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Phytochemicals in Plants – Recent Developments on the Occurrence, Composition, Stability, Health, Food and Pharmaceutical Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 February 2024) | Viewed by 12240

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Prof. Dr. Nicoleta-Gabriela Hădărugă

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Department of Food Science, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timişoara, Aradului Str. 119, 300645 Timişoara, Romania
Interests: food quality; plant extracts; antioxidant activity; micro- and nanoencapsulation; cyclodextrins
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Dear Colleagues,

New trends in the use of natural compounds in many fields, such as food and pharmaceuticals, increasingly make phytochemicals the focus of researchers' attention. Phytochemicals are biologically active compounds from plants. They are primary and secondary metabolites that provide a wide range of valuable bioactivities including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic and antifungal effects, as well as anticancerigene and chemotherapeutic properties. Additionally, some phytochemicals are toxic or have detrimental effects to humans. The Special Issue “Phytochemicals in Plants – recent developments on the occurrence, composition, stability, health, food and pharmaceutical applications” focuses on the most recent findings regarding the identification and quantification of new and/or highly bioactive phytochemicals in various plants including green algae and land plants (e.g., flowering plants, cereals, fruits and vegetables), their separation, purification, and structural characterization. The modern and recent developments on the methods of separation and analysis can be highlighted. Moreover, the degradation and stability of such compounds, including innovative stabilization techniques, are accepted. The mechanisms involved in phytochemical biosynthesis and biological activities (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral or anticancer effects) are accepted. Finally, the studies on phytochemical applications, especially on food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields, are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Nicoleta-Gabriela HĂDĂRUGĂ
Guest Editor

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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.

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Keywords

plant phytochemicals
antioxidants
flavonoids
anthocyanins
terpenoids
carotenoids
alkaloids
tannins
saponins
phytosterols
vitamins
biological activity
food applications
pharmaceutical applications

Related Special Issue

Phytochemicals in Plants: Recent Developments on the Occurrence, Composition, Stability, Health, Food and Pharmaceutical Applications—2nd Edition in Plants

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 2574 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Elicitor Treatments on Quality Attributes in Blueberry: Implications of Cultivar and Environmental Conditions

by Gabriele Cola, Beatrice Cavenago, Claudio Sebastiano Gardana and Anna Spinardi

Plants 2024, 13(8), 1105; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13081105 - 15 Apr 2024

Viewed by 676

Abstract

Elicitors of plant defence responses can trigger defence mechanisms that are able to protect plant tissues from biotic or abiotic stresses. Since one defence response involves the activation of secondary metabolites’ biosynthesis, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of chitosan and melatonin pre-harvest treatments on the quality and the nutritional parameters of the fruits of blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). Across the two years of experiment, three different cultivars (cv.s. ‘Cosmopolitan’, ‘Hortblue Poppins’ and ‘Legacy’) were treated with 1% chitosan or 100 µM melatonin every two weeks during the ripening season and ripe fruits were progressively harvested and analysed. The treatment with both elicitors had only slight effects on dry matter, soluble solids content, titratable acidity and pH, with a cultivar-dependent response. On the other hand, elicitors significantly affected the levels of phenylpropanoid and antioxidant compounds in all cvs. in both years, with a higher accumulation of total anthocyanins and phenolics and the enhancement of the antioxidant capacity, with positive effects on the nutraceutical quality of fruits. The anthocyanin profile in terms of both absolute concentrations and the relative proportion of single anthocyanins was affected by both harvest year and cv., highlighting the role of the genetic background in the plant response to environmental conditions (with particular reference to summer heat stress) and to elicitor treatments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemicals in Plants – Recent Developments on the Occurrence, Composition, Stability, Health, Food and Pharmaceutical Applications)

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19 pages, 2273 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Chemical Characterisation of the Maritime Pine Bark Cultivated in Northern Portugal

by Diana Barros, Élia Fernandes, Meirielly Jesus, Lillian Barros, José Ignacio Alonso-Esteban, Preciosa Pires and Manuela Vaz Velho

Plants 2023, 12(23), 3940; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12233940 - 22 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1103

Abstract

Maritime pine, scientifically known as Pinus pinaster, holds a vital role in Iberian Peninsula forests, primarily as a source of wood for panels, paper, and cellulose production. Recently, there has been a growing interest in utilising agroforestry by-products to yield valuable chemicals for applications in various sectors, including the food, pharmaceutical, and bioenergy industries. This study aimed to assess the value of the primary by-product of Pinus pinaster from the Minho region of northwestern Portugal, i.e., the bark. The research extensively examined the bark’s chemical and thermal characteristics, including ash content, extractives, lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, fatty acids, and mineral composition. Additionally, various analytical techniques like FTIR, SEM, DSC, DTG, and XRD were used to observe chemical structure differences. The results reveal that the Pinus pinaster bark primarily consists of lignin (51.15%) and holocellulose (46.09%), with extractives mainly soluble in toluene–ethanol, followed by water, and a small amount of them are soluble in ethanol. The bark contained around 0.44% ash, and heavy metals such as Cd and Pb were not found. During degradation, Pinus pinaster experienced a 10% mass loss at 140 °C. In terms of crystallinity, holocellulose and cellulose showed similar percentages at approximately 25.5%, while α-cellulose displayed the highest crystallinity index at 41%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemicals in Plants – Recent Developments on the Occurrence, Composition, Stability, Health, Food and Pharmaceutical Applications)

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19 pages, 3409 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of the Growing Region on the Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of North American Cranberry Fruit (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton)

by Liang Xue, Maureen Otieno, Kimberly Colson and Catherine Neto

Plants 2023, 12(20), 3595; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12203595 - 17 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 963

Abstract

The impact of the growth environment on the production of health-promoting phytochemicals in cranberry fruit (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) is not well established despite increased production worldwide. We investigated the secondary metabolite composition among the cranberry fruit of nine cultivars produced in two major coastal North American growing regions that differ in climate. Using ¹H NOESY NMR to generate metabolic fingerprints, principal component analysis revealed variation between the two regions and identified likely contributing metabolites. Triterpenoids ursolic and oleanolic acid, as well as citric and malic acids, were quantified using ¹H qNMR, and anthocyanins and flavonols were determined by HPLC-DAD. Total proanthocyanidins (PACs), total soluble phenolics, and DPPH free-radical scavenging antioxidant activity were also evaluated. Across all cultivars, anthocyanins, flavonols, and total phenolic content were significantly higher in West Coast fruit than East Coast fruit, correlating with a regional trend of higher antioxidant activity in fruit grown on the West Coast. The opposite trend was observed for triterpenoids and organic acids, which were significantly higher across cultivars in East Coast fruit. These trends persisted over two growing seasons. The study demonstrates that climate plays an important role in the production of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals in cranberry plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemicals in Plants – Recent Developments on the Occurrence, Composition, Stability, Health, Food and Pharmaceutical Applications)

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24 pages, 4248 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of the Controlled Release of Antioxidants from β-Cyclodextrin/Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) or Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L.), Asteraceae, Hydrophilic Extract Complexes through the Fast and Cheap Spectrophotometric Technique

by Adina Horablaga, Alina Şibu (Ciobanu), Corina Iuliana Megyesi, Dina Gligor (Pane), Gabriel Stelian Bujancă, Ariana Bianca Velciov, Florica Emilia Morariu, Daniel Ioan Hădărugă, Corina Dana Mişcă and Nicoleta Gabriela Hădărugă

Plants 2023, 12(12), 2352; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12122352 - 17 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1198

Abstract

This is the first study on the modeling of the controlled release of the estimated antioxidants (flavonoids or flavonolignans) from β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)/hydrophilic vegetable extract complexes and the modeling of transdermal pharmaceutical formulations based on these complexes using an overall estimation by the spectrophotometric method. The Korsmeyer–Peppas model was chosen for evaluating the release mechanisms. β-CD/chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L., Asteraceae) ethanolic extract and β-CD/milk thistle (Silybum marianum L., Asteraceae) ethanolic extract complexes were obtained by the co-crystallization method with good recovering yields of 55–76%, slightly lower than for β-CD/silibinin or silymarin complexes (~87%). According to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Karl Fischer water titration (KFT), the thermal stability of complexes is similar to β-CD hydrate while the hydration water content is lower, revealing the formation of molecular inclusion complexes. In the Korsmeyer–Peppas model, β-CD/M. chamomilla flower extract complexes reveal Case II transport mechanisms, while the corresponding complexes with leaf extracts indicate non-Fickian diffusion for the controlled release of antioxidants in ethanol 60 and 96%. The same non-Fickian diffusion was revealed by β-CD/S. marianum extract and β-CD/silibinin complexes. On the contrary, almost all model transdermal pharmaceutical formulations based on β-CD/M. chamomilla extract complexes and all those based on β-CD/S. marianum extract complexes revealed non-Fickian diffusion for the antioxidant release. These results indicate that H-bonding is mainly involved in the diffusion of antioxidants into a β-CD based matrix, while the controlled release of antioxidants in model formulations is mainly due to hydrophobic interactions. Results obtained in this study can be further used for studying the particular antioxidants (namely rutin or silibinin, quantified, for example, by liquid chromatographic techniques) for their transdermal transport and biological effects in innovatively designed pharmaceutical formulations that can be obtained using “green” methods and materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemicals in Plants – Recent Developments on the Occurrence, Composition, Stability, Health, Food and Pharmaceutical Applications)

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16 pages, 3419 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Using Viscum album Extracts: Unveiling Bioactive Compounds, Antibacterial Potential, and Antioxidant Activities

by Waheeda Mushtaq, Muhammad Ishtiaq, Mehwish Maqbool, Muhammad Waqas Mazhar, Ryan Casini, Ahmed M. Abd-ElGawad and Hosam O. Elansary

Plants 2023, 12(11), 2130; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112130 - 27 May 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1838

Abstract

The current study explored the antioxidant and antibacterial capabilities of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) synthetized using methanolic leaf extracts of the medicinal herb Viscum album. Through TEM investigation and UV–Vis analysis, which peaked at 406 nm, the synthesis of ZnONPs was verified. TEM analyses showed that the synthesized ZnONPs had a size distribution with an average of 13.5 nm and a quasi-spherical shape. Forty-four phytoconstituents were found in the methanolic leaf extracts of V. album. Additionally, a comparison of the antibacterial effectiveness and antioxidant capacity of aqueous and methanolic extracts of wild-grown V. album phytomedicine and green-manufactured ZnONPs was conducted. The green-generated ZnONPs were examined against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and shown to have superior antibacterial activity by 22%, 66%, and 44%, respectively, as compared to wild herbal medicinal extracts. Since the ZnONPs’ aqueous extracts had higher concentrations of DNA gyrase-B inhibitory components, they were shown to be more effective in limiting bacterial growth. In contrast to the percentages of 49% and 57% for a wild plant extract, the aqueous- and methanolic-extract-mediated green ZnONPs, with a 100 g/mL concentration, showed 94% and 98% scavenging capacity for DPPH free radicals, respectively. However, methanolic extracts were more effective than aqueous extracts in terms of the antioxidant analyses. This study establishes that greenly produced ZnONPs have the potential to be used in nanomedicine to treat bacteria that are resistant to a variety of drugs, as well as those with reactive oxygen species toxicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemicals in Plants – Recent Developments on the Occurrence, Composition, Stability, Health, Food and Pharmaceutical Applications)

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28 pages, 3729 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Keeping Healthy in Your Skin—Plants and Fungi Used by Indigenous Himalayan Communities to Treat Dermatological Ailments

by Shiekh Marifatul Haq, Aadil Abdullah Khoja, Fayaz A. Lone, Muhammad Waheed, Rainer W. Bussmann, Ryan Casini, Eman A. Mahmoud and Hosam O. Elansary

Plants 2023, 12(7), 1575; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12071575 - 06 Apr 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2454

Abstract

Dermatological ailments are a major health problem, especially when related to human immune deficiency syndrome and acquired immune deficiency. The goal of this study was to identify the medicinal plants used by the indigenous peoples of the Northwestern Himalayas to treat dermatological diseases. Several field trips were conducted in the spring and summer seasons of 2020–2021 to collect the plants of dermatological value and information about their use through open-ended semi-structured interviews (n = 53) and group discussions (n = 33). The current investigation found 64 ethnomedicinal plants belonging to 34 families commonly used to treat a variety of dermatological ailments. The main growth form was herbs (80%), followed by trees (8%) and ferns (6%). It was found that leaves (51%) were the most commonly used plant part, followed by roots and the whole plant. Wound healing was the most dominant application, with 18 plant species used, followed by skin burns cured by 11 plant species and skin boils by eight plant species. Out of the total (18%) of medicinal plants with cosmetic uses, i.e., roots of Jurinea dolomiaea, Rheum webbianum, and Rheum spiciforme were crushed into powder and mixed with turmeric, and the paste is applied topically for glowing skin. Among the various preparation methods, paste (38%) was the most common way of preparation, followed by poultice (29%) and infusion (9%). Between ethnic groups, the maximum homogeneity was between Gujjar and Bakarwal ethnic groups (23 species, 36%), followed by Gujjars and Kashmiri (14 species, 22%). Bakarwals and Gujjar people live in the same geographical location, and they graze their animals in pastures, practice extensive transhumance pastoralism, and pass through different ecological landscapes, thus having sufficient experiences with certain plants and retaining more knowledge. The species identified with the highest utilization based on the number of citations and use value included Ficus carica, Cichorium intybus, Euphorbia wallichii, Pinus wallichiana, Plantago major, Jurinea dolomiaea, and Artemisia absinthium. The findings of this study demonstrate that people who reside in the Northwestern Himalayas region still rely on medicinal plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemicals in Plants – Recent Developments on the Occurrence, Composition, Stability, Health, Food and Pharmaceutical Applications)

