Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.1
2.8
Journals
Processes
Special Issues
Inhibition and Metabolic Pathway Analysis of Bioactive Substances on Diseases
share announcement

Inhibition and Metabolic Pathway Analysis of Bioactive Substances on Diseases

A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmaceutical Processes".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 February 2025 | Viewed by 12327

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Dae-Hun Park

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nursing, Dongshin University, Naju, Jeonnam 58245, Korea
Interests: development of functional food/drug candidates from natural products
Dr. Seung-Sik Cho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Mokpo National University, Muan 58554, Korea
Interests: new drugs from natural product; functional foods; analysis of natural sources; immuno-modulatory sources

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recently, many trials have been launched with the aim of developing new drugs from natural products with limited adverse effects. Severe problems related to climate change and particulate matter pollution have become common, threatening public health, and the prevalence of metabolic diseases has significantly increased. However, many researchers have directed their efforts towards functional studies on natural products. Since it is critical that we identify and analyze new functional compounds as well as their properties, evaluation criteria should be established.

This Special Issue welcomes papers presenting research and analytical methods related to functional compounds from natural products. Studies on bioactive sources for controlling metabolic diseases caused by climate change and particulate matter via immune modulation using in vitro and/or in vivo systems are of particular interest.

We welcome papers on the following topics:

  • Discovery of bioactive compounds derived from plants;
  • Analysis of biomarkers from natural sources;
  • Metabolic analysis of various factors in vivo in animal disease models (chronic diseases, inflammation, pulmonary disease);
  • Immunomodulation by natural sources;
  • Bio-metabolic mechanisms of natural sources;

In vitro/in vivo models for testing food-derived products with immunomodulatory activity for pulmonary disease.

Dr. Dae-Hun Park
Dr. Seung-Sik Cho
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. Processes 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 2400 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
  • biomarkers for new drug, functional food sources
  • in vitro and in vivo mechanistic studies of metabolic diseases
  • understanding immune disease on the basis of cells and animal models
  • functional analysis and analytical approaches for the study of natural products
  • inflammation
  • allergy, asthma
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

