing cells; upregulated phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and protein kinase B expression levels; and suppressed the expression of p-p38 MAPK. These results show that DJ-PPD does not interfere with the antioxidant and antimelanogeneic activities of DJ526 but enhances the antioxidant and antimelanogeneic activities of DJ526. These findings indicate the potential of resveratrol- and PPD-enriched rice seeds as novel agents for controlling hyperpigmentation. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1797 KiB  
Article
Hays of Novel-Improved Legume Cultivars: Phytochemical Content and Nutritional Value
by Eleni D. Myrtsi, Dimitrios N. Vlachostergios, Christos Petsoulas, Epameinondas Evergetis, Sofia D. Koulocheri and Serkos A. Haroutounian
Plants 2024, 13(21), 3058; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13213058 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 626
Abstract
The imperative need to produce safe foodstuffs using environmentally sustainable practices has highlighted the incorporation of legumes in human and animal diets as an emerging nutritional staple. Since legumes comprise a family of plants known to display an extensive agricultural diversity with significant [...] Read more.
The imperative need to produce safe foodstuffs using environmentally sustainable practices has highlighted the incorporation of legumes in human and animal diets as an emerging nutritional staple. Since legumes comprise a family of plants known to display an extensive agricultural diversity with significant bioactivities, we report herein the exploitation outcome of the nutritional and bio-functional content of hay, derived from the post-harvest aerial parts of eight novel-improved Greek cultivars belonging to the following six taxa: Larthyrus sativus L., Medicago sativa L., Cicer arietinum L., Pisum sativum L., Vicia faba L., and Phaseolus vulgaris L. In specific, the phytochemical content of their hay extracts was screened against the presence of 37 fatty acids and 67 polyphenols using, respectively, GC-FID and LC-MS/MS instruments, while the determination of their total phenolic and tannin contents was achieved with spectrophotometric methods. In this respect, the presence of 26 different fatty acids was detected of which the acids linoleic, linolenic and palmitic were traced in all extracts in concentrations exceeding the 10 mg/g, while the oleic acid was determined as the major component of C. arietinum (77.58 mg/g), V. faba (36.11 mg/g), and L. sativus (12.89 mg/g) extracts. In addition, 30 different phenolics were traced as extracts’ components with the most abundant the molecule of isoquercetin, which was present in six extracts and isoliquiritigenin, calycosin, and chlorogenic acid which were detected in five extracts. Finally, the antioxidant properties of the extracts were evaluated by performing both DPPH and FRAP assays, which highlighted the V. faba extract as the most potent in both tests, followed by the extracts of P. sativum and P. vulgaris. Results herein are indicative of the significant advances achieved, for the improvement of investigated plant cultivars with respect to their utilization as nutritional crops, since these novel cultivars hays have been found to contain significant amounts of essential nutrients in the form of fatty acids along with bioactive ingredients in the form of polyphenols, while simultaneously they were determined as deprived of tannins that constitute essential anti-nutritional factors. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1915 KiB  
Article
The Utilisation of Fucus vesiculosus Algae Extracts in the Production of Microgreens Hordeum vulgare L. with an Increased Content of Selected Bioactive Compounds
by Barbara Drygaś, Tomasz Piechowiak, Joanna Kreczko, Natalia Matłok, Bogdan Saletnik and Maciej Balawejder
Plants 2024, 13(20), 2871; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13202871 - 14 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1072
Abstract
Algae extracts may be a promising alternative to harmful chemicals and pesticides used commercially in the cultivation of plants with higher nutritional and health-promoting values. The cultivation of barley microgreens (Hordeum vulgare L.) was facilitated by the use of aqueous extracts from [...] Read more.
Algae extracts may be a promising alternative to harmful chemicals and pesticides used commercially in the cultivation of plants with higher nutritional and health-promoting values. The cultivation of barley microgreens (Hordeum vulgare L.) was facilitated by the use of aqueous extracts from Fucus vesiculosus algae, which served as a biostimulant. Seeds for experiments were produced in accordance with EU standards, certified as organic and used to grow plants in a controlled pot experiment. A qualitative analysis of the extract, which was used to irrigate the plants, was also performed in this study, as well as stimulating properties by activating the system protecting against oxidative stress. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFV) and enzymes involved in their formation such as phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), as well as enzymes involved in the removal of reactive oxygen species such as catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were determined in the obtained microgreen samples. Antioxidant activity against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) was also evaluated. A noticeable increase in SOD content and antioxidant activity against DPPH was observed in barley microgreen samples after extract treatment. These results suggest that the use of extracts of this beneficial alga can enhance the antioxidant activity of the barley microgreens. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1529 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Bioactive Potential of Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg Aerial Parts on MDA Breast Cancer Cells: Insights into Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant Efficacy, and Gelatinase Inhibition within 3D Cellular Models
by Valentina Laghezza Masci, Elisa Ovidi, William Tomassi, Daniela De Vita and Stefania Garzoli
Plants 2024, 13(19), 2829; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13192829 - 9 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1538
Abstract
In this work, aerial parts of Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg. produced in Umbria, Italy, were chemically investigated by solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPME/GC-MS) to describe their volatile profile. The results obtained showed the preponderant presence of monoterpenes, with limonene and 1,8-cineole as the [...] Read more.
