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Extraction, Identification, and Biological Evaluations of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 6908

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Prof. Dr. Jianfeng Wang

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College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
Interests: natural compound; virulence factor; resistance enzyme; anti-infection; gut microbiota
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Dear Colleagues,

Bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, polysaccharides and essential oils, comprise a small amount of metabolites in various plants, especially in medicinal plants used in traditional medicine. Biological activity compounds can regulate the metabolic process and exhibit the induction and suppression of gene expression, such as via antioxidants, receptor activity inhibition, and inhibitory or induced enzymes, in addition to demonstrating gene expression in host and pathogenic microorganisms. Biologically activated compounds are found in pharmaceutical plants (such as ginkgetin, artemisinin, berberine, parlitaxel, etc.) and consist of the main compounds (salicylic acid, gifxine, imperinein, etc.) to develop new drugs.

In this case, we propose a new Special Issue called "Extraction, Identification and Biological Evaluation of Natural Products". In this Special Issue, original research and review manuscripts are welcome that focus on biologically activated compounds that regulate the host's immunity, metabolism, oxidation stress, and other substances, as well as substances that suppress pathogenic microbial infections. In addition, research on the extracted biological activity and the analysis of the technical and chemical structure of compounds is also welcome

Please note that:

1. The bioactive compounds should have a chemical characterization. Reports on previously undescribed compounds must describe the 1H as well as 13C and/or the key 2D NMR spectra in the text.
2. Compounds should be purified to at least 95% purity. Whatever the claimed purity, it must be fully supported by appropriate analytical techniques, and this purity must be taken into account when reporting and comparing biological activities.

Prof. Dr. Jianfeng Wang
Guest Editor

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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. 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

bioactive compounds
extraction technology
chemical structure analysis
modulation of host
treatment of metabolic-related diseases
antimicrobial activity
anti-infection

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 6545 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Chemical Profile, In Vitro Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Santolina rosmarinifolia Extracts

by Janos Schmidt, Kata Juhasz and Agnes Bona

Molecules 2024, 29(7), 1515; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29071515 - 28 Mar 2024

Viewed by 403

Abstract

In this study, the phytochemical composition, in vitro antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous and 60% ethanolic (EtOH) extracts of Santolina rosmarinifolia leaf, flower, and root were examined. The antioxidant activity of S. rosmarinifolia extracts was determined by 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays. The total phenolic content (TPC) of the extracts was measured by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay. The anti-inflammatory effect of the extracts was monitored by the Griess assay. The chemical composition of S. rosmarinifolia extracts was analysed using the LC-MS technique. According to our findings, 60% EtOH leaf extracts showed the highest Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values in both ABTS (8.39 ± 0.43 µM) and DPPH (6.71 ± 0.03 µM) antioxidant activity assays. The TPC values of the samples were in good correspondence with the antioxidant activity measurements and showed the highest gallic acid equivalent value (130.17 ± 0.01 µg/mL) in 60% EtOH leaf extracts. In addition, the 60% EtOH extracts of the leaves were revealed to possess the highest anti-inflammatory effect. The LC-MS analysis of S. rosmarinifolia extracts proved the presence of ascorbic acid, catalpol, chrysin, epigallocatechin, geraniol, isoquercitrin, and theanine, among others, for the first time. However, additional studies are needed to investigate the direct relationship between the chemical composition and physiological effects of the herb. The 60% EtOH extracts of S. rosmarinifolia leaves are potential new sources of natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory molecules in the production of novel nutraceutical products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Identification, and Biological Evaluations of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants)

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12 pages, 1332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Six New Phenolic Glycosides from the Seeds of Moringa oleifera Lam. and Their α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity

by Lin-Zhen Li, Liang Chen, Yang-Li Tu, Xiang-Jie Dai, Sheng-Jia Xiao, Jing-Shan Shi, Yong-Jun Li and Xiao-Sheng Yang

Molecules 2023, 28(17), 6426; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28176426 - 04 Sep 2023

Viewed by 937

Abstract

Plant-derived phytochemicals have recently drawn interest in the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). The seeds of Moringa oleifera Lam. are widely used in food and herbal medicine for their health-promoting properties against various diseases, including DM, but many of their effective constituents are still unknown. In this study, 6 new phenolic glycosides, moringaside B–G (1–6), together with 10 known phenolic glycosides (7–16) were isolated from M. oleifera seeds. The structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS) data analysis. The absolute configurations of compounds 2 and 3 were determined by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Compounds 2 and 3 especially are combined with a 1,3-dioxocyclopentane moiety at the rhamnose group, which are rarely reported in phenolic glycoside backbones. A biosynthetic pathway of 2 and 3 was assumed. Moreover, all the isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase. Compounds 4 and 16 exhibited marked activities with IC₅₀ values of 382.8 ± 1.42 and 301.4 ± 6.22 μM, and the acarbose was the positive control with an IC₅₀ value of 324.1 ± 4.99 μM. Compound 16 revealed better activity than acarbose. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Identification, and Biological Evaluations of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants)

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16 pages, 2095 KiB

Open AccessArticle

RP-HPLC-Based Flavonoid Profiling Accompanied with Multivariate Analysis: An Efficient Approach for Quality Assessment of Houttuynia cordata Thunb Leaves and Their Commercial Products

by Minh Hien Nguyen, Dieu Ly Ha, Binh Minh Do, Ngoc Trong Nghia Chau, Thi Huong Tran, Nguyen Thien Han Le and Minh Tri Le

Molecules 2023, 28(17), 6378; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28176378 - 31 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1034

Abstract

Chemical profiling for quality monitoring and evaluation of medicinal plants is gaining attention. This study aims to develop an HPLC method followed by multivariate analysis to obtain HPLC profiles of five specific flavonoids, including rutin (1), hyperin (2), isoquercitrin (3), quercitrin (4), and quercetin (5) from Houttuynia cordata leaves and powder products and assess the quality of H. cordata samples. Eventually, we successfully established HPLC-based flavonoid profiles and quantified the contents of 32 H. cordata fresh leave samples and four powder products. The study also quantified the contents of those five essential flavonoids using an optimized RP-HPLC method. Peak areas of samples were then investigated with principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) to evaluate the similarity and variance. Principal components in PCA strongly influenced by hyperin and quercetin showed that the samples were clustered into subgroups, demonstrating H. cordata samples’ quality. The results of HCA showed the similarity and divided the samples into seven subgroups. In conclusion, we have successfully developed a practical methodology that combined the HPLC-based flavonoid profiling and multivariate analysis for the quantification and quality control of H. cordata samples from fresh leaves and powder products. For further studies, we will consider various environmental factors, including climate and soil factors, to investigate their effects on the flavonoid contents of H. cordata. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Identification, and Biological Evaluations of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants)

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16 pages, 4161 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro and In Silico Anti-Rheumatic Arthritis Activity of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis

by Ayushi Sharma, Anjana Goel and Zhijian Lin

Molecules 2023, 28(16), 6125; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28166125 - 18 Aug 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1695

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by bone and joint degeneration. Existing anti-inflammatory chemotherapy drugs offer temporary relief but come with undesirable side effects. Herbal medications have shown positive effects on RA symptoms with minimal adverse reactions. In this study, we investigated the potential of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (NAT) through in vitro and in silico research. Hydroethanolic extracts of harsingar were prepared using the reflux method, containing alkaloids, phenol, saponin, steroids, proteins, tannins, terpenoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, and flavonoids, which exhibited TPC (98.56 ± 0.46 mg GAE/g) and TFC (34.51 ± 0.45 mg CE/g). LC–MS/MS analyzes the active compounds in the extract. NAT exhibited the best scavenging capabilities at 1 mg/mL in anti-oxidant and anti-arthritic activity. Maximum splenocyte proliferation occurred at 250 µg/mL. In vitro cell splenocyte studies revealed the downregulation of TNF-α and the upregulation of IL-10. Additionally, an in silico study demonstrated that bioactive constituents and targets bind with favorable binding affinity. These findings demonstrate the potential of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis in exerting anti-arthritic effects, as supported by in vitro and in silico studies. Further mechanistic research is necessary to validate the therapeutic potential of all phytoconstituents in RA treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Identification, and Biological Evaluations of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants)

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11 pages, 2822 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quercitrin Is a Novel Inhibitor of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Type III Secretion System

by Qingjie Li, Lianping Wang, Jingwen Xu, Shuang Liu, Zeyu Song, Tingting Chen, Xuming Deng, Jianfeng Wang and Qianghua Lv

Molecules 2023, 28(14), 5455; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28145455 - 17 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1054

Abstract

The purpose was to screen type III secretory system (T3SS) inhibitors of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) from natural compounds. The pharmacological activities and action mechanisms of candidate compounds in vivo and in vitro were systematically studied and analyzed. Using a SipA-β-lactamase fusion reporting system, we found that quercitrin significantly blocked the translocation of SipA into eukaryotic host cells without affecting the growth of bacteria. Adhesion and invasion assay showed that quercitrin inhibited S. Typhimurium invasion into host cells and reduced S. Typhimurium mediated host cell damage. β-galactosidase activity detection and Western blot analysis showed that quercitrin significantly inhibited the expression of SPI-1 genes (hilA and sopA) and effectors (SipA and SipC). The results of animal experiments showed that quercitrin significantly reduced colony colonization and alleviated the cecum pathological injury of the infected mice. Small molecule inhibitor quercitrin directly inhibited the function of T3SS and provided a potential antibiotic alternative against S. Typhimurium infection. Importance: T3SS plays a crucial role in the bacterial invasion and pathogenesis of S. Typhimurium. Compared with conventional antibiotics, small molecules could inhibit the virulence factors represented by S. Typhimurium T3SS. They have less pressure on bacterial vitality and a lower probability of producing drug resistance. Our results provide strong evidence for the development of novel inhibitors against S. Typhimurium infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Identification, and Biological Evaluations of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants)

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Review

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26 pages, 5003 KiB

Open AccessReview

Traditional Uses, Pharmacological Activities, and Phytochemical Analysis of Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex. A. DC (Ebenaceae): A Review

by Thanyani Emelton Ramadwa and Stephen Meddows-Taylor

Molecules 2023, 28(23), 7759; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28237759 - 24 Nov 2023

Viewed by 945

Abstract

Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex. A. DC is widely distributed throughout Africa and around the world. It is utilized ethnobotanically to treat fevers, wounds, malaria, diabetes mellitus, and other diseases. This review aims to provide an exhaustive overview of the traditional uses, pharmacology, and phytochemical analysis of D. mespiliformis, with the objective of identifying its therapeutic potential for further research. Scientific resources, including Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, Pub Med, and Scopus, were used to find pertinent data on D. mespiliformis. Secondary metabolites tentatively identified from this species were primarily terpenoids, naphthoquinones, phenolics, and coumarins. D. mespiliformis has been reported to demonstrate pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, antiproliferative, antiparasitic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-hypersensitivity, and antidiabetic properties. The phytochemicals and extracts from D. mespiliformis have been reported to have some pharmacological effects in in vivo studies and were not toxic to the animal models that were utilized. The D. mespiliformis information reported in this review provides researchers with a comprehensive summary of the current research status of this medicinal plant and a guide for further investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Identification, and Biological Evaluations of Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants)

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