ijms-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

From Genes to Medicine: Exploring the Genetic and Biological Bases of Medicinal Plants

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 666

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Medicinal plants have been integral to traditional medicine and modern pharmacology for centuries, offering a rich reservoir of bioactive compounds with significant therapeutic potential. As the demand for natural and effective treatments continues to grow, understanding these plants' genetic and biological underpinnings has become increasingly important. The interplay between medicinal plants' genetic makeup and their active compounds' biosynthesis holds the key to unlocking new avenues for drug discovery and the development of plant-based therapies.

This Special Issue explores medicinal plants' genetic diversity and conservation, examining how variations within and among species impact their medicinal properties. The study of biosynthesis pathways is another critical focus, aiming to elucidate the genetic and enzymatic processes that lead to the production of key secondary metabolites responsible for the therapeutic effects of these plants. The integration of advanced genomic technologies, such as genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, plays a significant role in identifying and enhancing these bioactive compounds, offering new insights into their medicinal potential.

Moreover, this Special Issue addresses the application of plant breeding and biotechnology to improve the yield and quality of medicinal plants. Techniques such as selective breeding, genetic engineering, and CRISPR technologies are explored as means to optimize the production of valuable compounds. Additionally, the relationship between phytochemistry and pharmacology is examined, focusing on how the genetic background of medicinal plants influences their pharmacological effects. By exploring these topics, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the genetic and biological foundations of medicinal plants, fostering innovations in drug discovery and the development of more effective plant-based treatments.

Prof. Dr. Wajid Zaman
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. 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
  • genetic diversity
  • biosynthesis pathways
  • bioactive compounds
  • genomic technologies
  • plant breeding
  • biotechnology
  • CRISPR
  • phytochemistry
  • pharmacology
  • drug discovery
  • plant-based therapies

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

17 pages, 3640 KiB  
Article
Plasticity in Gene Expression Patterns and CYPSF Gene Possibly Involved in the Etofenprox-Resistant Population of White-Backed Planthopper, Sogatella furcifera
by Murtaza Khan, Changhee Han, Minyoung Choi, Hoki Hong, Nakjung Choi and Juil Kim
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(24), 13605; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252413605 - 19 Dec 2024
Abstract
The white-backed planthopper (WBPH) poses a significant threat to rice crops globally. A bioassay was conducted on three WBPH populations collected from Korean rice fields to assess the effectiveness of five insecticides, including etofenprox and fenobucarb. The results showed a mortality rate of [...] Read more.
The white-backed planthopper (WBPH) poses a significant threat to rice crops globally. A bioassay was conducted on three WBPH populations collected from Korean rice fields to assess the effectiveness of five insecticides, including etofenprox and fenobucarb. The results showed a mortality rate of over 97% at the recommended concentration for carbamate and organophosphate insecticides. However, etofenprox exhibited a mortality rate of less than 40% in all tested populations with the Jindo population showing the highest resistance. No mutations were identified in the voltage-sensitive sodium channel, the target site of etofenprox, suggesting an alternative resistance mechanism. To explore this, RNA-seq analysis was performed on the Jindo population to identify genes potentially associated with etofenprox resistance. Gene expression was assessed after treatment with two sublethal doses of etofenprox using the Jindo population. The analysis revealed that the CYPSF gene, part of the CYP6 family, was consistently overexpressed in both treated and untreated samples. This observation aligns with the bioassay results, where mortality increased significantly after treatment with the cytochrome P450 inhibitor PBO, indicating that CYPSF may play a key role in etofenprox resistance. Additionally, distinct gene expression patterns at different etofenprox concentrations suggest that metabolic resistance mechanisms may be involved. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop