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New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant...
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New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 June 2022) | Viewed by 51287

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ivayla Dincheva

E-Mail Website1 Website2 Website3
Guest Editor
Agrobiotechnologies, AgroBioInstitute, Agricultural Academy, 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: metabolomics; natural product chemistry; bioactive compounds; GC-MS; LC-ESI-MS/MS
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ilian Badjakov

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Agrobiotechnology, AgroBioInstitute, Agricultural Academy, 1164 Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: natural products; bioactive compounds; GC-MS; LC-ESI-MS/MS; biotechnology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Bistra Galunska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Medicine and Nutrigenomics, Faculties of Pharmacy, Medical University “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov” - 9000 Varna, 84 Tzar Osvoboditel str., Bulgaria
Interests: phytochemical composition; antioxidant activity; metabolism and bioavailability of plant active substances
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant bioactive compounds are essential for human health owing to their multiple biological effects, such as antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antiallergenic, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antimicrobial activities leading to beneficial effects on various noncommunicable diseases, such as autoimmune, inflammatory, cardiovascular, cancer, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases. Identifying these components and establishing their beneficial health effects are extremely active areas of scientific inquiry. The screening of natural sources for novel biologically active metabolites has been an essential part of several drug discovery programs.

This Special Issue aims to present recent developments in high-throughput and efficient analytical approaches enabling identification of plant-based compounds, the establishment of new protocols for evaluation of in vivo and in vitro bioactivities, and methods for extraction, isolation, and structural characterization of new bioactive components with nutraceutical and therapeutic potential.


Dr. Ivayla N. Dincheva
Dr. Ilian Badjakov
Prof. Bistra Galunska
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

  • bioactive compounds
  • extraction, isolation, and structural characterization
  • herbal preparations and natural medicines
  • benefits, analytical strategies for bioactive compound identification and quantification
  • in vivo and in vitro bioactivity of botanicals

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Published Papers (18 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 212 KiB  
Editorial
New Insights into the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origins with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential
by Ivayla Dincheva, Ilian Badjakov and Bistra Galunska
Plants 2023, 12(2), 258; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants12020258 - 05 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1409
Abstract
Plant bioactive compounds are essential for human health due to their multiple biological effects, such as antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antiallergenic, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antimicrobial activities, which can have beneficial effects on various noncommunicable diseases, such as autoimmune, inflammatory, cardiovascular, cancer, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases [...] Read more.
Plant bioactive compounds are essential for human health due to their multiple biological effects, such as antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antiallergenic, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antimicrobial activities, which can have beneficial effects on various noncommunicable diseases, such as autoimmune, inflammatory, cardiovascular, cancer, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

16 pages, 3229 KiB  
Article
Identification of Putative Candidate Genes from Galphimia spp. Encoding Enzymes of the Galphimines Triterpenoids Synthesis Pathway with Anxiolytic and Sedative Effects
by Dianella Iglesias, Marcos de Donato Capote, Alfonso Méndez Tenorio, Ana Victoria Valdivia, Claudia Gutiérrez-García, Sujay Paul, Hafiz M. N. Iqbal, María Luisa Villarreal and Ashutosh Sharma
Plants 2022, 11(14), 1879; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11141879 - 20 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1521
Abstract
Galphimia spp. is popularly used in Mexican traditional medicine. Some populations of Galphimia exert anxiolytic and sedative effects due to the presence of the modified triterpenoids galphimines. However, the galphimine synthesis pathway has not yet been elucidated. Hence, in this study, a comparative [...] Read more.
