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Efficacy, Safety and Phytochemistry of Medicinal Plants
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Efficacy, Safety and Phytochemistry of Medicinal Plants

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2025 | Viewed by 4205

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Dušanka Kitić

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, University of Niš, Ave. Zorana Djindjica 81, 18000 Nis, Serbia
Interests: medicinal plants; pharmacognosy; phytotherapy; phytochemistry; biological activity of secondary plant metabolites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Nebojša Menković

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Pharmacy Novi Sad, University Business Academy, Heroja Pinkija 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Interests: natural products chemistry; biological activities; phytotherapy; ethnomedicine; phenolics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants have been an inexhaustible source of remedies since ancient times, with traditional medicine heavily relying on their therapeutic properties. Despite the advancements in synthetic chemistry, natural compounds play a crucial role in drug development. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 40% of pharmaceutical products in use today are derived from natural sources, as a result of traditional knowledge. Landmark drugs like aspirin and artemisinin exemplify the significant contributions of plant-based compounds to modern medicine.

Concerns over the adverse effects of synthetic drugs have led to a resurgence of interest in plant-derived medicines. Many contemporary pharmaceuticals incorporate medicinal plants and their extracts into their formulations to mitigate potential risks. Exploring medicinal plants, herbal medicinal products and isolated plant substances is gaining momentum, with recent research unveiling various possible applications in medicine and pharmacy. This growing body of knowledge underscores the multifaceted roles that medicinal plants can play in healthcare, from traditional remedies to cutting-edge pharmaceutical innovations. On the other hand, not all substances of natural origin are necessarily safe, so care must be taken around the safe use of medicinal plants and their products. Consequently, this edition aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in this field. By highlighting the latest research and breakthroughs, we strive to facilitate the development, application, and understanding of pharmaceuticals and health supplements derived from plants.

We invite submissions of original research and review articles that align with this thematic focus. Through collaborative efforts and shared knowledge, we aim to propel further innovation in plant-based medicine, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes worldwide.

Prof. Dr. Dušanka Kitić
Prof. Dr. Nebojša Menković
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • medicinal plants
  • bioactive plants products
  • plants extract
  • essential oil
  • plant-derived medicines
  • pharmacological activity
  • safety

