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Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicity of Medicinal Plants
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Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicity of Medicinal Plants

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 2588

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Nkoana Mongalo

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Guest Editor
College of Agriculture and Environmental Science (CAES), University of South Africa, PrivaBagX06, Florida 0710, South Africa
Interests: medicinal plants used in the management of a plethora of both human and animal diseases; both curable and incurable
Prof. Dr. Gang Ding

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Guest Editor
1. The Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
2. Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
Interests: phytochemistry: investigation of bioactive metabolites from traditional medicinal plants; fungal chemistry: investigation of secondary metabolites from endophytic fungi collected from special environments such as desert or grasslands; biosynthesis: investigation of biosynthetic pathways of fungal secondary metabolites with complex structures and important bioactivities

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of medicinal plants in treating various devastating human and animal diseases is ancient. It is still important today due to many illnesses requiring sophisticated instruments, extraordinary antibiotics, and management to extend human life. Such diseases are further compounded by the many microbes that have developed resistance to the antibiotics commonly used in health facilities. Although some plants, along with their characterized bioactive compounds, exert important biological effects that include antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, and various enzyme inhibition activities in vitro, both distinctive compounds and the mode of action of such plant-based resources remain unknown, if not unstudied. Some state-of-the-art instruments such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), liquid chromatography (LC-MS), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and high-pressure liquid chromatography are essential in mapping out the possible phytocompounds responsible for such pharmacological activities, either individually or in a synergistic manner. The toxicological aspects of such plant-based products, which may include cytotoxicity and heavy metal contaminations, are also of paramount importance to ascertain the safety profile that would be required to produce over-the-counter products. Additionally, the biosynthesis of most secondary metabolites from medicinal plants including biosynthetic pathways, key enzymic functions in the pathways, transcriptomic analysis and specific regulators and others are not investigated. This Special Issue calls for papers addressing the pharmacology of less studied and rare medicinal plants from around the world, the phytochemistry of their extracts and or fractions and the possibility of identifying isolated compounds, and the biosynthesis of bioactive constituents of medicinal plants.

Dr. Nkoana Mongalo
Prof. Dr. Gang Ding
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

  • phytochemistry
  • ethnomedicinal uses
  • pharmacological activity
  • GC-MS
  • LC-MS
  • NMR
  • biosynthesis

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 2202 KiB  
Article
Acute and Subacute Oral Toxicity Assessment of Kinkeliba (Combretum micranthum G. Don) Ethanolic Extract in BALB/c Mice
by Ibrahima Mamadou Sall, Alina Diana Haşaş, Amiali Malek, Dan Cristian Vodnar, Meriem Aziez, Ecaterina Semzenisi, Dragoş Hodor, Romelia Pop and Alexandru-Flaviu Tăbăran
Plants 2025, 14(12), 1776; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14121776 - 10 Jun 2025
Viewed by 492
Abstract
Combretum micranthum G. Don (kinkeliba) is a medicinal plant traditionally employed in West Africa for its diuretic and gastrointestinal therapeutic properties. Despite its extensive ethnomedicinal use, comprehensive toxicological assessments are still lacking. This study aimed to characterize the phenolic composition of C. micranthum [...] Read more.
Combretum micranthum G. Don (kinkeliba) is a medicinal plant traditionally employed in West Africa for its diuretic and gastrointestinal therapeutic properties. Despite its extensive ethnomedicinal use, comprehensive toxicological assessments are still lacking. This study aimed to characterize the phenolic composition of C. micranthum ethanolic leaf extract using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS and evaluate its acute and subacute oral toxicity in BALB/c mice, per OECD Guideline 420. Female mice received oral doses of 50, 300, and 2000 mg/kg of extract for acute toxicity assessment for 14 days. In the subacute study, both sexes were administered daily doses at the same concentrations over 28 days. Clinical signs, body weight, and food and water consumption were regularly monitored throughout both protocols. At the end of each study, hematological, biochemical, and histopathological parameters were analyzed. Phenolic profiling revealed nine major compounds with a total of 293.54 mg/g extract. No mortality or significant clinical manifestations were observed at any dose. However, significant variations in platelet counts and amylase activity were noted in the acute phase. In the subacute model, slight, non-critical alterations in hepatic and renal biomarkers were observed, without signs of systemic toxicity. Histopathological examination revealed similar lesions in both acute and subacute phases, including multifocal inflammatory infiltrates (lymphocytes and neutrophils) in the periportal area of the liver, minimal bacterial overgrowth in the superficial layer of the gastric mucosa, minimal medullary mineralization and inflammatory infiltrates with lymphocytes in the kidneys, and minimal to moderate vacuolization in the pancreatic acini. These results indicate that C. micranthum ethanolic extract is relatively safe at the tested doses, reinforcing its traditional use and supporting further research into its pharmacological potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicity of Medicinal Plants)
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17 pages, 2810 KiB  
Article
Anticonvulsant Potential and Toxicological Profile of Verbesina persicifolia Leaf Extracts: Evaluation in Zebrafish Seizure and Artemia salina Toxicity Models
by Carlos Alberto López-Rosas, Santiago González-Periañez, Tushar Janardan Pawar, Jorge Iván Zurutuza-Lorméndez, Fernando Rafael Ramos-Morales, José Luís Olivares-Romero, Margarita Virginia Saavedra Vélez and Fabiola Hernández-Rosas
Plants 2025, 14(7), 1078; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14071078 - 1 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder with significant treatment challenges, necessitating the search for alternative therapies. This study evaluates the anticonvulsant activity and toxicological profile of Verbesina persicifolia leaf extracts. Methanolic and sequential fractions (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol) were tested using [...] Read more.
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder with significant treatment challenges, necessitating the search for alternative therapies. This study evaluates the anticonvulsant activity and toxicological profile of Verbesina persicifolia leaf extracts. Methanolic and sequential fractions (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol) were tested using a pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure model in zebrafish (Danio rerio), measuring seizure latency, severity, and survival rates. Phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, and steroids, suggesting potential neuroactive properties. The hexane extracts significantly increased seizure latency and survival rates, with co-administration of hexane extract (5 µg/mL) and diazepam (35.5 µM) further enhancing these effects. Toxicity assessment in Artemia salina indicated low to moderate toxicity in methanolic extracts, while sequential fractions exhibited higher toxicity, particularly in hexane and ethyl acetate extracts. These findings suggest that V. persicifolia extracts exert anticonvulsant effects, likely through GABAergic modulation, and exhibit a favorable safety profile at therapeutic doses. The results support further investigations to isolate active constituents, confirm their mechanisms of action, and explore their potential as plant-derived anticonvulsant agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicity of Medicinal Plants)
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18 pages, 3658 KiB  
Article
Bioactive Metabolites from the Dusty Seeds of Gastrodia elata Bl., Based on Metabolomics and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS Combined with Molecular Network Strategy
by Yanduo Wang, Liwen Zhong, Huiqi Fang, Zhao Liu, Peng Wang, Longfei Li, Lin Chen and Gang Ding
Plants 2025, 14(6), 916; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14060916 - 14 Mar 2025
Viewed by 482
Abstract
Orchids produce tiny, light seeds (dust-like seeds without endosperm) that rely on specific symbiotic fungi for successful germination. Plant roots often release small signaling molecules or bioactive compounds to attract arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, promoting fungal growth and hyphal branching. However, until now, [...] Read more.
Orchids produce tiny, light seeds (dust-like seeds without endosperm) that rely on specific symbiotic fungi for successful germination. Plant roots often release small signaling molecules or bioactive compounds to attract arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, promoting fungal growth and hyphal branching. However, until now, no such bioactive or signaling molecules have been identified in orchids that help recruit fungi for seed germination. In this study, we used metabolomics and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, combined with a molecular network approach, to explore potential bioactive/signaling molecules in the seeds of the achlorophyllous orchid Gastrodia elata Bl. Our analysis revealed the presence of amino acids, nucleotides, lipids, organic acids, saccharides, phospholipids, and lignanamides. Specifically, organic acids, saccharides, and lignanamides were shown to promote the growth of Mycena osmundicola, a fungus important for seed germination. Additionally, lignanamides inhibited the plant pathogen Fusarium oxysporum and exhibited strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This is the first systematic identification of bioactive/signaling molecules in G. elata Bl. seeds, providing new insights into the symbiotic relationship between orchids and fungi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicity of Medicinal Plants)
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Review

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20 pages, 863 KiB  
Review
A Review of the Ethnomedicine, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicological Studies on Ptaeroxylon obliquum (Thunb.) Radlk. (Rutaceae)
by Ntanganedzeni Makumbane, Sanah Malomile Nkadimeng, Edward Thato Khunoana and Thanyani Emelton Ramadwa
Plants 2025, 14(12), 1746; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14121746 - 6 Jun 2025
Viewed by 515
Abstract
Ptaeroxylon obliquum (Thunb.) Radlk. (Rutaceae) is traditionally used for a range of purposes, including ethnoveterinary medicine and to treat various human ailments such as tuberculosis, inflammatory diseases, and bacterial and fungal infections. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the traditional uses, phytochemistry, toxicology, [...] Read more.
Ptaeroxylon obliquum (Thunb.) Radlk. (Rutaceae) is traditionally used for a range of purposes, including ethnoveterinary medicine and to treat various human ailments such as tuberculosis, inflammatory diseases, and bacterial and fungal infections. This review aims to comprehensively summarize the traditional uses, phytochemistry, toxicology, in silico, and pharmacological activities of P. obliquum and discuss the advances made to date. The phytochemistry of P. obliquum revealed the abundance of secondary metabolites such as coumarins and chromones, essential oils, and several other classes of bioactive compounds. A total of 80 secondary metabolites have been reported from this plant species. In vitro studies on P. obliquum explored its therapeutic potential and reported pharmacological properties such as antifungal, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antimycobacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities. This review highlights the diversity of the medicinal use of P. obliquum and encourages its preservation. Future research should focus on the efficacy of P. obliquum’s most promising bioactive compounds, and the ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) pharmacological activities may help determine therapeutic potential in in vivo animal models and validate the wide range of traditional uses of P. obliquum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicity of Medicinal Plants)
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