Submit to Molecules Review for Molecules Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

Phytochemistry and Bioactivity of the Natural Products

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 27132

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Hsiu-Mei Chiang

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

Department of Cosmeceutics, China Medical University, Taichung 406, Taiwan
Interests: photoaging; melanogenesis; phytochemistry; phototoxicity; dermatology; skin disorders
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants have an abundance of active components and various phytochemicals with multiple benefits, including antioxidant properties, antiaging, and protection of skin from environmental damage. The aim of this Special Issue is to collect the most up-to-date research on the protection and mechanisms of natural products or phytochemicals on aging-related disorders or diseases. Studies focused on the prevention and alleviation of natural products or phytochemicals on photoaging, photodamage, hyperpigmentation, and skin disorders are desired. We also welcome review articles and research on the protection of aging-related diseases in clinical trials, as well as in vitro and in vivo models.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

Aging and aging-related disorders or diseases
The effects and mechanisms of phytochemicals in age-related diseases
Phytochemicals on regulation of melanogenesis
Effects and mechanism of phytochemicals on skin disorders
Antioxidants in aging-related diseases, such as skin disorders and skin cancer

Prof. Dr. Hsiu-Mei Chiang
Guest Editor

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. Molecules 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

natural products
antioxidants
reactive oxygen species
photoaging
melanogenesis
phytochemicals
skin disorders

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

11 pages, 1902 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Three New Xanthones from Hypericum scabrum and Their Quorum Sensing Inhibitory Activities against Chromobacterium violaceum

by Li-Ping Teng, Hong Zeng, Cai-Yan Yang, He-Bin Wang and Zhong-Bo Zhou

Molecules 2022, 27(17), 5519; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27175519 - 27 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1310

Abstract

Quorum sensing (QS) plays an important role in the production of virulence factors and pathogenicity in pathogenic bacteria and is, therefore, a hopeful target to fight against bacterial infections. During our search for natural QS inhibitors, two new xanthonolignoids (1 and 2), each existing as a racemic mixture, one new simple oxygenated xanthone (7), and eight known analogs (3–6, 8–11) were isolated from Hypericum scabrum Linn. Chiral separation of 1 yielded a pair of enantiomers 1a and 1b. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and ECD (electrostatic circular dichroism) calculations. All isolates were evaluated for their QS inhibitory activity against Chromobacterium violaceum. Both 9 and 10 exhibited the most potent QS inhibitory effects with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of 31.25 and 62.5 μM, respectively. Crystal violet staining was used to further evaluate the biofilm inhibition potential of compounds 7, 9 and 10, and the formation of biofilms increased with decreasing drug concentration in a classic dose-dependent manner. The results of a cytotoxicity assay revealed that compounds 7, 9 and 10 exhibited no cytotoxic activity on PC-12 cells at the tested concentration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry and Bioactivity of the Natural Products)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 7039 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Anti-Skin-Aging Activity of Yeast Extract-Treated Resveratrol Rice DJ526

by Vipada Kantayos, Jin-Suk Kim and So-Hyeon Baek

Molecules 2022, 27(6), 1951; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27061951 - 17 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2413

Abstract

Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that defends against oxidative stress in cells but is not found in large quantities in plants. Resveratrol-enriched rice DJ526, which was developed as a functional crop, shows a diverse range of biological activities. Resveratrol production is measured as total resveratrol and its glycoside, piceid, which is mainly found in plant-derived resveratrol. In the present study, elicitation using yeast extract (YE), methyl jasmonate, and jasmonic acid increased resveratrol production in DJ526 rice seeds. DJ526 seeds elicited using 1 g/L (YE1) and 5 g/L yeast extract (YE5) showed enhanced resveratrol production and antioxidant activity. YE5-treated DJ526 seeds showed decreased melanin content by 46.1% and 37.0% compared with the negative control and DJ526 (non-elicitation), respectively. Both YE1 and YE5 efficiently improved the wound-healing activity by reducing the wound gap faster than in untreated cells, with a maximum rate of 60.2% at 24 h and complete closure at 48 h. YE1 and YE5 significantly decreased the levels of proinflammatory cytokine, TNF-α, and enhanced collagen synthesis in inflammatory cells. These findings indicate that YE-treated resveratrol rice DJ526 may improve resveratrol production and could be an active antiaging ingredient for cosmetic and skin therapy applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry and Bioactivity of the Natural Products)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

18 pages, 3617 KiB

Open AccessReview

Phytochemicals, Bioactive Properties and Commercial Potential of Calamondin (Citrofortunella microcarpa) Fruits: A Review

by Karthikeyan Venkatachalam, Narin Charoenphun, Pao Srean, Vasin Yuvanatemiya, Chinnawut Pipatpanukul, Kanokporn Pakeechai, Thanya Parametthanuwat and Jittimon Wongsa

Molecules 2023, 28(8), 3401; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules28083401 - 12 Apr 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 12486

Abstract

The calamondin (Citrofortunella microcarpa) is a hybrid citrus fruit resulting from the crossing of a mandarin orange with a kumquat. It is a small, round-shaped fruit with thin, smooth skin ranging from orange to dark red. The aroma of the fruit is distinctive and unique. Calamondin is an excellent source of Vitamin C, D-Limonene, and essential oils, providing benefits to the immune system, as well as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-angiogenic, and anti-cancer properties, and it exhibits various therapeutic effects. It also contains a good amount of dietary fiber from pectin. Its distinctive flavor and high juice content make calamondin juice a popular ingredient in many international cuisines. The juice also contains bioactive compounds, such as phenolics and flavonoids, which are a potential source of antioxidant properties. All parts of the calamondin fruit, including the juice, pulp, seeds, and peel, can be used in various applications, from food products like juices, powders, and candies to non-food uses in herbal medicine and cosmetics, showcasing their versatility and unique properties. This review will examine various bioactive components of calamondin and their related medicinal effects, and provide guidelines for their utilization, processing, and value addition on a commercial scale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry and Bioactivity of the Natural Products)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 923 KiB

Open AccessReview

Phytochemical Constituents, Folk Medicinal Uses, and Biological Activities of Genus Angelica: A Review

by Gaber El-Saber Batiha, Hazem M. Shaheen, Esraa A. Elhawary, Nada M. Mostafa, Omayma A. Eldahshan and Jean-Marc Sabatier

Molecules 2023, 28(1), 267; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules28010267 - 28 Dec 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3789

Abstract

Genus Angelica is one of the widely distributed and well-known genera of family Umbelliferae. It is utilized mainly by Chinese and Korean populations especially in their folk medicine. Angelica comprises a lot of medicinally important phytoconstituents such as coumarins, furanocoumarins, flavonoids, essential oils, verbascosides, polysaccharides, etc. Members of this genus play important roles, namely antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, skin-whitening, cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, and many others. This review draws attention to many species of genus Angelica with much focus on A. dahurica being one of the highly medicinally used species within this genus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry and Bioactivity of the Natural Products)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

33 pages, 5620 KiB

Open AccessReview

Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of Guarea Genus (Meliaceae)

by Wahyu Safriansyah, Siska Elisahbet Sinaga, Unang Supratman and Desi Harneti

Molecules 2022, 27(24), 8758; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27248758 - 10 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1579

Abstract

Guarea is one of the largest genera of the American Meliaceae family, consisting of over 69 species which are widely distributed in Mexico, Argentina, and Africa and are used in traditional medicine for several diseases. Previous studies reported that the Guarea species produce secondary metabolites such as sesquiterpenoid, diterpenoid, triterpenoid, limonoid, steroid, and aromatic compounds. The preliminary chemical investigation commenced by isolating the limonoid compound, dihydrogedunin, in 1962; then, 240 compounds were obtained from the isolation and hydrodistillation process. Meanwhile, sesquiterpenoid is a significant compound with 52% of Guarea species. The extract and compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammation, antimalarial, antiparasitic, antiprotozoal, antiviral, antimicrobial, insecticidal, antioxidant, phosphorylation inhibitor, and cytotoxic biological activities. The Guarea genus has also been reported as one of the sources of active compounds for medicinal chemistry. This review summarizes some descriptions regarding the types of Guarea species, especially ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology, such as the compounds isolated from the part of this genus, various isolation methods, and their bioactivities. The information can be used in further investigations to obtain more bioactive compounds and their reaction mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry and Bioactivity of the Natural Products)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 3042 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Molecular Mechanism of Polyphenols with Anti-Aging Activity in Aged Human Dermal Fibroblasts

by Joo Hwa Lee, Jooho Park and Dong Wook Shin

Molecules 2022, 27(14), 4351; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27144351 - 7 Jul 2022

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4719

Abstract

Skin is the largest organ in the body comprised of three different layers including the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The dermis is mainly composed of dermal fibroblasts and extracellular matrix (ECM), such as collagen and elastin, which are strongly related to skin elasticity and firmness. Skin is continuously exposed to different kinds of environmental stimuli. For example, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, air pollutants, or smoking aggravates skin aging. These external stimuli accelerate the aging process by reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated signaling pathways and even cause aging-related diseases. Skin aging is characterized by elasticity loss, wrinkle formation, a reduced dermal-epidermal junction, and delayed wound healing. Thus, many studies have shown that natural polyphenol compounds can delay the aging process by regulating age-related signaling pathways in aged dermal fibroblasts. This review first highlights the relationship between aging and its related molecular mechanisms. Then, we discuss the function and underlying mechanism of various polyphenols for improving skin aging. This study may provide essential insights for developing functional cosmetics and future clinical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemistry and Bioactivity of the Natural Products)

► Show Figures