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36 pages, 16497 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemical Profiling, Biological Activities, and In Silico Molecular Docking Studies of Causonis trifolia (L.) Mabb. & J.Wen Shoot

by Samik Hazra, Anindya Sundar Ray, Swetarka Das, Arunava Das Gupta and Chowdhury Habibur Rahaman

Plants 2023, 12(7), 1495; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12071495 - 29 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2645

Abstract

Causonis trifolia (L.) Mabb. & J.Wen, commonly known as “fox grape”, is an ethnomedicinally important twining herb of the Vitaceae family, and it is used by ethnic communities for its wide range of therapeutic properties. Our research aims to investigate the chemical composition; antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activities; and mechanisms of interaction between the identified selective chemical compounds and the target proteins associated with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects of the optimised phenolic extract of Causonis trifolia (L.) Mabb. & J.Wen, shoot (PECTS) to endorse the plant as a potential drug candidate for a future bioprospecting programme. Here, we employed the response surface methodology (RSM) with a Box–Behnken design to enrich the methanolic extract of C. trifolia shoot with phenolic ingredients by optimising three key parameters: solvent concentration (% v/v, methanol:water), extraction temperature (°C), and extraction duration (hours). From the quantitative phytochemical estimation, it was evident that the PECTS contained good amounts of phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, and alkaloids. During the HPLC analysis, we identified a total of eight phenolic and flavonoid compounds (gallic acid, catechin hydrate, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, sinapic acid, coumarin, and kaempferol) and quantified their respective contents from the PECTS. The GC-MS analysis of the PECTS highlighted the presence of 19 phytochemicals. In addition, the bioactivity study of the PECTS showed remarkable potentiality as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic agents. In silico molecular docking and computational molecular modelling were employed to investigate the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties of the putative bioactive compounds derived from the PECTS using the GC-MS technique to understand the drug–receptor interactions, including their binding pattern. Out of the 19 phytocompounds identified by the GC-MS analysis, one compound, ergosta-5,22-dien-3-ol, acetate, (3β,22E), exhibited the best binding conformations with the target proteins involved in anti-inflammatory (e.g., Tnf-α and Cox-2), antioxidant (SOD), and antidiabetic (e.g., α-amylase and aldo reductase) activities. The nontoxic nature of this optimised extract was also evident during the in vitro cell toxicity assay against the Vero cell line and the in vivo acute toxicity study on BALB/c mice. We believe the results of the present study will pave the way for the invention of novel drugs efficacious for several ailments using the C. trifolia plant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemicals in Plants – Recent Developments on the Occurrence, Composition, Stability, Health, Food and Pharmaceutical Applications)

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Review

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21 pages, 2705 KiB

Open AccessReview

Exploring the Nutritional Potential and Functionality of Hemp and Rapeseed Proteins: A Review on Unveiling Anti-Nutritional Factors, Bioactive Compounds, and Functional Attributes

by Marina Axentii and Georgiana Gabriela Codină

Plants 2024, 13(9), 1195; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13091195 - 25 Apr 2024

Viewed by 436

Abstract

Plant-based proteins, like those derived from hemp and rapeseed can contribute significantly to a balanced diet and meet human daily nutritional requirements by providing essential nutrients such as protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. According to numerous recent research papers, the consumption of plant-based proteins has been associated with numerous health benefits, including a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Plant-based diets are often lower in saturated fat and cholesterol and higher in fiber and phytonutrients, which can support overall health and well-being. Present research investigates the nutritional attributes, functional properties, and potential food applications of hemp and rapeseed protein for a potential use in new food-product development, with a certain focus on identifying anti-nutritional factors and bioactive compounds. Through comprehensive analysis, anti-nutritional factors and bioactive compounds were elucidated, shedding light on their impact on protein quality and digestibility. The study also delves into the functional properties of hemp and rapeseed protein, unveiling their versatility in various food applications. Insights from this research contribute to a deeper understanding of the nutritional value and functional potential of hemp and rapeseed protein, paving the way for their further utilization in innovative food products with enhanced nutritional value and notable health benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemicals in Plants – Recent Developments on the Occurrence, Composition, Stability, Health, Food and Pharmaceutical Applications)

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