26 pages, 3699 KiB  
Article
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Effects of Nanoencapsulated Brazilian Red Propolis Extract: Applications in Cancer Therapy
by Isabela Araújo Justino, João Pedro Rueda Furlan, Iasmin Rosane Silva Ferreira, Andréia Marincek, Jennyfer A. Aldana-Mejía, Luiz Fernando Fortunato Tucci, Jairo Kenupp Bastos, Eliana Guedes Stehling, Cleni M. Marzocchi-Machado and Priscyla Daniely Marcato
Processes 2024, 12(12), 2856; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12122856 - 13 Dec 2024
Viewed by 585
Abstract
This study evaluates the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer effects of Brazilian red propolis extract (BRPE) and its nanoencapsulated form (NCBRPE) to address bacteria and conditions associated with the ovarian cancer microenvironment. The NCBRPE showed an average size of 178.3 ± 3.3 nm, a [...] Read more.
This study evaluates the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer effects of Brazilian red propolis extract (BRPE) and its nanoencapsulated form (NCBRPE) to address bacteria and conditions associated with the ovarian cancer microenvironment. The NCBRPE showed an average size of 178.3 ± 3.3 nm, a polydispersity index (PdI) of 0.06, and an encapsulation efficiency exceeding 97% for the main bioactive compounds of propolis. Antimicrobial assays revealed that BRPE exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 4 to 256 mg/L against seven bacterial strains, while NCBRPE demonstrated sustained efficacy, with a biofilm inhibitory concentration (BIC) of 128 mg/L against Burkholderia cepacia. In clonogenic assays, NCBRPE reduced long-term cancer cell proliferation, achieving a 10-fold decrease in colony formation compared to untreated controls, significantly outperforming BRPE. Flow cytometry indicated that NCBRPE induced apoptosis in 29% ± 0.4 of ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR-3). Additionally, the DPPH assay confirmed the antioxidant activity of NCBRPE, demonstrating that it retained most of the extract’s original antioxidant capacity. This was further supported by oxidative burst assays, which showed a significant reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in neutrophils. These findings position NCBRPE as a multi-functional therapeutic candidate for managing infections, oxidative stress, and tumor progression in the ovarian cancer microenvironment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inhibition and Metabolic Pathway Analysis of Bioactive Substances on Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3086 KiB  
Article
Hepatoprotective Effects of Aqueous Extract of Perilla fructescens against Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice
by Ara Jo, Songiy Han, Sungchul Lim and Chulyung Choi
Processes 2024, 12(7), 1404; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12071404 - 5 Jul 2024
Viewed by 845
Abstract
Excessive alcohol intake leads to significant physiological complications, particularly alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). The extent of liver damage caused by ethanol correlates with increased oxidative stress and accumulation of lipids in the hepatic tissue. In this study, we investigated the defense properties of [...] Read more.
Excessive alcohol intake leads to significant physiological complications, particularly alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). The extent of liver damage caused by ethanol correlates with increased oxidative stress and accumulation of lipids in the hepatic tissue. In this study, we investigated the defense properties of the aqueous extract of Perilla frutescens Briton Var. acuta Kudo (PF) on hepatic injury in chronically ethanol-treated mice. The mice were orally administered the water extract from PF for 4 weeks with ethanol treatment (3 g/kg. P.O.). The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver tissues was determined. A substantial increase in MDA generation was detected in the livers of mice subjected to ethanol exposure, whereas the administration of PF markedly reduced MDA levels in hepatic tissues. Additionally, histological analysis of the liver tissue was performed. Histopathological investigation revealed a significant reduction in hepatocellular necrosis in the PF-treated group. This study demonstrated that the aqueous extract of Perilla frutescens Briton Var. acuta Kudo (PF) attenuated chronic ethanol-induced liver injury by augmenting the antioxidant capacity of mice. These results can be utilized for the development of high-value-added products using PF. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inhibition and Metabolic Pathway Analysis of Bioactive Substances on Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 2577 KiB  
Article
Rumex crispus Leaf Extract Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Response in BV-2 Microglia Cells
by Ji-Woong Park, Woong Kim, Chul Yung Choi and Seok-Jun Kim
Processes 2023, 11(9), 2756; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092756 - 15 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1198
Abstract
Background: Microglial cells are immune cells that operate within the central nervous system. Abnormally activated microglia cause neuroinflammation, which is linked with neurodegenerative disease. Previous research has revealed that Rumex crispus root extract exerts anti-inflammatory effects. However, it is not known whether Rumex [...] Read more.
Background: Microglial cells are immune cells that operate within the central nervous system. Abnormally activated microglia cause neuroinflammation, which is linked with neurodegenerative disease. Previous research has revealed that Rumex crispus root extract exerts anti-inflammatory effects. However, it is not known whether Rumex crispus leaf extract (RLE) has anti-inflammatory effects on murine microglial cells, such as BV-2 cells. This study proposed to investigate the impact of RLE on inducing inflammation by LPS in BV-2 cells. Methods: LPS was used to induce inflammation in BV-2 cells, and then cell survival, changes in the levels of inflammation-related factors and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathway activity were evaluated in the presence or absence of RLE. Results: RLE treatment resulted in a reduction in nitric oxide (NO) production triggered by LPS without causing cytotoxic effects. In addition, both protein and mRNA expression levels of iNOS and COX-2, which were upregulated by LPS, were significantly decreased by RLE. Also, RLE effectively reduced the transcriptional expression and further suppressed the increased production of inflammatory cytokines by LPS stimulation. Additionally, RLE effectively suppressed the inflammatory response of BV-2 cells stimulated by LPS via interference with NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. Conclusions: Taken together, our results confirm the effective suppression of the inflammatory response induced by LPS in BV-2 cells by RLE. Consequently, we suggest that RLE holds promise as a preventive agent against diseases triggered by microglial inflammatory responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inhibition and Metabolic Pathway Analysis of Bioactive Substances on Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2056 KiB  
Article
Codonopsis laceolata Water Extract Ameliorates Asthma Severity by Inducing Th2 Cells’ and Pulmonary Epithelial Cells’ Apoptosis via NF-κB/COX-2 Pathway
by So-Hyeon Bok, Kang Min Han, Hee-Ock Boo, Seung-Sik Cho and Dae-Hun Park
Processes 2022, 10(7), 1249; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr10071249 - 23 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2200
Abstract
Asthma is an incurable pulmonary disease with several symptoms, including abnormal breathing, coughing, and sleep apnea, which can lead to death, and the population of asthma patients has been increasing worldwide. There are many adverse effects in current drugs, and thus, we have [...] Read more.
Asthma is an incurable pulmonary disease with several symptoms, including abnormal breathing, coughing, and sleep apnea, which can lead to death, and the population of asthma patients has been increasing worldwide. There are many adverse effects in current drugs, and thus, we have tried to develop anti-asthmatic agents from natural products such as Codonopsis laceolata. To define the anti-asthmatic effect and the mechanism of Codonopsis laceolata, an animal study was conducted considering different cell counts of BALF, serum IgE levels, morphological changes in the pulmonary system, the Th2 cell transcription factor (GATA-3), and the apoptotic pathway (NF-κB/COX-2). Codonopsis laceolata significantly suppressed the representative asthmatic changes, such as airway remodeling, mucous hypersecretion, epithelial hyperplasia, and inflammatory cell infiltration, in the respiratory system. It suppressed the levels of GATA-3, IL-4, and IL-13. The down-regulation of Th2-related factors, such as GATA-3, IL-4, and IL-13, results from the stimulated apoptosis of Th2 cells and epithelial cells via a decrease in the levels of NF-κB and COX-2. We concluded that Codonopsis laceolata might be a promising anti-asthmatic drug. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inhibition and Metabolic Pathway Analysis of Bioactive Substances on Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3020 KiB  
Article
Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. Alleviates Indomethacin-Induced Acute Gastric Injury by Enhancing Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activity
by Seong Hwan Ryou, Il Je Cho, Beom-Rak Choi, Moon Bong Kim, Young Sam Kwon and Sae Kwang Ku
Processes 2021, 9(2), 372; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9020372 - 17 Feb 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2895
Abstract
Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. (white cabbage) is a valuable vegetable with diverse nutraceutical benefit. Present study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of B. oleracea extract (BOE) standardized by vitamin U on indomethacin (IND)-induced acute gastric injury in Sprague-Dawley rats. Pre-administration of [...] Read more.
Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. (white cabbage) is a valuable vegetable with diverse nutraceutical benefit. Present study aimed to investigate the preventive effects of B. oleracea extract (BOE) standardized by vitamin U on indomethacin (IND)-induced acute gastric injury in Sprague-Dawley rats. Pre-administration of three different doses of BOE (12.5–50 mg/kg) for 14 days significantly decreased visible ulcerative lesions in the gastric tissue. In addition, BOE alleviated IND-mediated increase in histological score with inhibiting invaded percentage of lesion and restoring mucosa thickness in peri-ulcerative region. BOE increased the gastric tissue bound to Alcian blue and inhibited the decrease in hexose, sialic acid, and collagen levels by IND, suggesting that BOE protects the gastric tissue through preserving mucus and mucosal integrity. Moreover, BOE pre-administration blocked the reduction of prostaglandin E2 and down-regulated histamine and mRNA expression related to secret gastric acid. Furthermore, BOE mitigated inflammatory responses in the gastric tissue by decreasing activity of myeloperoxidase and expression of nuclear factor-κB-dependent inflammatory genes. BOE also suppressed malondialdehyde with preventing the reduction of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in the gastric tissue. Therefore, results from present study suggest that BOE will have a potential for preventing gastric injury. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inhibition and Metabolic Pathway Analysis of Bioactive Substances on Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

