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Natural Products Chemistry: Advances in Synthetic, Analytical and Bioactivity Studies, Volume II

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Organic Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2024 | Viewed by 4132

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Giovanni Ribaudo

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa 11, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Interests: medicinal chemistry; organic synthesis; analytical chemistry; mass spectrometry; NMR; natural products; molecular modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Modern chemical sciences, and medicinal chemistry in particular, are strongly related to the world of natural products. Compounds of a natural origin are chemically diverse and characterized by a variety of scaffolds and functional groups, and chirality represents an additional feature. The study of natural compounds is intriguing in light of their several potential applications, but can also be challenging from the point of view of their extraction and analytical characterization. At the same time, organic chemists put their best effort into the derivatization and optimization of natural compounds to produce optimized analogues, thus unleashing the potential of their semisynthetic derivatives. Flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenes are only some of the chemical classes that attract the interest of medicinal chemists for the identification and development of novel therapeutic options. Moreover, drug discovery tools allow us to rationalize and to translate into modern medicinal chemistry the traditional uses of Nature-inspired molecules.

This Special Issue aims to collect original contributions describing the extraction, structural elucidation, synthesis and biological evaluation of natural, semisynthetic derivatives and Nature-inspired molecules. Moreover, articles that analyze the content of natural compounds in complex matrices and their bioactivity, as well as review articles focusing on the chemistry of natural products, will be considered. Research articles describing significant results in terms of innovative synthetic and extractive techniques and advanced analysis (chromatography, 1D and 2D NMR, mass spectrometry, and IR and UV spectroscopy), as well as drug discovery-oriented contributions, are particularly welcome.

Dr. Giovanni Ribaudo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Molecules 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

  • natural compounds
  • semisynthetic compounds
  • organic synthesis
  • analytical chemistry
  • flavonoids
  • alkaloids
  • drug design
  • stereochemistry

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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19 pages, 3971 KiB  
Article
Structural Characterization and Electrochemical Studies of Selected Alkaloid N-Oxides
by Olha Dushna, Liliya Dubenska, Andrzej Gawor, Jakub Karasińki, Oksana Barabash, Yurii Ostapiuk, Mykola Blazheyevskiy and Ewa Bulska
Molecules 2024, 29(12), 2721; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29122721 - 7 Jun 2024
Viewed by 853
Abstract
In this work, we synthesized and confirmed the structure of several alkaloid N-oxides using mass spectrometry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. We also investigated their reduction mechanisms using voltammetry. For the first time, we obtained alkaloid N-oxides using an oxidation reaction with potassium peroxymonosulfate [...] Read more.
In this work, we synthesized and confirmed the structure of several alkaloid N-oxides using mass spectrometry and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. We also investigated their reduction mechanisms using voltammetry. For the first time, we obtained alkaloid N-oxides using an oxidation reaction with potassium peroxymonosulfate as an oxidant. The structure was established based on the obtained fragmentation mass spectra recorded by LC-Q-ToF-MS. In the FT-IR spectra of the alkaloid N-oxides, characteristic signals of N-O group vibrations were recorded (bands in the range of 928 cm⁻1 to 971 cm⁻1), confirming the presence of this functional group. Electrochemical reduction studies demonstrated the reduction of alkaloid N-oxides at mercury-based electrodes back to the original form of the alkaloid. For the first time, the products of the electrochemical reduction of alkaloid N-oxides were detected by mass spectrometry. The findings provide insights into the structural characteristics and reduction behaviors of alkaloid N-oxides, offering implications for pharmacological and biochemical applications. This research contributes to a better understanding of alkaloid metabolism and degradation processes, with potential implications for drug development and environmental science. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products Chemistry: Advances in Synthetic, Analytical and Bioactivity Studies, Volume II)
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Review

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16 pages, 36857 KiB  
Review
Defense Molecules of the Invasive Plant Species Ageratum conyzoides
by Hisashi Kato-Noguchi and Midori Kato
Molecules 2024, 29(19), 4673; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29194673 - 1 Oct 2024
Viewed by 632
Abstract
Ageratum conyzoides L. is native to Tropical America, and it has naturalized in many other tropical, subtropical, and temperate countries in South America, Central and Southern Africa, South and East Asia, Eastern Austria, and Europe. The population of the species has increased dramatically [...] Read more.
Ageratum conyzoides L. is native to Tropical America, and it has naturalized in many other tropical, subtropical, and temperate countries in South America, Central and Southern Africa, South and East Asia, Eastern Austria, and Europe. The population of the species has increased dramatically as an invasive alien species, and it causes significant problems in agriculture and natural ecosystems. The life history traits of Ageratum conyzoides, such as its short life cycle, early reproductive maturity, prolific seed production, and high adaptive ability to various environmental conditions, may contribute to its naturalization and increasing population. Possible evidence of the molecules involved in the defense of Ageratum conyzoides against its natural enemies, such as herbivore insects and fungal pathogens, and the allelochemicals involved in its competitive ability against neighboring plant species has been accumulated in the literature. The volatiles, essential oils, extracts, residues, and/or rhizosphere soil of Ageratum conyzoides show insecticidal, fungicidal, nematocidal, and allelopathic activity. The pyrrolizidine alkaloids lycopsamine and echinatine, found in the species, are highly toxic and show insecticidal activity. Benzopyran derivatives precocenes I and II show inhibitory activity against insect juvenile hormone biosynthesis and trichothecene mycotoxin biosynthesis. A mixture of volatiles emitted from Ageratum conyzoides, such as β-caryophyllene, β-bisabolene, and β-farnesene, may work as herbivore-induced plant volatiles, which are involved in the indirect defense function against herbivore insects. Flavonoids, such as nobiletin, eupalestin, 5′-methoxynobiletin, 5,6,7,3′,4′,5′-hexamethoxyflavone, and 5,6,8,3,4′,5′-hexamethoxyflavone, show inhibitory activity against the spore germination of pathogenic fungi. The benzoic acid and cinnamic acid derivatives found in the species, such as protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and ferulic acid, may act as allelopathic agents, causing the germination and growth inhibition of competitive plant species. These molecules produced by Ageratum conyzoides may act as defense molecules against its natural enemies and as allelochemicals against neighboring plant species, and they may contribute to the naturalization of the increasing population of Ageratum conyzoides in new habitats as an invasive plant species. This article presents the first review focusing on the defense function and allelopathy of Ageratum conyzoides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products Chemistry: Advances in Synthetic, Analytical and Bioactivity Studies, Volume II)
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22 pages, 585 KiB  
Review
Turmeric Essential Oil Constituents as Potential Drug Candidates: A Comprehensive Overview of Their Individual Bioactivities
by Adriana Monserrath Orellana-Paucar
Molecules 2024, 29(17), 4210; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174210 - 5 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1233
Abstract
The therapeutic properties of turmeric essential oil have been extensively documented in both preclinical and clinical studies. Research indicates that its primary active compounds are promising candidates for addressing a wide range of pathologies, exhibiting anticancer, anti-inflammation, antioxidant, cardiovascular, hypoglycemic, dermatological, hepatoprotective, neurological, [...] Read more.
The therapeutic properties of turmeric essential oil have been extensively documented in both preclinical and clinical studies. Research indicates that its primary active compounds are promising candidates for addressing a wide range of pathologies, exhibiting anticancer, anti-inflammation, antioxidant, cardiovascular, hypoglycemic, dermatological, hepatoprotective, neurological, antiparasitic, antiviral, insecticidal, antifungal, and antivenom activities. While numerous compounds possess similar potential applications, the isolated active constituents of turmeric essential oil stand out due to their unique pharmacological profiles and absence of toxicity. This literature review meticulously compiles and analyzes the bioactivities of these constituents, emphasizing their molecular mechanisms of action, reported pharmacological effects, and potential therapeutic applications. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive synthesis of currently available clinical and preclinical findings related to individual turmeric essential oil compounds, while also identifying critical knowledge gaps. By summarizing these findings, this work encourages further research into the isolated compounds from turmeric oil as viable drug candidates, ultimately contributing to the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products Chemistry: Advances in Synthetic, Analytical and Bioactivity Studies, Volume II)
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37 pages, 7364 KiB  
Review
Potential Pharmacological Properties of Triterpene Derivatives of Ursolic Acid
by Vuyolwethu Khwaza and Blessing A. Aderibigbe
Molecules 2024, 29(16), 3884; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29163884 - 16 Aug 2024
Viewed by 786
Abstract
Ursolic acid (UA) and its derivatives have garnered significant attention due to their extensive pharmacological activity. UA is a pentacyclic triterpenoid found in a variety of plants, such as apples, rosemary, thyme, etc., and it possesses a range of pharmacological properties. Researchers have [...] Read more.
Ursolic acid (UA) and its derivatives have garnered significant attention due to their extensive pharmacological activity. UA is a pentacyclic triterpenoid found in a variety of plants, such as apples, rosemary, thyme, etc., and it possesses a range of pharmacological properties. Researchers have synthesized various derivatives of UA through structural modifications to enhance its potential pharmacological properties. Various in vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that UA and its derivatives possess diverse biological activities, such as anticancer, antifungal, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. This review article provides a review of the biological activities of UA and its derivatives to show their valuable therapeutic properties useful in the treatment of different diseases, mainly focusing on the relevant structure-activity relationships (SARs), the underlying molecular targets/pathways, and modes of action. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products Chemistry: Advances in Synthetic, Analytical and Bioactivity Studies, Volume II)
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