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Molecules
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Botany, Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of the Plant Natural Products
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Botany, Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of the Plant Natural Products

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 6813

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Andrea Mastinu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Interests: secondary metabolites; ethnopharmacology; abiotic stress; abiotic stress tolerance; cannabis sativa; cannabaceae; medical marijuana; phytocannabinoids; CB1 receptor; cannabidiol; tetrahydrocannabinol; CB2 receptor; cannabinoids; cannabinoid receptor agonists; cannabinoid receptor antagonists; cannabinoid receptor modulators
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants produce infinite amounts of secondary metabolites as a defensive or attractive tool. These molecules are synthesized to defend themselves from biotic and abiotic stresses and are the basis of “communication” between plant species. In other cases, these metabolites regulate floral attractiveness through a variety of smells and colors. On the other hand, since its origins, humanity has learned to use these plant sources as a therapy for many diseases. Modern pharmacology has discovered the mechanisms of action underlying therapeutic action. However, the pharmacological basis of many natural remedies has yet to be discovered.

This Special Issue is aimed at manuscripts that will discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the production of secondary metabolites in plants. In addition, new approaches for the extraction, identification, and quantification of secondary plant metabolites will be considered. Finally, works on ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, and on phytochemistry and therapeutic response of products of plant origin will be welcome.

Dr. Andrea Mastinu
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. 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

  • secondary metabolites
  • plant communication
  • allelopathy
  • plant metabolome
  • chromatographic techniques
  • ethnobotany
  • ethnopharmacology

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 4776 KiB  
Article
Reduction of Weed Growth under the Influence of Extracts and Metabolites Isolated from Miconia spp.
by Gabriel Rezende Ximenez, Mirelli Bianchin, João Marcos Parolo Carmona, Silvana Maria de Oliveira, Osvaldo Ferrarese-Filho and Lindamir Hernandez Pastorini
Molecules 2022, 27(17), 5356; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27175356 - 23 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1673
Abstract
Weeds pose a problem, infesting areas and imposing competition and harvesting difficulties in agricultural systems. Studies that provide the use of alternative methods for weed control, in order to minimize negative impacts on the environment, have intensified. Native flora represents a source of [...] Read more.
Weeds pose a problem, infesting areas and imposing competition and harvesting difficulties in agricultural systems. Studies that provide the use of alternative methods for weed control, in order to minimize negative impacts on the environment, have intensified. Native flora represents a source of unexplored metabolites with multiple applications, such as bioherbicides. Therefore, we aimed to carry out a preliminary phytochemical analysis of crude extracts and fractions of Miconia auricoma and M. ligustroides and to evaluate these and the isolated metabolites phytotoxicity on the growth of the target species. The growth bioassays were conducted with Petri dishes with lettuce, morning glory, and sourgrass seeds incubated in germination chambers. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, isolated myricetin, and a mixture of quercetin and myricetin. The results showed that seedling growth was affected in a dose-dependent manner, with the root most affected and the seedlings of the lettuce, morning glory, and sourgrass as the most sensitive species, respectively. Chloroform fractions and myricetin were the most inhibitory bioassays evaluated. The seedlings showed structural changes, such as yellowing, nonexpanded cotyledons, and less branched roots. These results indicate the phytotoxic potential of Miconia allelochemicals, since there was the appearance of abnormal seedlings and growth reduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Botany, Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of the Plant Natural Products)
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14 pages, 4216 KiB  
Article
Physiological Characteristics of Sunburn Peel after Apple Debagged
by Yifeng Feng, Shanshan Li, Rongjian Jia, Jie Yang, Qiufang Su and Zhengyang Zhao
Molecules 2022, 27(12), 3775; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27123775 - 11 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2099
Abstract
The bagging of fruits provides efficient protection from high-intensity sunlight and improves fruit color and quality. However, bagged fruit suddenly exposed to bright light can cause sunburn and destroys the peel cell structure. In this study, fruits from ten-year-old apple trees of ‘Gala’ [...] Read more.
The bagging of fruits provides efficient protection from high-intensity sunlight and improves fruit color and quality. However, bagged fruit suddenly exposed to bright light can cause sunburn and destroys the peel cell structure. In this study, fruits from ten-year-old apple trees of ‘Gala’ variety were debagged, and the effect of sunburn on fruits was divided into: (1) normal peels (BFN), (2) peels with albefaction (BFA), and (3) browning (BFB). The non-bagging fruits (NBF) were set as a control to study the physiological characteristics of apple fruits with different levels of sunburn. Our results showed that in the early stages of debagged fruits’ sunburn, the cell structure of the peel was partially destroyed, the color of the injured fruit surface turned white, and the peroxidation in the cell membrane of the peel increased. Initially, the fruit improved its photosynthetic protection ability, and the activity of antioxidants and phenolics was enhanced, to cope with external injury. However, with the increase in duration of high-intensity sunlight, the cell structure of the peel was severely damaged, and the increase in membrane peroxidation resulted in brown coloration of fruits. Under the same conditions, the photoprotection ability and antioxidant enzyme activity of non-bagged fruits showed higher levels. In conclusion, the non-bagged fruits were more adaptable to high-intensity sunlight as compared to debagged fruits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Botany, Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of the Plant Natural Products)
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23 pages, 3639 KiB  
Article
Salicylic Acid Stimulates Defense Systems in Allium hirtifolium Grown under Water Deficit Stress
by Peyman Yousefvand, Yousef Sohrabi, Gholamreza Heidari, Weria Weisany and Andrea Mastinu
Molecules 2022, 27(10), 3083; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27103083 - 11 May 2022
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2360
Abstract
Nowadays, the use of the growth regulator salicylic acid for improving a plant’s resistance to environmental stresses such as drought is increasing. The present study investigated the effect of salicylic acid on the physiological traits, antioxidant enzymes, yield, and quality of Allium hirtifolium [...] Read more.
Nowadays, the use of the growth regulator salicylic acid for improving a plant’s resistance to environmental stresses such as drought is increasing. The present study investigated the effect of salicylic acid on the physiological traits, antioxidant enzymes, yield, and quality of Allium hirtifolium (shallots) under drought conditions for three years (2016–2017, 2017–2018, and 2018–2019). The experiment was conducted as a split-plot based on a randomized complete block design with four repeats. Irrigation as the main factor in four levels of 100% (full irrigation), 75% and 50% of the plant water requirements with non-irrigation (dryland), and salicylic acid as the sub-factor in four levels of 0, 0.75, and 1 mmol, were the studied factors in this research. The combined analysis of three-year data showed that drought reduced leaf relative water content (RWC), membrane stability index (MSI), chlorophyll content, onion yield, and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes, proline content, tang, and allicin of shallots. Shallot spraying with salicylic acid improved leaf RWC, MSI, chlorophyll content, and onion yield. The highest yield of onion (1427 gr m−2) belonged to full irrigation and foliar application of 1 mmol salicylic acid. The lowest yield (419.8 gr m−2) belonged to plats with non-irrigation and non-application of salicylic acid. By improving the effective physiological traits in resistance to water deficit, salicylic acid adjusted the effects of water deficit on the yield of shallots. Foliar application of 1 mmol salicylic acid in dryland and irrigation of 50% of the plant water requirement increased onion yield by 15.12% and 29.39%, respectively, compared to the control treatment without salicylic acid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Botany, Phytochemistry and Biological Activities of the Plant Natural Products)
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