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Natural Products with Pharmaceutical Activities
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Natural Products with Pharmaceutical Activities

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 3327

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sokcheon Pak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst, NSW 2795, Australia
Interests: evidence-based practice; bee venom; nutrition; reproduction; cancer; natural medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Soo Liang Ooi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
School of Dentistry and Medical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst, NSW 2795, Australia
Interests: evidence-based complementary medicine; nutrition; naturopathy; phytotherapy; natural medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nature has long been recognized as a crucial source for developing pharmaceutical agents, with many modern drug discoveries originating from naturally occurring substances. For example, over two-thirds of all anticancer drugs are directly derived from unaltered natural compounds or inspired by natural product pharmacophores. Natural products derived from plants, marine organisms, fungi, and other natural sources often exhibit diverse biological activities essential in drug discovery and development. With the rise of multi-drug resistance, emerging diseases, and the growing need for novel therapeutic agents, natural products play a crucial role in pharmaceutical research.

Exploring bioactive compounds from natural sources offers vast potential for discovering new disease treatments. Natural products promise to improve human health, from anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antimicrobial properties to cardiovascular, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory effects. However, the identification, isolation, and optimization of these active compounds attending their mechanisms of action remain.

This Special Issue, “Natural Products with Pharmaceutical Activities”, aims to highlight research exploring natural compounds’ pharmaceutical potential. We welcome original research articles, communications, and reviews focusing on the identification, isolation, structural characterization, and pharmacological evaluation of bioactive compounds from natural sources. Studies that emphasize novel extraction methods, structure–activity relationships, mechanisms of action, and clinical potential are particularly encouraged.

We invite contributions from diverse fields, including but not limited to pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, natural product chemistry, and biotechnology, that contribute to advancing natural product-based drug discovery.

Dr. Sokcheon Pak
Guest Editor

Dr. Soo Liang Ooi
Guest Editor Assistant

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. 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

  • bioactive compounds
  • drug discovery
  • natural products chemistry
  • pharmacological evaluation
  • structure–activity relationship

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 4437 KiB  
Article
The Antiproliferative Activity and NO Inhibition of Neo-Clerodane Diterpenoids from Salvia guevarae in RAW 264.7 Macrophages
by Juan Pablo Torres-Médicis, Celia Bustos-Brito, Leovigildo Quijano, Brenda Y. Bedolla-García, Sergio Zamudio, Teresa Ramírez-Apan, Diego Martínez-Otero and Baldomero Esquivel
Molecules 2025, 30(7), 1628; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30071628 (registering DOI) - 5 Apr 2025
Viewed by 45
Abstract
In this study, nine neo-clerodane-type diterpenoids (1–9) were isolated from the dichloromethane extract of Salvia guevarae Bedolla & Zamudio leaves. Compounds 1–6 were new natural products, and 7–9 were acetone artifacts. In addition, four [...] Read more.
In this study, nine neo-clerodane-type diterpenoids (1–9) were isolated from the dichloromethane extract of Salvia guevarae Bedolla & Zamudio leaves. Compounds 1–6 were new natural products, and 7–9 were acetone artifacts. In addition, four neo-clerodanes diterpenoids (10–13) previously described from different sources and six triterpenoids—identified as 3β,20,25-trihydroxylupane, oleanolic acid, 3β-O-acetyl-oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, 3β-O-acetyl-betulinic acid, and 3β,28-O-diacetyl-betulin—were isolated. Additionally, five flavonoids were also isolated from the methanol extract: quercetin-3-O-β-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-galactopyranoside, taxifolin-7-O-β-glucopyranoside, naringenin-7-O-β-glucopyranoside, a mixture of 2R and 2S eriodictyol-7-O-β-glucopyranoside, caffeic acid, the methyl ester of rosmarinic acid, and rosmarinic acid. The structure of the isolated compounds was established by spectroscopic means, mainly 1H and 13C NMR, including 1D and 2D homo- and heteronuclear experiments. The absolute configuration of 1 and 10 was ascertained via an X-ray analysis, and that of the other compounds via ECD. The antiproliferative activity of some diterpenoids was determined using the sulforhodamine B method, where guevarain B (2) and 6α-hydroxy-patagonol acetonide (7) showed moderate activity against the K562 line, with IC50 (μM) = 33.1 ± 1.3 and 39.8 ± 1.5, respectively. The NO inhibition in RAW 264.7 macrophage activity was also determined for some compounds, where 2-oxo-patagonal (6), 6α-hydroxy-patagonol acetonide (7), and 7α-acetoxy-ent-clerodan-3,13-dien-18,19:16,15-diolide (10) were proven to be active, with IC50 (μM) of 26.4 ± 0.4, 17.3 ± 0.5, and 13.7 ± 2.0, respectively. The chemotaxonomy of Salvia guevarae is also discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products with Pharmaceutical Activities)
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21 pages, 12976 KiB  
Article
1′-Acetoxychavicol Acetate Selectively Downregulates Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Factor 2 (TRAF2) Expression
by Chihiro Moriwaki, Shingo Takahashi, Nhat Thi Vu, Yasunobu Miyake and Takao Kataoka
Molecules 2025, 30(6), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30061243 - 10 Mar 2025
Viewed by 304
Abstract
1′-Acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA) is a natural compound derived from rhizomes of the Zingiberaceae family that suppresses the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated the molecular mechanisms by which ACA inhibits the NF-κB [...] Read more.
1′-Acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA) is a natural compound derived from rhizomes of the Zingiberaceae family that suppresses the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, the present study investigated the molecular mechanisms by which ACA inhibits the NF-κB signaling pathway in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. The results obtained showed ACA decreased tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression in A549 cells. It also inhibited TNF-α-induced ICAM-1 mRNA expression and ICAM-1 promoter-driven and NF-κB-responsive luciferase reporter activities. Furthermore, the TNF-α-induced degradation of the inhibitor of NF-κB α protein in the NF-κB signaling pathway was suppressed by ACA. Although ACA did not affect TNF receptor 1, TNF receptor-associated death domain, or receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 protein expression, it selectively downregulated TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) protein expression. The proteasome inhibitor MG-132, but not inhibitors of caspases or lysosomal degradation, attenuated ACA-induced reductions in TRAF2 expression. ACA also downregulated TRAF2 protein expression in human fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells. This is the first study to demonstrate that ACA selectively downregulates TRAF2 protein expression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products with Pharmaceutical Activities)
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19 pages, 6497 KiB  
Article
Characteristics, Antioxidant Activity Stability, and Anti-Fatigue Activity of Hydrolysates from Cucumaria frondosa Tentacles
by Mingbo Li, Juan Chen, Qiuting Wang, Chuyi Liu, Wenkui Song and Leilei Sun
Molecules 2025, 30(4), 889; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30040889 - 14 Feb 2025
Viewed by 417
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the impact of alcalase, trypsin, flavourzyme, and neutrase on the characteristics, antioxidant activity stability, and anti-fatigue activity of hydrolysates derived from Cucumaria frondosa tentacles (CFTHs). The results demonstrate that favourzyme hydrolysates exhibited the highest degree of hydrolysis (DH). [...] Read more.
This study aimed to assess the impact of alcalase, trypsin, flavourzyme, and neutrase on the characteristics, antioxidant activity stability, and anti-fatigue activity of hydrolysates derived from Cucumaria frondosa tentacles (CFTHs). The results demonstrate that favourzyme hydrolysates exhibited the highest degree of hydrolysis (DH). Zeta potential and particle size measurements indicated that hydrolyzed peptides treated with favourzyme appeared aggregated and exhibited larger particle sizes. The antioxidant properties of CFTHs demonstrated good thermal stability, pH stability, and enhanced simulated gastrointestinal digestive stability. The anti-fatigue activity of CFTHs was examined using an acute exercise fatigue model. The results indicate that CFTHs extended the exhaustive swimming time of mice to 17.81 min. Additionally, CFTHs significantly elevated (p < 0.01) blood glucose (Glu) and liver glycogen (LG) levels, while also decreasing (p < 0.05) the concentrations of metabolites such as lactic acid (LA), urea nitrogen (BUN), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and ammonia (NH3). This reduction contributed to the alleviation of fatigue in the body. Furthermore, the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were significantly increased (p < 0.05), which aided in mitigating oxidative damage induced by strenuous exercise. These findings strongly support the potential utilization of CFTHs in food products as natural antioxidant and anti-fatigue alternatives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products with Pharmaceutical Activities)
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Review

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23 pages, 1942 KiB  
Review
Mechanism of Action and Therapeutic Potential of Xanthohumol in Prevention of Selected Neurodegenerative Diseases
by Anna Długosz, Błażej Błaszak, Damian Czarnecki and Joanna Szulc
Molecules 2025, 30(3), 694; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30030694 - 5 Feb 2025
Viewed by 929
Abstract
Xanthohumol (XN), a bioactive plant flavonoid, is an antioxidant, and as such, it exhibits numerous beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidative effects. The main dietary source of XN is beer, where it is introduced through hops. Although the concentration of XN in [...] Read more.
Xanthohumol (XN), a bioactive plant flavonoid, is an antioxidant, and as such, it exhibits numerous beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidative effects. The main dietary source of XN is beer, where it is introduced through hops. Although the concentration of XN in beer is low, the large quantities of hop-related post-production waste present an opportunity to extract XN residues for technological or pharmaceutical purposes. The presented study focuses on the role of XN in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, analyzing its effect at a molecular level and including its signal transduction and metabolism. The paper brings up XN’s mechanism of action, potential effects, and experimental and clinical studies on Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Additionally, challenges and future research directions on XN, including its bioavailability, safety, and tolerance, have been discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products with Pharmaceutical Activities)
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26 pages, 366 KiB  
Review
Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis): Potential Bioactivity, Extraction Methods, and Microencapsulation Techniques
by Sarah Gustia Redjeki, Alfa Fildzah Hulwana, Rizqa Nurul Aulia, Ira Maya, Anis Yohana Chaerunisaa and Sriwidodo Sriwidodo
Molecules 2025, 30(1), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30010160 - 3 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1213
Abstract
Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.), an oilseed native to the Peruvian rainforest, has garnered attention for its valuable components and its potential applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries. Sacha inchi oil is rich in fatty acids, particularly omega-3, omega-6, and [...] Read more.
Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.), an oilseed native to the Peruvian rainforest, has garnered attention for its valuable components and its potential applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical industries. Sacha inchi oil is rich in fatty acids, particularly omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9, along with antioxidants such as tocopherols, which collectively contribute to cardiovascular health, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and neuroprotective effects. The susceptibility of the oil to oxidation poses significant challenges for both storage and processing, making it essential to employ microencapsulation technologies to preserve its integrity and extend shelf life. This paper aims to provide a review of the therapeutic potential, extraction methods, and microencapsulation strategies for enhancing the oil’s stability and bioavailability. Optimizing both extraction processes and encapsulation strategies would enhance the oil’s stability and bioavailability, enabling it to be more effectively utilized in functional foods and therapeutic applications across the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products with Pharmaceutical Activities)
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