Phytochemical Variability and Bioactive Potential of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore aromatic and medicinal plants, primarily their variability in chemical composition and bioactive potential.

Aromatic and medicinal plants have a long history of use as therapeutic remedies, but the detailed chemical profiling of many species is still unexplored. Plants have served as valuable resources for the discovery and development of bioactive compounds responsible for various pharmacological activities in the prevention and treatment of human diseases, among others.

Plants contain various phytochemical components that play a significant role in protecting plants from environmental challenges, such as UV radiation and pathogens. The biosynthesis of phytochemical compounds is influenced by the complex interaction of ecological and environmental factors, including genetics, climate, and soil characteristics, leading to variations in phytochemical profiles. Phytochemical variability is crucial for the adaptation and defense of plants, both cultivated and wild, for species diversity, and for overall ecosystem health. The rich biodiversity of aromatic and medicinal plants provides a wide range of chemical constituents that include, among others, alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, sterols, lignins, tannins, and phenolic compounds that offer significant bioactive potential, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, and immunomodulatory properties. This compositional diversity and bioactive potential are of increasing interest for the discovery and development of modern drugs, cosmetics, and food products. The relevance of different extraction techniques and analytical procedures for the identification and extraction of bioactive components from aromatic and medicinal plants can be highlighted. Uses of bioactive substances obtained from aromatic and medicinal plants can be presented, as well as their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, neuroprotective, or immunomodulatory properties, providing insights into their potential applications in therapy.

We would like to invite scientists to submit original research papers and reviews for this Special Issue, entitled “Phytochemical Variability and Bioactive Potential of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants”. Covered aspects can include, but are not limited to, different extraction procedures, advanced analytical techniques for the isolation and characterization of natural compounds from different species of aromatic and medicinal plants with bioactive potential, as well as the mechanisms involved in therapeutic properties, safety, toxicity, and efficacy evaluations. Furthermore, the acclimatization response of aromatic and medicinal plants to changing climatic conditions can be addressed.

Dr. Andreea Veronica Botezatu
Prof. Dr. Rodica-Mihaela Dinicǎ
Prof. Dr. Bianca Furdui
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.