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 4695 KB  
Article
Unraveling the Mechanisms of Biebersteinia heterostemon in Improving Hyperlipidemia: A Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and In Vitro Validation in HepG2 Cells
by Xiuxiu Shen, Shengwen Chen, Mengting Zeng and Benyin Zhang
Plants 2025, 14(22), 3535; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223535 - 19 Nov 2025
Viewed by 427
Abstract
Biebersteinia heterostemon is a traditional Tibetan medicine known for its antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and anti-atherosclerotic properties. However, its therapeutic effects and mechanisms in the treatment of hyperlipidemia remain unclear. In this study, the ethyl acetate extract of B. heterostemon (BHEE) was first identified as [...] Read more.
Biebersteinia heterostemon is a traditional Tibetan medicine known for its antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and anti-atherosclerotic properties. However, its therapeutic effects and mechanisms in the treatment of hyperlipidemia remain unclear. In this study, the ethyl acetate extract of B. heterostemon (BHEE) was first identified as the most effective lipid-lowering fraction through its inhibitory activity on pancreatic lipase and cholesterol esterase. Chemical characterization of BHEE by UHPLC-MS/MS revealed 108 compounds. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses were then employed to predict key active components and signaling pathways involved in BHEE’s lipid-lowering effects. A total of 50 active components and 623 targets were selected from the PubChem, SwissADME, and Swiss Target Prediction databases. These targets were intersected with 1606 hyperlipidemia-related targets from GeneCards, OMIM, and DrugBank, resulting in 144 common targets. The “drug-active component-intersecting target-pathway-HLP” and protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks suggested key active components such as 6-methoxytricin, vulgarin, flazin, ganhuangenin, and eupatorin, and core targets including TNF, IL6, AKT1, PPARG, and EGFR. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis highlighted potential signaling pathways, such as AGE-RAGE, PPAR, insulin resistance, TNF, and lipid and atherosclerosis pathways. Molecular docking further predicted the strong binding affinity between key active components and core targets. At the cellular level, BHEE dose-dependently reduced lipid accumulation in FFA-induced HepG2 cells and improved oxidative stress (CAT, GSH, SOD, MDA) and inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6) markers. In conclusion, BHEE may exert its anti-hyperlipidemic effects through modulation of key targets like TNF, IL6, AKT1, PPARG, and EGFR. These findings suggest a multi-target mechanism, though further experimental validation is necessary to confirm these effects. This study provides valuable insights into the potential application of B. heterostemon as a natural therapeutic agent for hyperlipidemia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficacy, Safety and Phytochemistry of Medicinal Plants)
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15 pages, 3096 KB  
Article
Optimization of Swertiamarin and Isogentisin Extraction from Gentiana lutea L. Leaves by Response Surface Methodology
by Katarina Šavikin, Miloš S. Jovanović, Gordana Zdunić, Jelena Živković, Dušanka Kitić, Dubravka Bigović and Teodora Janković
Plants 2025, 14(16), 2538; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162538 - 15 Aug 2025
Viewed by 741
Abstract
Leaves of Gentiana lutea L., traditionally used for treating heart disorders, represent a sustainable and underutilized source of bitter secoiridoids and xanthones, also found in Gentianae radix—an official herbal drug derived from the same, protected species. As root harvesting leads to the [...] Read more.
Leaves of Gentiana lutea L., traditionally used for treating heart disorders, represent a sustainable and underutilized source of bitter secoiridoids and xanthones, also found in Gentianae radix—an official herbal drug derived from the same, protected species. As root harvesting leads to the destruction of the plant, using the more readily available leaves could help reduce the pressure on this endangered natural resource. This study aimed to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction of the secoiridoid swertiamarin and the xanthone isogentisin from G. lutea leaves using response surface methodology (RSM). Subsequently, the stability of the bioactive compounds (swertiamarin, gentiopicrin, mangiferin, isoorientin, isovitexin, and isogentisin) in the optimized extract was monitored over a 30-day period under different storage conditions. The influence of extraction time (5–65 min), ethanol concentration (10–90% v/v), liquid-to-solid ratio (10–50 mL/g), and temperature (20–80 °C) was analyzed at five levels according to a central composite design. The calculated optimal extraction conditions for the simultaneous maximization of swertiamarin and isogentisin yields were 50 min extraction time, 30% v/v ethanol concentration, 30 mL/g liquid-to-solid ratio, and 62.7 °C extraction temperature. Under these conditions, the experimentally obtained yields were 3.75 mg/g dry weight for swertiamarin and 1.57 mg/g dry weight for isogentisin, closely matching the RSM model predictions. The stability study revealed that low-temperature storage preserved major bioactive compounds, whereas mangiferin stability was compromised by elevated temperature and light exposure. The established models support the production of standardized G. lutea leaf extracts and may facilitate the efficient separation and purification of their bioactive compounds, thereby contributing to the further valorization of this valuable plant material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficacy, Safety and Phytochemistry of Medicinal Plants)
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18 pages, 1407 KB  
Article
Cardiovascular Effects, Antioxidant Activity, and Phytochemical Analysis of Rubus ulmifolius Schott Leaves
by Afaf Mehiou, Chaimae Alla, Zachée Louis Evariste Akissi, Ikram Dib, Sanae Abid, Ali Berraaouan, Hassane Mekhfi, Abdelkhaleq Legssyer, Abderrahim Ziyyat and Sevser Sahpaz
Plants 2025, 14(16), 2513; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14162513 - 12 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1047
Abstract
Wild blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) is a culinary and medicinal plant traditionally used to treat various ailments, including hypertension. This study evaluated the vasorelaxant effects of five crude leaf extracts of R. ulmifolius (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous), as well [...] Read more.
Wild blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) is a culinary and medicinal plant traditionally used to treat various ailments, including hypertension. This study evaluated the vasorelaxant effects of five crude leaf extracts of R. ulmifolius (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous), as well as the hypotensive and antioxidant activities of its methanolic extract (MERu), and analyzed its phytochemical profile. Crude extracts, obtained using a Soxhlet apparatus, were tested in vitro on isolated rat aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine. The hypotensive effect of MERu was examined in vivo in normotensive rats, and its antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH assay. Total phenolic and tannin contents were quantified by the Folin–Ciocalteu and hide powder methods, respectively, while UHPLC-MS was used to identify its phytochemicals. All crude extracts induced concentration-dependent vasorelaxation, with MERu showing the strongest effect (59.31% relaxation at 10−1 g/L). Intravenous MERu induced significant blood pressure reductions in rats, starting at 1 mg/kg. At 20 mg/kg, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures dropped by 38.61%, 51.58%, and 45.19%, respectively. MERu also demonstrated potent antioxidant activity and was rich in polyphenols, particularly tannins. Sixteen compounds were identified, notably rubanthrone A, a galloyl-bis-HHDP glucose derivative, ellagic acid, and quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucuronide. These results suggest that R. ulmifolius may have therapeutic potential for hypertension and exhibits promising characteristics as a functional food. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficacy, Safety and Phytochemistry of Medicinal Plants)
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Review

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15 pages, 3091 KB  
Review
An Update of Phytotherapeutic Advances of Marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) in Wound Healing
by Georgia Eirini Deligiannidou, Konstantinos Papadimitriou, Efthymios Poulios, Christos Kontogiorgis, Sousana K. Papadopoulou and Constantinos Giaginis
Plants 2025, 14(22), 3497; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14223497 - 16 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1480
Abstract
Wounds are disruptions of the dermal layer of the skin caused by physical, chemical, thermal, infectious, or immunological insults. Given the skin’s critical role in maintaining homeostasis and protecting against external threats, prompt and effective wound healing is essential to restore functionality and [...] Read more.
Wounds are disruptions of the dermal layer of the skin caused by physical, chemical, thermal, infectious, or immunological insults. Given the skin’s critical role in maintaining homeostasis and protecting against external threats, prompt and effective wound healing is essential to restore functionality and prevent further complications. Numerous natural products (NPs) have long been employed in wound care due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and regenerative properties. Building on this historical and scientific foundation, the present literature review consolidates and critically evaluates recent experimental and clinical evidence on the wound healing potential of marigold (Calendula officinalis L.). By focusing on studies published between 2020 and 2025, this review captures the evolving understanding of the plant’s therapeutic applications, particularly in skin regeneration and wound management. For each selected publication, formulation type, intervention strategy, dosage, and key outcomes (such as healing rate, cell proliferation, and modulation of inflammatory markers) were summarized. This synthesis aims to provide an update on current evaluations involving C. officinalis and how this plant contributes to dermal repair and to identify promising directions for future research and clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficacy, Safety and Phytochemistry of Medicinal Plants)
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