In this work, aerial parts of Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg. produced in Umbria, Italy, were chemically investigated by solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPME/GC-MS) to describe their volatile profile. The results obtained showed the preponderant presence of monoterpenes, with limonene and 1,8-cineole as the main components. Further analyses by GC/MS after derivatization reaction were performed to characterize the non-volatile fraction highlighting the presence of fatty acids and di- and triterpenic compounds. T. officinale methanol and dichloromethane extracts, first analyzed by HRGC/MS, were investigated to evaluate the antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity, and antiproliferative properties of MDA cells on the breast cancer cell line and MCF 10A normal epithelial cells as well as the antioxidant activity by colorimetric assays. The impact on matrix metalloproteinases MMP-9 and MMP-2 was also explored in 3D cell systems to investigate the extracts’ efficacy in reducing cell invasiveness. The extracts tested showed no cytotoxic activity with EC50 > 250 µg/mL on both cell lines. The DPPH assay revealed higher antioxidant activity in the MeOH extract compared with the DCM extract, while the FRAP assay showed a contrasting result, with the DCM extract exhibiting slightly greater antioxidant capacity. After treatment for 24 h with a non-cytotoxic concentration of 500 µg/mL of the tested extracts, gelatin zymography and Western blot analyses demonstrated that both MeOH and DCM extracts influenced the expression of MMP-9 and MMP-2 in MDA cells within the 3D cell model, leading to a significant decrease in the levels of these gelatinases, which are crucial markers of tumor invasiveness. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

31 pages, 3126 KiB  
Article
Citrus limon Essential Oil: Chemical Composition and Selected Biological Properties Focusing on the Antimicrobial (In Vitro, In Situ), Antibiofilm, Insecticidal Activity and Preservative Effect against Salmonella enterica Inoculated in Carrot
by Miroslava Kačániová, Natália Čmiková, Nenad L. Vukovic, Andrea Verešová, Alessandro Bianchi, Stefania Garzoli, Rania Ben Saad, Anis Ben Hsouna, Zhaojun Ban and Milena D. Vukic
Plants 2024, 13(4), 524; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13040524 - 15 Feb 2024
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5370
Abstract
New goals for industry and science have led to increased awareness of food safety and healthier living in the modern era. Here, one of the challenges in food quality assurance is the presence of pathogenic microorganisms. As planktonic cells can form biofilms and [...] Read more.
New goals for industry and science have led to increased awareness of food safety and healthier living in the modern era. Here, one of the challenges in food quality assurance is the presence of pathogenic microorganisms. As planktonic cells can form biofilms and go into a sessile state, microorganisms are now more resistant to broad-spectrum antibiotics. Due to their proven antibacterial properties, essential oils represent a potential option to prevent food spoilage in the search for effective natural preservatives. In this study, the chemical profile of Citrus limon essential oil (CLEO) was evaluated. GC-MS analysis revealed that limonene (60.7%), β-pinene (12.6%), and γ-terpinene (10.3%) are common constituents of CLEO, which prompted further research on antibacterial and antibiofilm properties. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values showed that CLEO generally exhibits acceptable antibacterial properties. In addition, in situ antimicrobial research revealed that vapour-phase CLEO can arrest the growth of Candida and Y. enterocolitica species on specific food models, indicating the potential of CLEO as a preservative. The antibiofilm properties of CLEO were evaluated by MIC assays, crystal violet assays, and MALDI-TOF MS analysis against S. enterica biofilm. The results of the MIC and crystal violet assays showed that CLEO has strong antibiofilm activity. In addition, the data obtained by MALDI-TOF MS investigation showed that CLEO altered the protein profiles of the bacteria studied on glass and stainless-steel surfaces. Our study also found a positive antimicrobial effect of CLEO against S. enterica. The anti-Salmonella activity of CLEO in vacuum-packed sous vide carrot samples was slightly stronger than in controls. These results highlight the advantages of the antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of CLEO, suggesting potential applications in food preservation. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

51 pages, 697 KiB  
Review
Pharmacological Significance, Medicinal Use, and Toxicity of Extracted and Isolated Compounds from Euphorbia Species Found in Southern Africa: A Review
by Ipeleng Kopano Rosinah Kgosiemang, Relebohile Lefojane, Ayodeji Mathias Adegoke, Oludare Ogunyemi, Samson Sitheni Mashele and Mamello Patience Sekhoacha
Plants 2025, 14(3), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030469 - 5 Feb 2025
Viewed by 304
Abstract
This study documents the Euphorbiaceae family of plants in Southern Africa, with a focus on their traditional medicinal applications, pharmacological properties, toxicity, and active secondary metabolites. A review of the literature from scientific journals, books, dissertations, and conference papers spanning from 1962 to [...] Read more.
This study documents the Euphorbiaceae family of plants in Southern Africa, with a focus on their traditional medicinal applications, pharmacological properties, toxicity, and active secondary metabolites. A review of the literature from scientific journals, books, dissertations, and conference papers spanning from 1962 to 2023 was conducted for 15 Euphorbia species. Recent findings indicate that specific compounds found in Euphorbia plants exhibit significant biological and pharmacological properties. However, the white sticky latex sap they contain is highly toxic, although it may also have medicinal applications. Phytochemical analyses have demonstrated that these plants exhibit beneficial effects, including antibacterial, antioxidant, antiproliferative, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-HIV activities. Key phytochemicals such as euphol, cycloartenol, tirucallol, and triterpenoids contribute to their therapeutic efficacy, along with various proteins like lectin and lysozyme. Despite some Euphorbiaceae species undergoing screening for medicinal compounds, many remain insufficiently examined, highlighting a critical gap in the research literature. Given their historical usage, further investigations are essential to evaluate the medicinal significance of Euphorbia species through detailed studies of isolated compounds and their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. This research will serve as a valuable resource for future inquiries into the benefits of lesser-studied Euphorbia species. Full article
Back to TopTop