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Separations
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Bioactive Compounds from Natural Sources: Extraction, Characterization, Evaluation and Application
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Bioactive Compounds from Natural Sources: Extraction, Characterization, Evaluation and Application

A special issue of Separations (ISSN 2297-8739). This special issue belongs to the section "Analysis of Natural Products and Pharmaceuticals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 July 2024 | Viewed by 4558

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Olivera Politeo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Chemistry and Technology, University of Split, Split, Croatia
Interests: natural products; secondary plant metabolites; chemistry; essential oils; biological potential
Dr. Mejra Bektasevic

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Bihac, Luke Marjanovića bb, 77000 Bihac, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Interests: natural products; essential oils; antioxidant activity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants, animals and microorganisms are sources of biologically active compounds with different activities. These include antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anticholinesterase and other activities.

In the isolation and identification of biologically active compounds from natural sources, numerous analytical methods are of great importance. Among them, chromatographic and spectroscopic methods occupy the most important place.

Nowadays, biologically active compounds from natural sources have a wide range of applications, from the food and cosmetic industries to the pharmaceutical industry.

Identification of biologically active compounds is important for the study of the structure–activity relationship and further research on biological activities of modified natural products or their biosynthesis.

As a Guest Editor, I invite you to contribute to this Special Issue focusing on the isolation and identification of natural products using various analytical techniques and the evaluation and application of their biological potential.

Prof. Dr. Olivera Politeo
Dr. Mejra Bektasevic
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. Separations is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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

  • natural products
  • secondary metabolites
  • isolation of natural compounds
  • gas chromatography
  • liquid chromatography
  • mass spectrometry
  • biological potential
  • biological application