Galphimia spp. is popularly used in Mexican traditional medicine. Some populations of Galphimia exert anxiolytic and sedative effects due to the presence of the modified triterpenoids galphimines. However, the galphimine synthesis pathway has not yet been elucidated. Hence, in this study, a comparative transcriptome analysis between two contrasting populations of Galphimia spp., a galphimine-producer, and a non-galphimine-producer, is performed using RNA-Seq in the Illumina Next Seq 550 platform to identify putative candidates genes that encode enzymes of this metabolic pathway. Transcriptome functional annotation was performed using the Blast2GO in levels of gene ontology. For differential expression analysis, edgeR, pheatmap, and Genie3 library were used. To validate transcriptome data, qPCR was conducted. In producer and non-producer plants of both populations of Galphimia spp., most of the transcripts were grouped in the Molecular Function level of gene ontology. A total of 680 differentially expressed transcripts between producer and non-producer plants were detected. In galphimine-producer plants, a larger number of highly expressed transcripts related to acyclic and polycyclic terpene synthesis were identified. As putative candidate genes involved in the galphimine synthesis pathway, P450 family members and enzymes with kinase activity were identified. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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23 pages, 7867 KiB  
Article
Studies Regarding the Pharmaceutical Potential of Derivative Products from Plantain
by Marilena-Gabriela Olteanu Zaharie, Nicoleta Radu, Lucia Pirvu, Marinela Bostan, Mariana Voicescu, Mihaela Begea, Mariana Constantin, Catalina Voaides, Narcisa Babeanu and Viviana Roman
Plants 2022, 11(14), 1827; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11141827 - 12 Jul 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1945
Abstract
In this study, three types of extracts isolated from leaves of Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) were tested for their chemical content and biological activities. The three bioproducts are combinations of polysaccharides and polyphenols (flavonoids and iridoidic compounds), and they were tested for [...] Read more.
In this study, three types of extracts isolated from leaves of Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) were tested for their chemical content and biological activities. The three bioproducts are combinations of polysaccharides and polyphenols (flavonoids and iridoidic compounds), and they were tested for antioxidant, antifungal, antitumor, and prebiotic activity (particularly for polysaccharides fraction). Briefly, the iridoid-enriched fraction has revealed a pro-oxidant activity, while the flavonoid-enriched fraction had a high antioxidant potency; the polysaccharide fraction also indicated a pro-oxidant activity, explained by the co-presence of iridoid glycosides. All three bioproducts demonstrated moderate antifungal effects against Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., and dermatophytes, too. Studies in vitro proved inhibitory activity of the three fractions on the leukemic tumor cell line THP-1, the main mechanism being apoptosis stimulation, while the polysaccharide fraction indicated a clear prebiotic activity, in the concentration range between 1 and 1000 µg/mL, evaluated as higher than that of the reference products used, inulin and dextrose, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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14 pages, 666 KiB  
Article
Comparative Phytochemical Analysis of Aronia melanocarpa L. Fruit Juices on Bulgarian Market
by Oskan Tasinov, Ivayla Dincheva, Ilian Badjakov, Christina Grupcheva and Bistra Galunska
Plants 2022, 11(13), 1655; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11131655 - 22 Jun 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1857
Abstract
Aronia melanocarpa L. (black chokeberry), belonging to the Rosaceae family, contains high amounts of polyphenolics and therefore exhibits one of the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities among berry fruits. Chokeberries are used in the food industry for juice, nectar, and wine production and [...] Read more.
Aronia melanocarpa L. (black chokeberry), belonging to the Rosaceae family, contains high amounts of polyphenolics and therefore exhibits one of the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities among berry fruits. Chokeberries are used in the food industry for juice, nectar, and wine production and as colorants. We aimed to compare the phytochemical composition of three chokeberry juices commercially available in the local market as sources of beneficial phytochemicals. Using GC–MS and LC–MS/MS, we performed the identification and quantitation of polar compounds and polyphenolics. The concentrations of 13 amino acids, including 6 essential amino acids, 10 organic acids, 20 sugar alcohols and derivatives, 14 saccharides, 12 fatty acids and esters, and 38 polyphenols, were estimated. One of the analyzed juices had the highest polyphenolic content (5273.87 ± 63.16 µg/mL), possibly due to 2.9 times higher anthocyanin concentration compared to anthocyanins in other tested juices. This study provides new data concerning phytochemical composition in terms of amino acids, organic acids, sugar acids, fatty acids and their esters, and polyphenols as phytocomponents of commercially available chokeberry juices. Results show that after all processing techniques and possibly different plant growth conditions, chokeberry juices are a valuable source of health-promoting phytochemicals such as phenolic acids, pro-anthocyanins, and anthocyanins, thus considering them as functional foods. We demonstrated a diversity of the active substances in bioactive foods marketed as “same”; therefore, the standardized therapeutic effect could be expected only by the utilization of food supplements with guaranteed constant content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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17 pages, 1694 KiB  
Article
Computation Screening of Multi-Target Antidiabetic Properties of Phytochemicals in Common Edible Mediterranean Plants
by Vlasios Goulas, Antonio J. Banegas-Luna, Athena Constantinou, Horacio Pérez-Sánchez and Alexandra Barbouti
Plants 2022, 11(13), 1637; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11131637 - 21 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1655
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease and one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide. Numerous studies support that the Mediterranean diet has preventive and treatment effects on diabetes. These effects have been attributed to the special bioactive composition of Mediterranean foods. The [...] Read more.
