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Pharmaceuticals
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Plant-Derived Products in the Treatment of Internal Diseases: 2nd Edition
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Plant-Derived Products in the Treatment of Internal Diseases: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 December 2025 | Viewed by 1787

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Dorin Dragoş

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
First Department, Medical Semiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: phytotherapy; herbal medicine; integrative medicine; pshychosomatics; internal medicine; nephrology; cardiovascular; neurovascular; diabetes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
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

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, tremendous progress has been made in the discovery of new drugs for the treatment of internal diseases, reflected in the considerable change in the prognostic and course of these diseases. However, importantly, severe or even life-threatening side effects mar the employment of these novel treatments. Despite the statements in the guidelines, patients are not actually encouraged to perform the much-needed lifestyle changes that would make at least some of these new drugs less necessary, if at all, especially for the management of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, and chronic obstructive lung disease. There are many instances of inappropriate employment of conventional drugs in the treatment of symptoms/disorders for which those drugs are not indicated: antibiotics for viral diseases, coronary heart disease medication for unspecific (including psychosomatic) chest pain, blood pressure-lowering medication for emotion-related fluctuations in blood pressure, etc. Many honest practitioners acknowledge that they should use something else but lack the trust in or knowledge about alternative therapies. A large segment of the population prefers alternative treatments, one of the most popular being herbal treatment. Individuals relying on alternative therapies are more amenable to health-promoting lifestyle changes.

Unfortunately, among the researchers and practitioners of mainstream medicine, there is a high degree of skepticism about the effectiveness of natural products, given the paucity and low quality of evidence supporting them. Let us, those that understand the considerable and insufficiently tapped potential of natural products, provide high-quality studies and reviews promoting the use of these products!

Dr. Dorin Dragoş
Dr. Adelina Vlad
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. Pharmaceuticals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2900 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

  • medicinal plants
  • phytotherapy
  • herbal treatment
  • natural products
  • herbalism
  • traditional medicine
  • cardiovascular disease
  • lung disease
  • liver disease
  • gastrointestinal disease
  • kidney disease
  • obesity
  • diabetes
  • rheumatological disease

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 9688 KB  
Article
Hypolipidemic Effects of Alpinia japonica Extracts: Modulation of PPAR Signaling, Gut Microbiota, and Intestinal Barrier Function in Hyperlipidemic Rats
by Liqing Zhou, Cong Fang, Hongwei Li, Yifan Lin, Huiqing Que, Hongxu Liu, Lihong Ma and Wenjin Lin
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(9), 1320; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18091320 - 3 Sep 2025
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Abstract
Objectives: Alpinia japonica (A. japonica) is traditionally used for digestive disorders, but its hypolipidemic mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the lipid-lowering effects of its fruit (SJGS), rhizome (SJGJ), and leaf (SJY) extracts, exploring their bioactive constituents and organ-specific mechanisms. [...] Read more.
Objectives: Alpinia japonica (A. japonica) is traditionally used for digestive disorders, but its hypolipidemic mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the lipid-lowering effects of its fruit (SJGS), rhizome (SJGJ), and leaf (SJY) extracts, exploring their bioactive constituents and organ-specific mechanisms. Methods: Sprague Dawley rats (n = 8/group) fed a high-fat diet received SJGS, SJGJ, or SJY (200 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. Serum lipids (TC, TG), liver enzymes (AST, ALT), and intestinal barrier markers (DAO) were measured. Gut microbiota (16S rDNA sequencing), hepatic histopathology, and ileal tight junction proteins were analyzed. Transcriptomics and qPCR assessed ileal gene expression. LC-MS identified chemical constituents, while network pharmacology predicted compound-target interactions. Results: All extracts significantly reduced serum TC (↓ 27–33%), TG (↓ 29–38%), AST/ALT (↓ 22–30%), and DAO (↓ 35–42%) versus controls (p < 0.05). They improved hepatic steatosis, enhanced intestinal barrier function, and modulated gut microbiota (↑ α-diversity, ↓ Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio). Transcriptomics revealed PPAR signaling as the core pathway: SJGS/SJGJ downregulated fatty acid oxidation genes (ACSL1, ACOX1, ACADM), while SJY upregulated APOA1 (2.3-fold). LC-MS identified 33–48 compounds/part, with seven shared constituents. Network analysis prioritized three flavonoids (pinocembrin, luteolin, galangin) targeting TNF, AKT1, and PPAR pathways. Conclusions: The findings suggest A. japonica extracts ameliorate hyperlipidemia through distinct mechanisms—SJGS/SJGJ may inhibit fatty acid oxidation, while SJY potentially enhances APOA1-mediated clearance. Shared flavonoids likely contribute to these effects via PPAR signaling, supporting its traditional use. This study provides a scientific basis for the sustainable utilization of A. japonica resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Derived Products in the Treatment of Internal Diseases: 2nd Edition)
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19 pages, 2360 KB  
Article
Lepisanthes alata Attenuates Carrageenan-Induced Inflammation and Pain in Rats: A Phytochemical-Based Approach
by Elvy Suhana Mohd Ramli, Nadia Mohamed Tarmizi, Nur Aqilah Kamaruddin and Mohd Amir Kamaruzzaman
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(8), 1142; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18081142 - 31 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Background: Inflammation abrogates cellular organization and tissue homoeostasis, resulting in redness, swelling, heat, pain, and loss of function. A model of carrageenan-induced paw edema (CIE) is commonly utilized to test anti-inflammatory substances. Based on the ability of Lepisanthes alata (LA), a tropical [...] Read more.
Background: Inflammation abrogates cellular organization and tissue homoeostasis, resulting in redness, swelling, heat, pain, and loss of function. A model of carrageenan-induced paw edema (CIE) is commonly utilized to test anti-inflammatory substances. Based on the ability of Lepisanthes alata (LA), a tropical plant that is rich in phytochemicals like polyphenols, this study assessed the optimal dose and the health benefits of LA in rats that had been induced with carrageenan to develop paw swelling. Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into four groups to which carrageenan was administered, after which, distilled water at oral dose (C + DW), sodium diclofenac 25 mg/kg (C + DS), LA extract in 250 mg/kg (C + LA250), and 500 mg/kg (C + LA500) was given, respectively. Paw edema was assessed in 24 h. Pain was assessed using the Rat Grimace Scale (RGS), cytokines, antioxidant activity, and tissue changes. Results: LA at 250 and 500 mg/kg significantly decreased paw edema and inflammatory markers in the results of both studies. Remarkably, LA 250 mg/kg significantly decreased RGS scores as well as IL-1β, TNF-α, and histological inflammation but had a positive effect on T-SOD levels. Conclusions: LA extract, especially at 250 mg/kg, shows potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties in CIE rats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Derived Products in the Treatment of Internal Diseases: 2nd Edition)
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