Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.1
4.9
Journals
IJMS
Special Issues
Natural-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Disease Treatment
ijms-logo
Submit to IJMS Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Natural-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Disease Treatment

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2024) | Viewed by 2212

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Adelina Vlad

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: atherosclerosis; coronary artery disease; scavenger receptors; anesthetic preconditioning; endothelial progenitor cells; non coding RNA; nutraceuticals; phytocompounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Marilena Gilca

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: oxidative stress; antioxidants; medicinal plants; ethnopharmacology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to explore the rich tradition of utilizing natural remedies in disease treatment, with a particular focus on the dynamic realm of natural bioactive compounds. Recent research highlights the efficacy of phytocompounds and other natural elements in regulating various biological processes, encompassing inflammation, immune response, apoptosis, angiogenesis, cell proliferation, cholesterol trafficking, and neuronal plasticity by modulating the activity of various targets (enzymes, receptors, transporters, ion channels). The combination of synthetic drugs with plant-based agents, vitamins, or other natural bioactive compounds emerges as an efficient strategy for preventing and treating multifactorial diseases while mitigating side effects.

This Special Issue covers diverse topics, including the identification and characterization of new bioactive compounds, and investigating therapeutic applications for preventing, managing, or treating diseases, with an emphasis on cellular and molecular aspects of their mechanism of action. Specific areas of interest include pharmacokinetics, drug–phytochemical interactions, synergistic effects of natural compounds, regulatory activity of phytochemicals on phase I and II detoxifying enzymes, technology’s role in valorizing traditional medical knowledge, and the development of databases on the actions of medicinal plants and natural compounds.

A key focus lies in exploring the role of natural bioactive compounds in developing nutraceuticals and functional foods, bridging ancient medical wisdom with contemporary scientific advancements. The Special Issue welcomes contributions that present findings from clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of these compounds in human populations. We invite researchers to contribute their original work and scientific reviews, fostering new insights and innovations in the realm of natural bioactive compounds and their impact on human health and diseases.

Dr. Adelina Vlad
Prof. Dr. Marilena Gilca
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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

  • medicinal plants
  • phytochemicals
  • vitamins
  • nutraceuticals
  • anti-oxidants
  • gene expression
  • protein expression
  • cellular signaling
  • nanoformulations

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

34 pages, 9785 KiB  
Article
Combination of Tramiprosate, Curcumin, and SP600125 Reduces the Neuropathological Phenotype in Familial Alzheimer Disease PSEN1 I416T Cholinergic-like Neurons
by Nicolas Gomez-Sequeda, Marlene Jimenez-Del-Rio and Carlos Velez-Pardo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(9), 4925; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25094925 - 30 Apr 2024
Viewed by 806
Abstract
Familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) is a complex and multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder for which no curative therapies are yet available. Indeed, no single medication or intervention has proven fully effective thus far. Therefore, the combination of multitarget agents has been appealing as a potential [...] Read more.
Familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) is a complex and multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder for which no curative therapies are yet available. Indeed, no single medication or intervention has proven fully effective thus far. Therefore, the combination of multitarget agents has been appealing as a potential therapeutic approach against FAD. Here, we investigated the potential of combining tramiprosate (TM), curcumin (CU), and the JNK inhibitor SP600125 (SP) as a treatment for FAD. The study analyzed the individual and combined effects of these two natural agents and this pharmacological inhibitor on the accumulation of intracellular amyloid beta iAβ; hyperphosphorylated protein TAU at Ser202/Thr205; mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm); generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS); oxidized protein DJ-1; proapoptosis proteins p-c-JUN at Ser63/Ser73, TP53, and cleaved caspase 3 (CC3); and deficiency in acetylcholine (ACh)-induced transient Ca2+ influx response in cholinergic-like neurons (ChLNs) bearing the mutation I416T in presenilin 1 (PSEN1 I416T). We found that single doses of TM (50 μM), CU (10 μM), or SP (1 μM) were efficient at reducing some, but not all, pathological markers in PSEN 1 I416T ChLNs, whereas a combination of TM, CU, and SP at a high (50, 10, 1 μM) concentration was efficient in diminishing the iAβ, p-TAU Ser202/Thr205, DJ-1Cys106-SO3, and CC3 markers by −50%, −75%, −86%, and −100%, respectively, in PSEN1 I417T ChLNs. Although combinations at middle (10, 2, 0.2) and low (5, 1, 0.1) concentrations significantly diminished p-TAU Ser202/Thr205, DJ-1Cys106-SO3, and CC3 by −69% and −38%, −100% and −62%, −100% and −62%, respectively, these combinations did not alter the iAβ compared to untreated mutant ChLNs. Moreover, a combination of reagents at H concentration was able to restore the dysfunctional ACh-induced Ca2+ influx response in PSEN 1 I416T. Our data suggest that the use of multitarget agents in combination with anti-amyloid (TM, CU), antioxidant (e.g., CU), and antiapoptotic (TM, CU, SP) actions might be beneficial for reducing iAβ-induced ChLN damage in FAD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Disease Treatment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

33 pages, 10873 KiB  
Review
Effects of Cannabinoids on Intestinal Motility, Barrier Permeability, and Therapeutic Potential in Gastrointestinal Diseases
by Kijan Crowley, Łukasz Kiraga, Edyta Miszczuk, Sergiusz Skiba, Joanna Banach, Urszula Latek, Marta Mendel and Magdalena Chłopecka
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(12), 6682; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25126682 - 18 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1036
Abstract
Cannabinoids and their receptors play a significant role in the regulation of gastrointestinal (GIT) peristalsis and intestinal barrier permeability. This review critically evaluates current knowledge about the mechanisms of action and biological effects of endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids on GIT functions and the potential [...] Read more.
Cannabinoids and their receptors play a significant role in the regulation of gastrointestinal (GIT) peristalsis and intestinal barrier permeability. This review critically evaluates current knowledge about the mechanisms of action and biological effects of endocannabinoids and phytocannabinoids on GIT functions and the potential therapeutic applications of these compounds. The results of ex vivo and in vivo preclinical data indicate that cannabinoids can both inhibit and stimulate gut peristalsis, depending on various factors. Endocannabinoids affect peristalsis in a cannabinoid (CB) receptor-specific manner; however, there is also an important interaction between them and the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) system. Phytocannabinoids such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) impact gut motility mainly through the CB1 receptor. They were also found to improve intestinal barrier integrity, mainly through CB1 receptor stimulation but also via protein kinase A (PKA), mitogen-associated protein kinase (MAPK), and adenylyl cyclase signaling pathways, as well as by influencing the expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins. The anti-inflammatory effects of cannabinoids in GIT disorders are postulated to occur by the lowering of inflammatory factors such as myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and regulation of cytokine levels. In conclusion, there is a prospect of utilizing cannabinoids as components of therapy for GIT disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Disease Treatment)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop