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Phytotherapeutics from Mediterranean Plants: Recent Advances
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Phytotherapeutics from Mediterranean Plants: Recent Advances

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 13512

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Antonina Saija

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Palatucci, Polo Universitario Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
Interests: pharmacology; toxicology; natural products; phytotherapy; nanomaterials; gut; vessel endothelium
Prof. Dr. Francesco Cimino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Palatucci, Polo Universitario Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
Interests: pharmacology; toxicology; phytotherapy; vascular disease; metabolic syndrome

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Mediterranean region is one of the areas with the greatest biodiversity on the planet. The Mediterranean basin covers an area of ​​almost 2.6 million km2, and three continents overlook it; the presence of numerous islands as well as important mountain ranges is a geographical feature of this region. The functional element of the Mediterranean region is typically characterized by a high seasonal variability, with hot, dry summers and usually quite mild, rainy winters. The Mediterranean is also the place of origin of many civilizations, and the anthropic activities that ensued have certainly influenced the evolution of various plant species.

The combination of all these factors, geographical, geological, climatic, and anthropic, has made the Mediterranean basin a biodiversity hotspot. This enormous biodiversity means that the Mediterranean flora contains a large number of plants, native or naturalized, representing a precious source of compounds, products, or ingredients with therapeutic or health-promoting effects in humans. 

Many studies have highlighted the uses of Mediterranean plants in traditional medicine, especially against common ailments, but many new uses have been suggested and investigated against communicable and noncommunicable diseases with high global burdens, such as diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. One has to mention that many drugs on the market are of natural origin, as unaltered natural products or natural products modified by medicinal chemistry, and that, today, in both developing and developed countries, there is a general increase in demand for phytotherapeutics and phytopharmaceuticals.

Therefore, it is evident that research on phytotherapeutic products from Mediterranean plants may have strong health and socio-economic impacts.

This Special Issue intends to collect the state-of-the-art from original research and review articles concerning chemistry, efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action of phytotherapeutics (both complex extracts and isolated constituents) from Mediterranean plants. To be accepted, papers must be clearly of interest to an international readership and not only to a regional audience; phytochemical investigations must be directly pertinent to the pharmacological effects of the plant-based products under study.

Prof. Dr. Antonina Saija
Prof. Dr. Francesco Cimino
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. 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

  • Mediterranean plants
  • phytotherapeutics
  • phytochemicals
  • traditional medicine
  • drug discovery and development
  • human health and well-being
  • noncommunicable diseases
  • communicable diseases

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 4369 KiB  
Article
Characterization of the Phytochemical Composition and Bioactivities of Anacyclus maroccanus Ball. and Anacyclus radiatus Loisel Aerial Parts: Preliminary Evidence for the Possible Development of Moroccan Plants
by Saida Sissi, Silvia Di Giacomo, Claudio Ferrante, Paola Angelini, Alberto Macone, Anna Maria Giusti, Chiara Toniolo, Annabella Vitalone, Aghraz Abdellah, Mustapha Larhsini, Luigi Menghini, Mohammed Markouk, Gabriela Mazzanti and Antonella Di Sotto
Molecules 2022, 27(3), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27030692 - 21 Jan 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1973
Abstract
In the present study, the phytochemical composition and bioactivities of A. maroccanus (AM) and A. radiatus (AR), two ecotypes collected in the Demnate road and Essaouira regions, respectively, were studied to highlight a pharmacological interest and to enable possible pharmaceutical development. To this [...] Read more.
In the present study, the phytochemical composition and bioactivities of A. maroccanus (AM) and A. radiatus (AR), two ecotypes collected in the Demnate road and Essaouira regions, respectively, were studied to highlight a pharmacological interest and to enable possible pharmaceutical development. To this end, methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts were prepared for each ecotype by fractionation; next, their phytochemical composition was evaluated by spectrophotometric and chromatographic analysis. Moreover, in line with the available evidence for Anacyclus spp. and their traditional use, a screening of bioactivities, including antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antiglycative, chelating, and antibacterial activities, was performed. The extracts were characterized by high amounts of polyphenols, tannins, and flavonoids, especially in the methanolic extracts; these samples were also enriched in carotenoids despite a lower chlorophyll content. Chlorogenic acid and rutin were the major identified compounds. The extracts also showed interesting hypoglycemic, antiglycative, and antibacterial properties, although with differences in efficacy and potency. Present results provide more scientific basis to the ethnopharmacological uses of Anacyclus spp. and suggest a further interest in AM and AR ecotypes as natural sources of bioactive compounds and/or phytocomplexes for possible pharmaceutical and nutraceutical developments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytotherapeutics from Mediterranean Plants: Recent Advances)
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9 pages, 8319 KiB  
Communication
Polyphenols from Citrus Tacle® Extract Endowed with HMGCR Inhibitory Activity: An Antihypercholesterolemia Natural Remedy
by Fedora Grande, Maria Antonietta Occhiuzzi, Maria Rosaria Perri, Giuseppina Ioele, Bruno Rizzuti, Giancarlo Statti and Antonio Garofalo
Molecules 2021, 26(18), 5718; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26185718 - 21 Sep 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2033
Abstract
Tacle® is a citrus fruit obtained from the crossbreeding of Clementine and Tarocco cultivars. This fruit retains a promising nutraceutical potential most likely due to a high content in polyphenols, among which the main constituents are the two glycosides naringin and hesperidin. [...] Read more.
Tacle® is a citrus fruit obtained from the crossbreeding of Clementine and Tarocco cultivars. This fruit retains a promising nutraceutical potential most likely due to a high content in polyphenols, among which the main constituents are the two glycosides naringin and hesperidin. Herein, we evaluated, through an in vitro assay, the capability of Tacle extracts to inhibit the hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase enzyme, which plays a key role in cholesterol biosynthesis. The results obtained spurred us to investigate whether the anti-enzymatic activity observed may be due to a direct interaction of aglycones naringenin and hesperetin with the enzyme catalytic site. Molecular docking simulations indicated that these two compounds are able to anchor to the protein with binding modes and affinities similar to those found for statins, which represent mainstream medications against hypercholesterolemia. The overall results showed an interesting nutraceutical potential of Tacle, suggesting that its extract could be used for dietary supplementation in the treatment of moderate hypercholesterolemia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytotherapeutics from Mediterranean Plants: Recent Advances)
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Review

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27 pages, 2768 KiB  
Review
Distribution, Antioxidant Capacity, Bioavailability and Biological Properties of Anthocyanin Pigments in Blood Oranges and Other Citrus Species
by Paolo Rapisarda, Margherita Amenta, Gabriele Ballistreri, Simona Fabroni and Nicolina Timpanaro
Molecules 2022, 27(24), 8675; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27248675 - 08 Dec 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2041
Abstract
Anthocyanins are natural pigments that give a red, purple, and blue color to many plant, flower, fruit, and vegetable species. Their presence within the genus Citrus was first reported in 1916, and it is well-known that the red color of the flesh and [...] Read more.
Anthocyanins are natural pigments that give a red, purple, and blue color to many plant, flower, fruit, and vegetable species. Their presence within the genus Citrus was first reported in 1916, and it is well-known that the red color of the flesh and rind of blood (red or pigmented) oranges (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) is due to the presence of anthocyanins. They are also present in the young shoots, flowers, and peel of lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f.), citron (Citrus medica L.), and other citrus species. Since then, the scientific community has expressed increasing interest in studying their profile and distribution, with many published studies focused on the quali-quantitative pattern in the different vegetative tissues belonging to the genus Citrus. Moreover, with the discovery of their relevant antioxidant activity, owing to their ability to capture free radicals, much research has been performed in the last two decades on their radical scavenging power, in vitro and in vivo biological properties, and anticarcinogenic capacity, also focusing attention on their bioavailability for humans. The present work is intended as a comprehensive review of the advances in scientific research on anthocyanin pigments naturally occurring within the genus Citrus, including their natural distribution, antioxidant capacity, bioavailability, and biological value and properties. The scientific evidence herein reported can be used to further increase the knowledge of this class of compounds and represents a valuable and comprehensive contribution to promoting anthocyanin-rich citrus fruit consumption as a healthy dietary habit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytotherapeutics from Mediterranean Plants: Recent Advances)
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28 pages, 1545 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Glycyrrhetinic Acid-Functionalized Biomaterials for Liver Cancer-Targeting Therapy
by Antonio Speciale, Claudia Muscarà, Maria Sofia Molonia, Mariateresa Cristani, Francesco Cimino and Antonella Saija
Molecules 2022, 27(6), 1775; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27061775 - 08 Mar 2022
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3194
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer mortality worldwide. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the conventional therapies generally employed in patients with liver tumors. The major issue associated with the administration of chemotherapeutics is their high toxicity and lack of [...] Read more.
Liver cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer mortality worldwide. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the conventional therapies generally employed in patients with liver tumors. The major issue associated with the administration of chemotherapeutics is their high toxicity and lack of selectivity, leading to systemic toxicity that can be detrimental to the patient’s quality of life. An important approach to the development of original liver-targeted therapeutic products takes advantage of the employment of biologically active ligands able to bind specific receptors on the cytoplasmatic membranes of liver cells. In this perspective, glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid present in roots and rhizomes of licorice, has been used as a ligand for targeting the liver due to the expression of GA receptors on the sinusoidal surface of mammalian hepatocytes, so it may be employed to modify drug delivery systems (DDSs) and obtain better liver or hepatocyte drug uptake and efficacy. In the current review, we focus on the most recent and interesting research advances in the development of GA-based hybrid compounds and DDSs developed for potential employment as efficacious therapeutic options for the treatment of hepatic cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytotherapeutics from Mediterranean Plants: Recent Advances)
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19 pages, 1422 KiB  
Review
Novel Chemical and Biological Insights of Inositol Derivatives in Mediterranean Plants
by Laura Siracusa, Edoardo Napoli and Giuseppe Ruberto
Molecules 2022, 27(5), 1525; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27051525 - 24 Feb 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3287
Abstract
Inositols (Ins) are natural compounds largely widespread in plants and animals. Bio-sinthetically they derive from sugars, possessing a molecular structure very similar to the simple sugars, and this aspect concurs to define them as primary metabolites, even though it is much more correct [...] Read more.
Inositols (Ins) are natural compounds largely widespread in plants and animals. Bio-sinthetically they derive from sugars, possessing a molecular structure very similar to the simple sugars, and this aspect concurs to define them as primary metabolites, even though it is much more correct to place them at the boundary between primary and secondary metabolites. This dichotomy is well represented by the fact that as primary metabolites they are essential cellular components in the form of phospholipid derivatives, while as secondary metabolites they are involved in a plethora of signaling pathways playing an important role in the surviving of living organisms. myo-Inositol is the most important and widespread compound of this family, it derives directly from d-glucose, and all known inositols, including stereoisomers and derivatives, are the results of metabolic processes on this unique molecule. In this review, we report the new insights of these compounds and their derivatives concerning their occurrence in Nature with a particular emphasis on the plant of the Mediterranean area, as well as the new developments about their biological effectiveness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytotherapeutics from Mediterranean Plants: Recent Advances)
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