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Therapeutic Potential of Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Non-Communicable Diseases
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Therapeutic Potential of Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Non-Communicable Diseases

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2024 | Viewed by 3691

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Naser Alsharairi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Heart, Mind & Body Research Group, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
Interests: health promotion; maternal and child health; non-communicable disease prevention; gut microbiota in health and disease; nutrition-related behaviour change theories; determinants of dietary patterns; polyphenols/flavonoids and human health; epidemiological data analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant-based foods and/or medicinal plants can provide us with a plethora of natural bioactive compounds. The types and levels of bioactive compounds vary in plants depending on their species, latitude, geographical origin, cultivation conditions and ripeness stage. The main bioactive compounds identified in plants are polyphenols, carotenoids, tocopherols, phytosterols, and other classes. Bioactive compounds have therapeutic potential against certain chronic diseases, as demonstrated by in vivo/vitro models. However, there is need to explore potential molecular mechanisms of bioactive compounds with regard to their preventive/therapeutic effects against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, and many others.

Thus, this Special Issue focuses on the role of plant-derived bioactive compounds in the treatment of NCDs. We cordially invite researchers from around the world to submit both experimental and review articles addressing the potential molecular mechanisms by which bioactive compounds from plants-based foods and medicinal plants exert antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory activities with therapeutic potential in NCDs.

Dr. Naser Alsharairi
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. Plants 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
  • plant-based foods
  • medicinal plants
  • molecular mechanisms
  • anti-inflammatory activity
  • antioxidant activity
  • clinical and pre-clinical studies
  • in vivo/vitro models
  • phytochemical analysis/evaluation

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 3518 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Activities, Antidepressant Effect, and Lipid Peroxidation of Peruvian Blueberry: Molecular Docking Studies on Targets Involved in Oxidative Stress and Depression
by Iván M. Quispe-Díaz, Roberto O. Ybañez-Julca, Ricardo Pino-Ríos, José D. Quispe-Rodríguez, Daniel Asunción-Alvarez, Elena Mantilla-Rodríguez, Roger A. Rengifo-Penadillos, Edison Vásquez-Corales, Ricardo D. D. G. de Albuquerque, Wilfredo O. Gutiérrez-Alvarado and Julio Benites
Plants 2024, 13(12), 1643; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13121643 - 14 Jun 2024
Viewed by 816
Abstract
Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) are cultivated worldwide and are among the best dietary sources of bioactive compounds with beneficial health effects. This study aimed to investigate the components of Peruvian blueberry using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight [...] Read more.
Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) are cultivated worldwide and are among the best dietary sources of bioactive compounds with beneficial health effects. This study aimed to investigate the components of Peruvian blueberry using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI–QTOF–MS/MS), identifying 11 compounds. Furthermore, we assessed in vitro the antioxidant activity and in vivo the antidepressant effect using a rat model and protective effect on lipid peroxidation (in the serum, brain, liver, and stomach). We also conducted molecular docking simulations with proteins involved in oxidative stress and depression for the identified compounds. Antioxidant activity was assessed by measuring total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazin (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid (ABTS•+), and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Peruvian blueberries demonstrated higher antioxidant activity than Vaccinium corymbosum fruits from Chile, Brazil, the United States, Turkey, Portugal, and China. The results showed that oral administration of Peruvian blueberries (10 and 20 mg/kg) for 28 days significantly (p < 0.001) increased swimming and reduced immobility in the forced swimming test (FST). Additionally, at doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg, oxidative stress was reduced in vivo (p < 0.001) by decreasing lipid peroxidation in brain, liver, stomach, and serum. Molecular docking and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) predictions were performed. In the molecular docking studies, quercitrin and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid showed the best docking scores for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and xanthine oxidase; while 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester and caffeoyl coumaroylquinic acid had the best docking scores for monoamine oxidase and serotonin receptor 5-HT2. In summary, our results suggest that the antidepressant and protective effects against lipid peroxidation might be related to the antioxidant activity of Peruvian Vaccinium corymbosum L. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Potential of Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Non-Communicable Diseases)
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Review

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18 pages, 3925 KiB  
Review
Review on the Anti-Hyperglycemic Potential of Psidium guajava and Seriphium plumosum L.
by Nokukhanya Thembane, Sphamandla Hlatshwayo, Mlungisi Ngcobo, Phikelelani Ngubane and Nceba Gqaleni
Plants 2024, 13(12), 1608; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13121608 - 11 Jun 2024
Viewed by 754
Abstract
The treatment and management of diabetes mellitus (DM) with conventional therapies, such as insulin injections and oral hypoglycemic agents, present significant challenges due to their side effects and burdensome administration. Therapies often manage symptoms rather than addressing insulin regulation, akin to medications like [...] Read more.
The treatment and management of diabetes mellitus (DM) with conventional therapies, such as insulin injections and oral hypoglycemic agents, present significant challenges due to their side effects and burdensome administration. Therapies often manage symptoms rather than addressing insulin regulation, akin to medications like thiazolidinediones and glinides, which resemble many medicinal plants. Medicinal plants offer potential alternative treatments due to bioactive compounds targeting diabetes causes. We aimed to explore the antidiabetic potential of two medicinal plants, Psidium guajava and Seriphium plumosum L., by investigating their phytochemical constituents, medicinal uses, pharmacological actions, and mechanisms. This review followed specific guidelines and searched databases including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science for studies on medicinal plants and DM. Eligible studies underwent quality assessment and were categorized based on their design and interventions for data synthesis. This review identified the phytochemical constituents in Psidium guajava and Seriphium plumosum L., including tannins, flavonoids, phenols, and steroids, exerting antidiabetic effects through various mechanisms like antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory effects, stimulation of insulin secretion, glucose regulation, and inhibition of carbohydrate-digesting enzymes. Psidium guajava and Seriphium plumosum L. exhibit promising antidiabetic potential, offering alternative approaches to diabetes management. Polyherbalism, combining multiple plant extracts, may enhance therapeutic efficacy in diabetes treatment. Comprehensive research is needed to explore the combined therapeutic effects of these plants and develop more effective antidiabetic treatments. This review highlights the importance of harnessing natural resources to combat the global burden of DM. Further research is warranted to fully explore the combined therapeutic effects of these plants and develop novel treatments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Potential of Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Non-Communicable Diseases)
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15 pages, 308 KiB  
Review
Experimental Studies on the Therapeutic Potential of Vaccinium Berries in Breast Cancer—A Review
by Naser A. Alsharairi
Plants 2024, 13(2), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13020153 - 5 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1448
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the largest contributor to cancer deaths in women worldwide. Various parts of plants, including fruits, are known for their therapeutic properties and are used in traditional medicine. Fruit species exhibit anticancer activities due to the presence of bioactive natural [...] Read more.
Breast cancer (BC) is the largest contributor to cancer deaths in women worldwide. Various parts of plants, including fruits, are known for their therapeutic properties and are used in traditional medicine. Fruit species exhibit anticancer activities due to the presence of bioactive natural compounds such as flavonoids and carotenoids. The Vaccinium spp. are fleshy berry-like drupes and are rich in bioactive compounds, with flavonols, flavanols, chalcones, and phenolic acids as the major groups of compounds. While there is clear evidence linking Vaccinium berries with a decreased risk of BC both in in vivo and in vitro experiments, the exact mechanisms involved in the protective effects of Vaccinium spp. rich extracts on BC cells are not fully understood. Thus, the purpose of this review is to highlight the mechanisms of action involved in the therapeutic potential of Vaccinium berries against BC in experimental models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Potential of Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Non-Communicable Diseases)
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