8 pages, 1335 KiB  
Article
Skin Moisturizing Effects of a Microneedle Patch Containing Hyaluronic Acid and Lonicerae flos
by Sang-Kuk Han, Seung-Jun Lee and Hun-Yong Ha
Processes 2021, 9(2), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9020321 - 9 Feb 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3912
Abstract
The utilization of cosmetic raw materials for medicinal purposes in a microneedle patch containing hyaluronic acid (HA) and Lonicerae flos ethanol extract (LEE) has increased based on their eco-friendly characteristics. The moisturizing effects of this microneedle patch were assessed on the forearms of [...] Read more.
The utilization of cosmetic raw materials for medicinal purposes in a microneedle patch containing hyaluronic acid (HA) and Lonicerae flos ethanol extract (LEE) has increased based on their eco-friendly characteristics. The moisturizing effects of this microneedle patch were assessed on the forearms of 20 female participants, and our results showed an increase between 29.60% and 88.54% in skin moisture content at the same time points relative to the untreated group. Apart from confirming the safety of HA and Lonicerae flos, our findings may also promote the use of HA and medicinal herbs in relevant industries, indicating their potential as raw ingredients for the development of cosmetic products and topical dermatological drugs. The results suggested that HA, Lonicerae flos, and other combinations of chemical and natural products based on traditional oriental medicine could beneficially affect skin health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inhibition and Metabolic Pathway Analysis of Bioactive Substances on Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop