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Bioactive Phytochemicals: Extraction and Health Benefits

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024 | Viewed by 2119

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Guest Editor
National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR), School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
Interests: drug discovery; natural products chemistry; organic synthesis; pharmacokinetics; anticancer drug leads; CB2 drug leads
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioactive phytochemicals are naturally occurring compounds found in plants that have the potential to promote health and prevent disease. These compounds are known for their diverse biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Some examples of bioactive phytochemicals include flavonoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acids. These compounds are typically found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and their consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Bioactive phytochemicals are a promising area of research for the development of natural products and supplements to support human health.

Dr. Mohamed Ali Ibrahim
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • naturally occurring compounds
  • medicinal plants
  • natural drug leads
  • phytochemicals
  • secondary metabolites
  • natural products
  • antioxidant
  • anti-inflammatory
  • anticancer
  • flavonoids
  • carotenoids
  • phenolic acids

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1097 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Phenolic Acid-Rich Extract from Hairy Roots of Dracocephalum moldavica
by Izabela Weremczuk-Jeżyna, Weronika Gonciarz and Izabela Grzegorczyk-Karolak
Molecules 2023, 28(19), 6759; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28196759 - 22 Sep 2023
Viewed by 886
Abstract
This study evaluates the antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory potential of polyphenolic acid-rich fractions of 80% methanolic extract from the hairy roots of Dracocephalum moldavica. The fractionation of the crude extract yielded the following: a diethyl ether fraction rich in caffeic acid (DM1) [...] Read more.
This study evaluates the antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory potential of polyphenolic acid-rich fractions of 80% methanolic extract from the hairy roots of Dracocephalum moldavica. The fractionation of the crude extract yielded the following: a diethyl ether fraction rich in caffeic acid (DM1) (25.85 mg/g DWE), an n-butyl fraction rich in rosmarinic acid (DM3) (43.94 mg/g DWE) and a water residue rich in salvianolic acid B (DM4) (51.46 mg/g DWE). The content of these compounds was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Their antioxidant activity was evaluated based on DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt) and FRAP assays. The anti-inflammatory activity of the fractions was determined by their effect on nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) activation and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) production in LPS E. coli stimulated monocytes. The level of pro-inflammatory IL-1β in cells was measured using ELISA. The activation of NF-κB in THP1-Blue™ cells, resulting in the secretion of SEAP (secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase), was detected spectrophotometrically using Quanti-Blue reagent. Among the tested fractions, the diethyl ether fraction (DM1) showed the highest antioxidant potential, with an EC50 value of 15.41 µg/mL in the DPPH assay and 11.47 µg/mL in ABTS and a reduction potential of 10.9 mM Fe(II)/g DWE in FRAP. DM1 at a concentration of 10 mg/mL also efficiently reduced LPS-induced SEAP secretion (53% inhibition) and IL-1β production (47% inhibition) without affecting the normal growth of L929 fibroblast cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Phytochemicals: Extraction and Health Benefits)
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11 pages, 707 KiB  
Article
Regioselective Claisen–Schmidt Adduct of 2-Undecanone from Houttuynia cordata Thunb as Insecticide/Repellent against Solenopsis invicta and Repositioning Plant Fungicides against Colletotrichum fragariae
by Aigerim Kurmanbayeva, Meirambek Ospanov, Prabin Tamang, Farhan Mahmood Shah, Abbas Ali, Zeyad M. A. Ibrahim, Charles L. Cantrell, Satmbekova Dinara, Ubaidilla Datkhayev, Ikhlas A. Khan and Mohamed A. Ibrahim
Molecules 2023, 28(16), 6100; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28166100 - 17 Aug 2023
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Abstract
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established research programs to fight the phytopathogen Colletotrichum fragariae and the invasive red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. C. fragariae is known to cause anthracnose disease in fruits and vegetables, while S. invicta is known [...] Read more.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established research programs to fight the phytopathogen Colletotrichum fragariae and the invasive red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. C. fragariae is known to cause anthracnose disease in fruits and vegetables, while S. invicta is known for its aggressive behavior and painful stings and for being the cause of significant damage to crops, as well as harm to humans and animals. Many plants have been studied for potential activity against C. fragariae and S. invicta. Among the studied plants, Houttuynia cordata Thunb has been shown to contain 2-undecanone, which h is known for its antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloesporioides. Based on the mean amount of sand removed, 2-undecanone showed significant repellency at 62.5 µg/g, similar to DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), against S. invicta. The 2-Undecanone with an LC50 of 44.59 µg/g showed toxicity against S. invicta workers. However, neither H. cordata extract nor 2-undecanone had shown activity against C. fragariae despite their known activity against C. gloesporioides, which in turn motivates us in repositioning 2-undecanone as a selected candidate for a Claisen–Schmidt condensation that enables access to several analogs (2af). Among the prepared analogs, (E)-1-(3-methylbenzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)dodec-1-en-3-one (2b) and (E)-1-(5-bromothiophen-2-yl)dodec-1-en-3-one (2f) showed promising activity against C. fragariae, revealing a distinctive structural activity relationship (SAR). The generated analogs revealed a clear regioselectivity pattern through forming the C=C alkene bond at position C-1. These data open the window for further lead optimization and product development in the context of managing C. fragariae and S. invicta. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Phytochemicals: Extraction and Health Benefits)
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