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Plants
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Biological Activities of Plant Extracts 2023
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Biological Activities of Plant Extracts 2023

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2024 | Viewed by 4058

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Cheng-Yang Huang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City 402, Taiwan
Interests: plant extracts; natural products; enzyme inhibitors; molecular mechanisms

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants serve as a rich reservoir of phytochemicals and secondary metabolites with numerous beneficial medicinal properties. The significance of phytochemicals has grown substantially in recent decades due to their intriguing bioactive properties, could potentially enhance human health. Plant extracts have a longstanding history of applications for treating various ailments, forming the foundation of pharmacotherapy. Exploring functional plant extracts for therapeutic purposes has proven an invaluable and productive approach in the quest for potential pharmacological interventions. Numerous studies have highlighted the capacity of plant extracts to inhibit physiologically relevant enzymes. This Special Issue is dedicated to the examination of plant extracts as potential inhibitors, focusing on their inhibitory effects on key enzyme activities. These enzyme functions hold considerable significance in the context of several health conditions, encompassing inflammation, skin aging, diabetes, obesity, heart diseases, allergy, cancer, aging, and others. The aim of this Special Issue in Plants is to present the latest research findings concerning plant extracts and their diverse biological activities, with particular emphasis on their potential to inhibit enzymatic reactions. Contributions addressing the cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties of plant extracts are also strongly encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Cheng-Yang Huang
Guest Editor

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

  • plant extracts
  • pharmacology
  • cytotoxic activity
  • natural products
  • enzyme inhibition
  • pharmacognosy
  • functional foods
  • antioxidants
  • antimicrobial activity
  • chemoprevention

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 1326 KiB  
Article
Green Extraction Approach for Isolation of Bioactive Compounds in Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum L.) Herbal Dust—Chemical Profile, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity and Comparison with Conventional Techniques
by Živan Mrkonjić, Muammer Kaplan, Sanja Milošević, Danica Božović, Aleksandra Sknepnek, Dunja Miletić, Ivana Lazarević Mrkonjić, Dušan Rakić, Zoran Zeković and Branimir Pavlić
Plants 2024, 13(6), 897; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060897 - 20 Mar 2024
Viewed by 765
Abstract
The aim of this study was to provide a chemical profile and determine the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil (EO) and lipid extracts of Thymus serpyllum L. herbal dust obtained via conventional (hydrodistillation (HD) and Soxhlet extraction (SOX)) and novel [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to provide a chemical profile and determine the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil (EO) and lipid extracts of Thymus serpyllum L. herbal dust obtained via conventional (hydrodistillation (HD) and Soxhlet extraction (SOX)) and novel extraction techniques (supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)). In addition, a comparative analysis of the chemical profiles of the obtained EO and extracts was carried out, as well as the determination of antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal activity of the lipid extracts. According to the aforementioned antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and the monoterpene yield and selectivity, SFE provided significant advantages compared to the traditional techniques. In addition, SFE extracts could be considered to have great potential in terms of their utilization in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, as well as appropriate replacements for synthetic additives in the food industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities of Plant Extracts 2023)
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24 pages, 7004 KiB  
Article
Cytotoxicity and Multi-Enzyme Inhibition of Nepenthes miranda Stem Extract on H838 Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells and RPA32, Elastase, Tyrosinase, and Hyaluronidase Proteins
by Ching-Yi Lee, Yu-Cheng Chen, Yen-Hua Huang, Yi Lien and Cheng-Yang Huang
Plants 2024, 13(6), 797; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060797 - 11 Mar 2024
Viewed by 843
Abstract
The carnivorous pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes have long been known for their ethnobotanical applications. In this study, we prepared various extracts from the pitcher, stem, and leaf of Nepenthes miranda using 100% ethanol and assessed their inhibitory effects on key enzymes [...] Read more.
The carnivorous pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes have long been known for their ethnobotanical applications. In this study, we prepared various extracts from the pitcher, stem, and leaf of Nepenthes miranda using 100% ethanol and assessed their inhibitory effects on key enzymes related to skin aging, including elastase, tyrosinase, and hyaluronidase. The cytotoxicity of the stem extract of N. miranda on H838 human lung carcinoma cells were also characterized by effects on cell survival, migration, proliferation, apoptosis induction, and DNA damage. The cytotoxic efficacy of the extract was enhanced when combined with the chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), indicating a synergistic effect. Flow cytometry analysis suggested that the stem extract might suppress H838 cell proliferation by inducing G2 cell cycle arrest, thereby inhibiting carcinoma cell proliferation. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) enabled the tentative identification of the 15 most abundant compounds in the stem extract of N. miranda. Notably, the extract showed a potent inhibition of the human RPA32 protein (huRPA32), critical for DNA replication, suggesting a novel mechanism for its anticancer action. Molecular docking studies further substantiated the interaction between the extract and huRPA32, highlighting bioactive compounds, especially the two most abundant constituents, stigmast-5-en-3-ol and plumbagin, as potential inhibitors of huRPA32’s DNA-binding activity, offering promising avenues for cancer therapy. Overall, our findings position the stem extract of N. miranda as a promising source of natural compounds for anticancer therapeutics and anti-skin-aging treatments, warranting further investigation into its molecular mechanisms and potential clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities of Plant Extracts 2023)
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12 pages, 520 KiB  
Communication
Antimicrobial Activity on Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus faecalis of Cyperus articulatus Ethanolic Extracts
by Daniela Vieira de Castro Macambira, José Sousa de Almeida Júnior, Claudia Fernandes de Magalhães Silveira, Sandra Layse Ferreira Sarrazin, Tânia Mara Pires Moraes, Bruno Alexandre da Silva, Antonio Humberto Hamad Minervino, Waldiney Pires Moraes and Lauro Euclides Soares Barata
Plants 2024, 13(5), 689; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13050689 - 29 Feb 2024
Viewed by 909
Abstract
Oral diseases are one of the biggest public health problems worldwide, caused by opportunistic pathogens such as Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus faecalis. Cyperus articulatus (priprioca) is a plant conventionally used in traditional medicine in the Amazon region. However, little is known about [...] Read more.
Oral diseases are one of the biggest public health problems worldwide, caused by opportunistic pathogens such as Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus faecalis. Cyperus articulatus (priprioca) is a plant conventionally used in traditional medicine in the Amazon region. However, little is known about the possible dentistry-related uses of extracts from the rhizomes and solid waste generated by the extraction of essential oils from this vegetable. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition of volatile compounds and antimicrobial activity through the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration test (MIC and assessment of the toxicity by Hens Egg Test-Chorion Allantoic Membrane (HET-CAM) of the ethanolic extracts from Cyperus articulatus intact rhizomes and solid waste. We identified sesquiterpenes as the main constituents, strong antimicrobial activity of the ethanolic extract of intact rhizomes against S. mutans (MIC = 0.29 mg/mL), moderate antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis of the extract obtained from the solid waste (MIC = 1.17 mg/mL), and absence of toxicity for both tested extracts. The absence of irritation and the antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extract from C. articulatus rhizomes and solid waste reveal its potential for use in the alternative control of bacteria that cause oral infections and may present economic viability as a raw material for dental products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities of Plant Extracts 2023)
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14 pages, 1060 KiB  
Article
The Systematic Assessment of the Membrane-Stabilizing and Antioxidant Activities of Several Kazakhstani Plants in the Asteraceae Family
by Alibek Ydyrys, Gulzhan Zhamanbayeva, Nazgul Zhaparkulova, Arailym Aralbaeva, Gulnaz Askerbay, Zhanar Kenzheyeva, Gulmira Tussupbekova, Sayagul Syraiyl, Raushan Kaparbay and Maira Murzakhmetova
Plants 2024, 13(1), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13010096 - 28 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 740
Abstract
The objective of our research was to examine the antioxidant and membrane-protective characteristics of a few medicinal plant extracts belonging to the Asteracea family, along with their flavonoid and polyphenolic content, in order to identify strategies for enhancing beverage composition and boosting the [...] Read more.
The objective of our research was to examine the antioxidant and membrane-protective characteristics of a few medicinal plant extracts belonging to the Asteracea family, along with their flavonoid and polyphenolic content, in order to identify strategies for enhancing beverage composition and boosting the antioxidant capacity of green and black tea. The activity of aqueous-ethanolic extracts from the dried parts of plants, such as Arictum tomentosum Mill., Ghnapilum kasachstanicum Kirp. & Kuprian. ex Kirp., Artemisia schrenkiana Ledeb., A. rutifolia Steph. ex Spreng., A. cina O.Berg, and A. vulgaris L., were examined using a model of Wistar rats. Thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances (TBARS), a marker of malondialdehyde concentration, were used to measure the amount of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in liver microsomes. Considering the outcomes, the extracts from A. tomentosum, G. kasachstanicum, and A. vulgaris exhibit the strongest membrane-stabilizing action among those examined. At a concentration of 5 g/mL, the extracts of these plants demonstrated a significant anti-hemolitic impact, whereas the remaining extracts displayed a similar effect at doses above 10 g/mL. Accordingly, among the extracts studied, the A. tomentosum, G. kasachstanicum, A. schrenkiana, A. rutifolia, A. cina, and A. vulgaris extracts have significant antioxidant properties. The integrated antioxidant and antihemolytic qualities of A. tomentosum and green tea extracts were comparable to those of the individual plant extracts. When the extracts of A. schrenkiana and green tea were combined, similar outcomes were seen, suggesting that there was no appreciable synergistic interaction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities of Plant Extracts 2023)
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