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2967 KiB  
Article
Metabolite Profiling and Molecular Network Shows Kinkeloids as Promoting of Collagen Synthesis from Combretum micranthum
by Souhila Messaili, Doha Haggouch, Mikaela Bignard, Pierre-Eric Campos, Emilie Destandau and Eldra Delannay
Separations 2024, 11(5), 132; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11050132 - 26 Apr 2024
Viewed by 172
Abstract
Combretum micranthum, a plant native to Africa, has a well-documented traditional use in the treatment of various ailments such as fever, diabetes, and malaria. Its pharmaceutical benefits include nephroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, which were proven. In addition, its potential for [...] Read more.
Combretum micranthum, a plant native to Africa, has a well-documented traditional use in the treatment of various ailments such as fever, diabetes, and malaria. Its pharmaceutical benefits include nephroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, which were proven. In addition, its potential for cosmetic applications is being explored due to its depigmenting, anti-inflammatory, and UV-damage-repairing properties. This article investigates the molecular composition and new cosmetically relevant biological activity of C. micranthum and enriched fractions to begin the establishment of the structure–activity relationship. Firstly, an extract of C. micranthum was prepared and selected for its overall biological response and then fractionated to obtain simplified molecular fractions. One fraction was particularly enriched in kinkeloids, a specific family of compounds to this species. All the fractions and the crude extract were then tested on biological targets to evaluate and compare their cosmetic activities. Molecular networks were constructed from the UHPLC-MS/HRMS data to better characterize the extract and fractions and to highlight structure–activity relationships. This study highlights the metabolic profiling of a butylene glycol extract of C. micranthum, showing its main chemical families and revealing that the kinkeloids, identified by HRMS and NMR, promote an increase in collagen I synthesis, an interesting cosmetic activity neither previously described for these compounds and neither for C. micranthum extract. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Natural Sources: Extraction, Characterization, Evaluation and Application)
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23 pages, 5556 KiB  
Article
Exploring Bioactive Phytochemicals in Gymnema sylvestre: Biomedical Uses and Computational Investigations
by Uday M. Muddapur, Samiksha Manjunath, Yahya S. Alqahtani, Ibrahim Ahmed Shaikh, Aejaz Abdullatif Khan, Basheerahmed Abdulaziz Mannasaheb, Deepak Yaraguppi and Sunil S. More
Separations 2024, 11(2), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11020050 - 06 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1471
Abstract
The main objective of this research was to perform Gymnema sylvestre (Asclepiadaceae) extract’s phytochemical screening and identify its therapeutic potential. Using a Soxhlet apparatus, the powdered plant material was extracted using ethyl acetate. The preliminary phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, [...] Read more.
The main objective of this research was to perform Gymnema sylvestre (Asclepiadaceae) extract’s phytochemical screening and identify its therapeutic potential. Using a Soxhlet apparatus, the powdered plant material was extracted using ethyl acetate. The preliminary phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, glycosides, and steroids. Gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy analysis of the extract was performed and confirmed the presence of 11 compounds. As per the quantitative analysis, the extract exhibited a phenolic content of 948 µg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight, a total flavonoid content of 398 µg quercetin equivalent/g dry weight, and an alkaloid content of 487 µg atropine equivalent/g dry weight. As per the in vitro cytotoxicity test using A549 cells, the IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) value for the extract was found to be 76.06 ± 1.26 µg/mL, indicating its cytotoxic effect on the cells. The ethyl acetate extract showed significant antibacterial efficacy, as evidenced by a zone of clearance measuring 3 mm against Escherichia coli and 6 mm against Bacillus subtilis. For anthelmintic activity, the earthworm paralysis time induced by G. sylvestre extract (10 mg/mL) was 28.13 ± 0.8 min, and the time of death was 68.21 ± 1.72 min. In comparison, the reference drug, piperazine citrate (10 mg/mL), caused paralysis in 22.18 ± 1.02 min and resulted in death at 66.22 ± 2.35 min. Similarly, the coagulation time was notably prolonged, with blood clot formation observed at 1 min and 40 s, at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, which underscores the potential anticoagulant or hemostatic modulation properties of G. sylvestre extract. The test extract showed good inhibition of alpha-amylase activity and exhibited an IC50 value of 15.59 µg/mL. The IC50 value for DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl)-scavenging activity for the extract was 19.19 µg/mL. Based on the GCMS results, the compound 2,7-dimethyl-undecane was selected for its anticancer potential. Docking studies were conducted with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein, specifically the 5WB7 variant associated with lung cancer. The docking score was −4.5, indicating a potential interaction. Key interaction residues such as ASN328, VAL350, and THR358 were identified. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the phytochemical composition and diverse biological activities of G. sylvestre extract, offering a foundation for further exploration of its medicinal and pharmacological potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Natural Sources: Extraction, Characterization, Evaluation and Application)
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13 pages, 1653 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition and Antistaphylococcal Activity of Essential Oil of Curcuma mangga Rhizome from Indonesia
by Klara Urbanova, Andreas Romulo, Marketa Houdkova, Pavel Novy and Ladislav Kokoska
Separations 2024, 11(2), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11020049 - 06 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1160
Abstract
This study assessed the antistaphylococcal activity of essential oil (EO) hydrodistilled from the rhizome of Curcuma mangga grown in Indonesia using the broth microdilution volatilization method and standard broth microdilution method modified for evaluation of volatile agents, as well as described its chemical [...] Read more.
This study assessed the antistaphylococcal activity of essential oil (EO) hydrodistilled from the rhizome of Curcuma mangga grown in Indonesia using the broth microdilution volatilization method and standard broth microdilution method modified for evaluation of volatile agents, as well as described its chemical composition using gas chromatography (GC) with mass spectrometry (MS). A fused-silica HP-5MS column and a DB-17MS column were used to separate the components into two columns. The results demonstrated that the EO exhibited antistaphylococcal activity at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 128 to 1024 µg/mL. In contrast, the clinical isolate of tetracycline-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive strain (MIC 128 µg/mL). The major constituents of the EO were 15,16-dinorlabda-8(17),11-dien-13-one (24.63/15.78%), followed by ambrial (16.12/10.97%), 13-nor-eremophil-1(10)-en-11-one (7.16/6.21%), 15,16-dinorlabda-8(17),12-dien-14-al (6.61/11.57%), and aromadendrene oxide (5.98/3.77%). These results propose C. mangga rhizome EO as a promising agent for developing natural-based anti-infective preparations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Natural Sources: Extraction, Characterization, Evaluation and Application)
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15 pages, 16528 KiB  
Article
Risk Characterization of Botanical Extracts Containing Hydroxyanthracenes as Determined by a Validated Micronucleus In Vitro Assay
by Gloria Melzi, Corrado L. Galli and Marina Marinovich
Separations 2024, 11(2), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations11020047 - 06 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1220
Abstract
Extracts of Rheum palmatum L., Rhamnus purshiana DC., Rhamnus frangula L., and Cassia senna L. are used in traditional medicine thanks to their beneficial properties. These species contain hydroxyanthracene derivatives, considered genotoxic and possibly related to colorectal cancer development. This research aimed to [...] Read more.
Extracts of Rheum palmatum L., Rhamnus purshiana DC., Rhamnus frangula L., and Cassia senna L. are used in traditional medicine thanks to their beneficial properties. These species contain hydroxyanthracene derivatives, considered genotoxic and possibly related to colorectal cancer development. This research aimed to study, using a micronucleus assay in vitro, the genotoxic potential of Rheum palmatum L., Rhamnus purshiana DC., Rhamnus frangula L. (bark), and Cassia senna L. (leaves and fruits) extracts. The extracts were evaluated at different concentrations: from 0 to 2000 µg/mL for Rhamnus purshiana DC, from 0 to 2500 µg/mL for Rheum palmatum L. and Rhamnus frangula L., and from 0 to 5000 µg/mL for Cassia senna L. The cytokinesis-block proliferation index was calculated to analyse if the used concentrations showed cytotoxicity. The hydroxyanthracene content varied between 0.06% and 0.23% for aloe-emodin, and between 0.07% and 0.16% for emodin and rhein. No cytotoxic effect was detected at any of these concentrations. Micronucleus analyses showed a lack of genotoxicity for all the extracts tested. These results show that Rheum palmatum L., Rhamnus purshiana DC, Rhamnus frangula L., and Cassia senna L. extracts do not induce genotoxicity since no increase in micronuclei formation in human lymphocytes in vitro was detected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Natural Sources: Extraction, Characterization, Evaluation and Application)
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