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease and one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide. Numerous studies support that the Mediterranean diet has preventive and treatment effects on diabetes. These effects have been attributed to the special bioactive composition of Mediterranean foods. The objective of this work was to decipher the antidiabetic activity of Mediterranean edible plant materials using the DIA-DB inverse virtual screening web server. A literature review on the antidiabetic potential of Mediterranean plants was performed and twenty plants were selected for further examination. Subsequently, the most abundant flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenes in plant materials were studied to predict their antidiabetic activity. Results showed that flavonoids are the most active phytochemicals as they modulate the function of 17 protein-targets and present high structural similarity with antidiabetic drugs. Their antidiabetic effects are linked with three mechanisms of action, namely (i) regulation of insulin secretion/sensitivity, (ii) regulation of glucose metabolism, and (iii) regulation of lipid metabolism. Overall, the findings can be utilized to understand the antidiabetic activity of edible Mediterranean plants pinpointing the most active phytoconstituents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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14 pages, 1455 KiB  
Article
Phytochemical Constitution, Anti-Inflammation, Anti-Androgen, and Hair Growth-Promoting Potential of Shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) Extract
by Warintorn Ruksiriwanich, Chiranan Khantham, Anurak Muangsanguan, Chuda Chittasupho, Pornchai Rachtanapun, Kittisak Jantanasakulwong, Yuthana Phimolsiripol, Sarana Rose Sommano, Korawan Sringarm, Emilia Ferrer and Francisco J. Barba
Plants 2022, 11(11), 1499; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11111499 - 02 Jun 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5951
Abstract
In Thai folklore wisdom, shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) was applied as a traditional herbal medicine for hair growth promotion with no scientific evidence. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a progressive hair loss caused by multiple factors, including androgen hormones, inflammation, and oxidative stress. [...] Read more.
In Thai folklore wisdom, shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) was applied as a traditional herbal medicine for hair growth promotion with no scientific evidence. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a progressive hair loss caused by multiple factors, including androgen hormones, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Conventional medicines (finasteride, dutasteride, corticosteroids, and minoxidil) have been used with limited therapeutic efficacy and unpleasant side effects. In this study, we aimed to give the first estimation of bioactive compounds in shallot extract and evaluate the hair growth-promoting activities regarding anti-inflammatory and gene expression modulation involving androgen, Wnt/β-catenin, sonic hedgehog, and angiogenesis pathways. The results reveal that phenolic compounds (quercetin, rosmarinic, and p-coumaric acids) are the major constituents of the methanolic shallot extract. Compared with the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated control group (2.68 ± 0.13 µM), nitric oxide production was remarkably diminished by shallot extract (0.55 ± 0.06 µM). Shallot extract improves hair growth promotion activity, as reflected by the downregulation of the androgen gene expression (SRD5A1 and SRD5A2) and the upregulation of the genes associated with Wnt/β-catenin (CTNNB1), sonic hedgehog (SHH, SMO, and GIL1), and angiogenesis (VEGF) pathways. These findings disclose the new insights of shallot extract on hair growth promotions. Shallot extract could be further developed as nutraceutical, nutricosmetic, and cosmeceutical preparations for AGA treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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21 pages, 3147 KiB  
Article
Isolation and Characterization of Werneria Chromene and Dihydroxyacidissimol from Burkillanthus malaccensis (Ridl.) Swingle
by Masyitah Zulkipli, Nuzum Mahbub, Ayesha Fatima, Stefanie Lim Wan-Lin, Teng-Jin Khoo, Tooba Mahboob, Mogana Rajagopal, Chandramathi Samudi, Gheetanjali Kathirvalu, Nor Hayati Abdullah, Ana Rita Pinho, Sonia M. R. Oliveira, Maria de Lourdes Pereira, Mohammed Rahmatullah, Anamul Hasan, Alok K. Paul, Mark S. Butler, Muhammad Nawaz, Polrat Wilairatana, Veeranoot Nissapatorn and Christophe Wiartadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Plants 2022, 11(11), 1388; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11111388 - 24 May 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2014
Abstract
The secondary metabolites of endemic plants from the Rutaceae family, such as Burkillanthusmalaccensis (Ridl.) Swingle from the rainforest of Malaysia, has not been studied. Burkillanthusmalaccensis (Ridl.) Swingle may produce antibacterial and antibiotic-potentiating secondary metabolites. Hexane, chloroform, and methanol extracts of leaves, [...] Read more.
The secondary metabolites of endemic plants from the Rutaceae family, such as Burkillanthusmalaccensis (Ridl.) Swingle from the rainforest of Malaysia, has not been studied. Burkillanthusmalaccensis (Ridl.) Swingle may produce antibacterial and antibiotic-potentiating secondary metabolites. Hexane, chloroform, and methanol extracts of leaves, bark, wood, pericarps, and endocarps were tested against bacteria by broth microdilution assay and their antibiotic-potentiating activities. Chromatographic separations of hexane extracts of seeds were conducted to investigate effective phytochemicals and their antibacterial activities. Molecular docking studies of werneria chromene and dihydroxyacidissiminol against SARS-CoV-2 virus infection were conducted using AutoDock Vina. The methanol extract of bark inhibited the growth of Staphylococcusaureus, Escherichiacoli, and Pseudomonasaeruginosa with the minimum inhibitory concentration of 250, 500, and 250 µg/mL, respectively. The chloroform extract of endocarps potentiated the activity of imipenem against imipenem-resistant Acinetobacterbaumannii. The hexane extract of seeds increased the sensitivity of P. aeruginosa against ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. The hexane extract of seeds and chloroform extract of endocarps were chromatographed, yielding werneria chromene and dihydroxyacidissiminol. Werneria chromene was bacteriostatic for P.aeruginosa and P.putida, with MIC/MBC values of 1000 > 1000 µg/mL. Dihydroxyacidissiminol showed the predicted binding energies of −8.1, −7.6, −7.0, and −7.5 kcal/mol with cathepsin L, nsp13 helicase, SARS-CoV-2 main protease, and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain S-RBD. Burkillanthusmalaccensis (Ridl.) Swingle can be a potential source of natural products with antibiotic-potentiating activity and that are anti-SARS-CoV-2. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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16 pages, 4662 KiB  
Article
Essential Oil Yield, Composition, and Bioactivity of Sagebrush Species in the Bighorn Mountains
by Valtcho D. Zheljazkov, Charles L. Cantrell, Ekaterina A. Jeliazkova, Tess Astatkie and Vicki Schlegel
Plants 2022, 11(9), 1228; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11091228 - 01 May 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1879
Abstract
Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) are dominant wild plants in large areas of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and they include several species and subspecies. The aim was to determine if there are significant differences in essential oil (EO) yield, composition, and biological activity [...] Read more.
Sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) are dominant wild plants in large areas of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and they include several species and subspecies. The aim was to determine if there are significant differences in essential oil (EO) yield, composition, and biological activity of sagebrush within the Bighorn Mountains, U.S. The EO yield in fresh herbage varied from 0.15 to 1.69% for all species, including 0.25–1.69% in A. tridentata var. vaseyana, 0.64–1.44% in A. tridentata var. tridentata, 1% in A. tridentata var. wyomingensis, 0.8–1.2% in A. longifolia, 0.8–1% in A. cana, and 0.16% in A. ludoviciana. There was significant variability in the EO profile between species, and subspecies. Some EO constituents, such as α-pinene (0–35.5%), camphene (0–21.5%), eucalyptol (0–30.8%), and camphor (0–45.5%), were found in most species and varied with species and subspecies. The antioxidant capacity of the EOs varied between the species and subspecies. None of the sagebrush EOs had significant antimicrobial, antimalarial, antileishmanial activity, or contained podophyllotoxin. Some accessions yielded EO with significant concentrations of compounds including camphor, eucalyptol, cis-thujone, α-pinene, α-necrodol-acetate, fragranol, grandisol, para-cymene, and arthole. Therefore, chemotypes can be selected and possibly introduced into culture and be grown for commercial production of these compounds to meet specific industry needs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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14 pages, 1146 KiB  
Article
Chemical Profile and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils of Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench. and Helichrysum italicum (Roth.) G. Don
by Valtcho D. Zheljazkov, Ivanka Semerdjieva, Elina Yankova-Tsvetkova, Tess Astatkie, Stanko Stanev, Ivayla Dincheva and Miroslava Kačániová
Plants 2022, 11(7), 951; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11070951 - 31 Mar 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2619
Abstract
This study compared the essential oils (EO) composition of Helichrysum arenarium (Bulgarian populations) with that of the cultivated species H. italicum. The EO composition of H. arenarium and H. italicum were analyzed via gas chromatography. In general, 75 components were identified in [...] Read more.
This study compared the essential oils (EO) composition of Helichrysum arenarium (Bulgarian populations) with that of the cultivated species H. italicum. The EO composition of H. arenarium and H. italicum were analyzed via gas chromatography. In general, 75 components were identified in H. arenarium EO and 79 in H. italicum EO. The predominant constituents in H. arenarium EO were α-pinene (34.64–44.35%) and sabinene (10.63–11.1%), which affirmed the examined population as a new chemical type. Overall, the main EO constituents of H. italicum originating in France, Bosnia and Corsica were neryl acetate (4.04–14.87%) and β-himachalene (9.9–10.99%). However, the EOs profile of H. italicum introduced from the above three countries differed to some extent. D-limonene (5.23%), italicene, α-guaiene and neryl acetate (14.87%) predominated in the H. italicum introduced from France, while α-pinene (13.74%), δ-cadinene (5.51%), α-cadinene (3.3%), β-caryophyllene (3.65%) and α-calacorene (1.63%) predominated in plants introduced from Bosnia. The EOs of the plants introduced from France and Corsica had similar chemical composition and antimicrobiological activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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16 pages, 1620 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activity of Dracocephalum moldavica L. Essential Oil and Hydrolate
by Milica Aćimović, Olja Šovljanski, Vanja Šeregelj, Lato Pezo, Valtcho D. Zheljazkov, Jovana Ljujić, Ana Tomić, Gordana Ćetković, Jasna Čanadanović-Brunet, Ana Miljković and Ljubodrag Vujisić
Plants 2022, 11(7), 941; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11070941 - 31 Mar 2022
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2467
Abstract
Steam distillation was used for the isolation of Dracocephalum moldavica L. (Moldavian dragonhead) essential oil (DMEO). This aromatic herbaceous plant is widespread across the Northern Hemisphere regions and has been utilized in health-improving studies and applications. In addition to the DMEO, the hydrolate [...] Read more.
Steam distillation was used for the isolation of Dracocephalum moldavica L. (Moldavian dragonhead) essential oil (DMEO). This aromatic herbaceous plant is widespread across the Northern Hemisphere regions and has been utilized in health-improving studies and applications. In addition to the DMEO, the hydrolate (DMH), a byproduct of the distillation process, was also collected. The DMEO and DMH were analyzed and compared in terms of their chemical composition, as well as their in vitro biological activities. The main component in DMEO was geranyl acetate, while geranial was dominant in DMH. The DMEO demonstrated better antioxidant and antimicrobial activities compared with the DMH against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes, which represent sources of food-borne illness at the global level. The DMEO and DMH show promise as antioxidant and antimicrobial additives to various products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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11 pages, 794 KiB  
Article
Jacaranone Derivatives with Antiproliferative Activity from Crepis pulchra and Relevance of This Group of Plant Metabolites
by Csilla Zsuzsanna Dávid, Norbert Kúsz, Gyula Pinke, Ágnes Kulmány, István Zupkó, Judit Hohmann and Andrea Vasas
Plants 2022, 11(6), 782; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11060782 - 16 Mar 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1994
Abstract
Jacaranones are a small group of specific plant metabolites with promising biological activities. The occurrence of jacaranones is limited to only a few plant families, with Asteraceae being the most abundant source of these compounds. Therefore, jacaranones can also serve as chemotaxonomic markers. [...] Read more.
Jacaranones are a small group of specific plant metabolites with promising biological activities. The occurrence of jacaranones is limited to only a few plant families, with Asteraceae being the most abundant source of these compounds. Therefore, jacaranones can also serve as chemotaxonomic markers. Our phytochemical investigation of Crepis pulchra L. (Asteraceae) resulted in three jacaranone derivatives (jacaranone, 2,3-dihydro-2-hydroxyjacaranone, 2,3-dihydro-2-methoxyjacaranone), and (6R,9S)-3-oxo-α-ionol-β-d-glucopyranoside, fulgidic acid, 12,15-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester, scopoletin and apigenin-7-O-β-d-glucoside. This is the first report on the isolation of jacaranones from a species belonging to the Cichorioideae subfamily of Asteraceae. Jacaranone derivatives were subjected to an in vitro antiproliferative assay against a panel of human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, HeLa, and C33A), revealing high or moderate activities, with IC50 values ranging from 6.3 to 26.5 μM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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16 pages, 2339 KiB  
Article
HS-SPME-GC–MS Volatile Profile Characterization of Peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) Varieties Grown in the Eastern Balkan Peninsula
by Dasha Mihaylova, Aneta Popova, Radka Vrancheva and Ivayla Dincheva
Plants 2022, 11(2), 166; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11020166 - 08 Jan 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2505
Abstract
The volatile compounds of eight peach varieties (Prunus persica L.)—“Filina”, “Gergana”, “Ufo-4”, “July lady”, “Laskava”, “Flat Queen”, “Evmolpiya”, and “Morsiani 90”—growing in Bulgaria were analyzed for the first time. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis and the HS-SPME technique revealed the presence of [...] Read more.
The volatile compounds of eight peach varieties (Prunus persica L.)—“Filina”, “Gergana”, “Ufo-4”, “July lady”, “Laskava”, “Flat Queen”, “Evmolpiya”, and “Morsiani 90”—growing in Bulgaria were analyzed for the first time. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis and the HS-SPME technique revealed the presence of 65 volatile compounds; the main identified components were aldehydes, esters, and fatty acids. According to the provided principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), the relative quantities of the identified volatile compounds depended on the studied peach variety. The results obtained could be successfully applied for the metabolic chemotaxonomy of peaches. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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30 pages, 2986 KiB  
Article
Phytochemical Composition, Anti-Inflammatory and ER Stress-Reducing Potential of Sambucus ebulus L. Fruit Extract
by Oskan Tasinov, Ivayla Dincheva, Ilian Badjakov, Yoana Kiselova-Kaneva, Bistra Galunska, Ruben Nogueiras and Diana Ivanova
Plants 2021, 10(11), 2446; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10112446 - 12 Nov 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3040
Abstract
Sambucus ebulus L. (SE) fruits are used for their immunostimulation, hematopoietic and antiviral potential. Recently, we focused on analyzing the mechanism underlying SE fruit aqueous extract’s (FAE) immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory activities, with attention to its endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-reducing potential. J774A.1 macrophages were [...] Read more.
Sambucus ebulus L. (SE) fruits are used for their immunostimulation, hematopoietic and antiviral potential. Recently, we focused on analyzing the mechanism underlying SE fruit aqueous extract’s (FAE) immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory activities, with attention to its endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-reducing potential. J774A.1 macrophages were treated with SE FAE alone or in conditions of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation. Using GC–MS and LC–MS/MS, its phytochemical composition was analyzed. To measure transcription and protein levels, we used qPCR and Western blot, respectively. The prevailing phytochemicals in SE FAE were hydroxycinnamic acids, proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins. The content of some amino acids, organic acids, alcohols, fatty acids and esters were newly reported. Extracts exerted an immunostimulation potential by stimulating IL-6, TNFα, Ccl2, COX2 and iNOS transcription, without inducing ER stress. SE FAE suppressed the LPS-induced transcription of inflammation related genes (IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, Ccl2, Icam-1, Fabp4, COX2, iNOS, Noxo1, IL-1ra, Sirt-1) and reduced the protein levels of iNOS, peIF2α, ATF6α and CHOP. The effects were comparable to that of salicylic acid. SE suppresses LPS-stimulated inflammatory markers on the transcription and translation levels. Targeting ER stress is possibly another mechanism underlying its anti-inflammatory potential. These findings reveal the potential of SE fruits as a beneficial therapeutic of inflammation and ER stress-related pathological conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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23 pages, 6922 KiB  
Article
Artemisia annua Growing Wild in Romania—A Metabolite Profile Approach to Target a Drug Delivery System Based on Magnetite Nanoparticles
by Adina-Elena Segneanu, Catalin Nicolae Marin, Ioan Ovidiu-Florin Ghirlea, Catalin Vladut Ionut Feier, Cornelia Muntean and Ioan Grozescu
Plants 2021, 10(11), 2245; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10112245 - 21 Oct 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3019
Abstract
The metabolites profile of a plant is greatly influenced by geographical factors and the ecological environment. Various studies focused on artemisinin and its derivates for their antiparasitic and antitumoral effects. However, after the isolation and purification stage, their pharmaceutical potential is limited due [...] Read more.
The metabolites profile of a plant is greatly influenced by geographical factors and the ecological environment. Various studies focused on artemisinin and its derivates for their antiparasitic and antitumoral effects. However, after the isolation and purification stage, their pharmaceutical potential is limited due to their low bioavailability, permeability and lifetime. The antibacterial activity of essential oils has been another topic of interest for many studies on this plant. Nevertheless, only a few studies investigate other metabolites in Artemisia annua. Considering that secondary metabolites act synergistically in a plant, the existence of other metabolites with antitumor and high immunomodulating activity is even more important. Novel nano-carrier systems obtained by loading herbs into magnetic nanoparticles ensures the increase in the antitumor effect, but also, overcoming the barriers related to permeability, localization. This study reported the first complete metabolic profile from wild grown Romanian Artemisia annua. A total of 103 metabolites were identified under mass spectra (MS) positive mode from 13 secondary metabolite categories: amino acids, terpenoids, steroids, coumarins, flavonoids, organic acids, fatty acids, phenolic acids, carbohydrates, glycosides, aldehydes, hydrocarbons, etc. In addition, the biological activity of each class of metabolites was discussed. We further developed a simple and inexpensive nano-carrier system with the intention to capitalize on the beneficial properties of both components. Evaluation of the nano-carrier system’s morpho-structural and magnetic properties was performed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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17 pages, 3289 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition, In Vitro and In Situ Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activities of Syzygium aromaticum (Clove) Essential Oil
by Miroslava Kačániová, Lucia Galovičová, Petra Borotová, Veronika Valková, Hana Ďúranová, Przemysław Łukasz Kowalczewski, Hussein A. H. Said-Al Ahl, Wafaa M. Hikal, Milena Vukic, Tatsiana Savitskaya, Dzmitrij Grinshpan and Nenad L. Vukovic
Plants 2021, 10(10), 2185; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10102185 - 15 Oct 2021
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3558
Abstract
The essential oil of Syzygium (S.) aromaticum (CEO) is known for its good biological activity. The aim of the research was to evaluate in vitro and in situ antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of the essential oil produced in Slovakia. The main [...] Read more.
The essential oil of Syzygium (S.) aromaticum (CEO) is known for its good biological activity. The aim of the research was to evaluate in vitro and in situ antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of the essential oil produced in Slovakia. The main components of CEO were eugenol 82.4% and (E)-caryophyllene 14.0%. The antimicrobial activity was either weak or very strong with inhibition zones ranging from 4.67 to 15.78 mm in gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and from 8.22 to 18.56 mm in yeasts and fungi. Among the tested bacteria and fungi, the lowest values of MIC were determined for Staphylococcus (S.) aureus and Penicillium (P.) expansum, respectively. The vapor phase of CEO inhibited the growth of the microscopic filamentous fungi of the genus Penicillium when tested in situ on bread. The strongest effect of mycelia inhibition in a bread model was observed against P. expansum at concentrations of 250 and 500 μL/mL. The best antimicrobial activity of CEO in the carrot model was found against P. chrysosenum. Differences between the mass spectra of Bacillus (B.) subtilis biofilms on the tested surfaces (wood, glass) and the control sample were noted from the seventh day of culture. There were some changes in mass spectra of Stenotrophomonas (S.) maltophilia, which were observed in both experimental groups from the fifth day of culture. These findings confirmed the impact of CEO on the protein structure of older biofilms. The findings indicate that, besides being safe and sensorially attractive, S. aromaticum has antimicrobial activity, which makes it a potential substitute for chemical food preservatives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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17 pages, 4168 KiB  
Article
Thymus vulgaris Essential Oil and Its Biological Activity
by Lucia Galovičová, Petra Borotová, Veronika Valková, Nenad L. Vukovic, Milena Vukic, Jana Štefániková, Hana Ďúranová, Przemysław Łukasz Kowalczewski, Natália Čmiková and Miroslava Kačániová
Plants 2021, 10(9), 1959; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10091959 - 19 Sep 2021
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 6083
Abstract
Thymus vulgaris essential oil has potential good biological activity. The aim of the research was to evaluate the biological activity of the T. vulgaris essential oil from the Slovak company. The main components of T. vulgaris essential oil were thymol (48.1%), p-cymene [...] Read more.
Thymus vulgaris essential oil has potential good biological activity. The aim of the research was to evaluate the biological activity of the T. vulgaris essential oil from the Slovak company. The main components of T. vulgaris essential oil were thymol (48.1%), p-cymene (11.7%), 1,8-cineole (6.7), γ-terpinene (6.1%), and carvacrol (5.5%). The antioxidant activity was 85.2 ± 0.2%, which corresponds to 479.34 ± 1.1 TEAC. The antimicrobial activity was moderate or very strong with inhibition zones from 9.89 to 22.44 mm. The lowest values of MIC were determined against B. subtilis, E. faecalis, and S. aureus. In situ antifungal analysis on bread shows that the vapor phase of T. vulgaris essential oil can inhibit the growth of the microscopic filamentous fungi of the genus Penicillium. The antimicrobial activity against S. marcescens showed 46.78–87.80% inhibition at concentrations 62.5–500 µL/mL. The MALDI TOF MS analyses suggest changes in the protein profile of biofilm forming bacteria P. fluorescens and S. enteritidis after the fifth and the ninth day, respectively. Due to the properties of the T. vulgaris essential oil, it can be used in the food industry as a natural supplement to extend the shelf life of the foods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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Review

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10 pages, 289 KiB  
Review
Therapeutic Potential of Ranunculus Species (Ranunculaceae): A Literature Review on Traditional Medicinal Herbs
by Youn-Kyoung Goo
Plants 2022, 11(12), 1599; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11121599 - 17 Jun 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2731
Abstract
The genus Ranunculus includes approximately 600 species and is distributed worldwide. To date, several researchers have investigated the chemical and biological activities of Ranunculus species, and my research team has found them to have antimalarial effects. This review is based on the available [...] Read more.
The genus Ranunculus includes approximately 600 species and is distributed worldwide. To date, several researchers have investigated the chemical and biological activities of Ranunculus species, and my research team has found them to have antimalarial effects. This review is based on the available information on the traditional uses and pharmacological studies of Ranunculus species. The present paper covers online literature, particularly from 2010 to 2021, and books on the ethnopharmacology and botany of Ranunculus species. Previous studies on the biological activity of crude or purified compounds from Ranunculus species, including R. sceleratus Linn., R. japonicus Thunb., R. muricatus Linn., R. ternatus Thunb., R. arvensis Linn., R. diffusus DC., R. sardous Crantz, R. ficaria Linn., R. hyperboreus Rotlb., and R. pedatus Waldst. & Kit., have provided new insights into their activities, such as antibacterial and antiprotozoal effects as well as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anticarcinogenic properties. In addition, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of plants used in traditional medicine applications have been confirmed. Therefore, there is a need for more diverse studies on the chemical and pharmacological activities of highly purified molecules from Ranunculus species extracts to understand the mechanisms underlying their activities and identify novel drug candidates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
23 pages, 2479 KiB  
Review
Natural Sources and Pharmacological Properties of Pinosylvin
by Saad Bakrim, Hamza Machate, Taoufiq Benali, Nargis Sahib, Imane Jaouadi, Nasreddine El Omari, Sara Aboulaghras, Sneh Punia Bangar, José Manuel Lorenzo, Gokhan Zengin, Domenico Montesano, Monica Gallo and Abdelhakim Bouyahya
Plants 2022, 11(12), 1541; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants11121541 - 09 Jun 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2966
Abstract
Pinosylvin (3,5-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene), a natural pre-infectious stilbenoid toxin, is a terpenoid polyphenol compound principally found in the Vitaceae family in the heartwood of Pinus spp. (e.g., Pinus sylvestris) and in pine leaf (Pinus densiflora). It provides defense mechanisms against [...] Read more.
Pinosylvin (3,5-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene), a natural pre-infectious stilbenoid toxin, is a terpenoid polyphenol compound principally found in the Vitaceae family in the heartwood of Pinus spp. (e.g., Pinus sylvestris) and in pine leaf (Pinus densiflora). It provides defense mechanisms against pathogens and insects for many plants. Stilbenoids are mostly found in berries and fruits but can also be found in other types of plants, such as mosses and ferns. This review outlined prior research on pinosylvin, including its sources, the technologies used for its extraction, purification, identification, and characterization, its biological and pharmacological properties, and its toxicity. The collected data on pinosylvin was managed using different scientific research databases such as PubMed, SciFinder, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Scopus. In this study, the findings focused on pinosylvin to understand its pharmacological and biological activities as well as its chemical characterization to explore its potential therapeutic approaches for the development of novel drugs. This analysis demonstrated that pinosylvin has beneficial effects for various therapeutic purposes such as antifungal, antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-allergic, and other biological functions. It has shown numerous and diverse actions through its ability to block, interfere, and/or stimulate the major cellular targets responsible for several disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in the Research of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Origin with Nutraceutical and Pharmaceutical Potential)
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