Separation and Integrated Assessment of Phytochemicals
A special issue of Separations (ISSN 2297-8739). This special issue belongs to the section "Analysis of Natural Products and Pharmaceuticals".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 May 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: bioactive compounds; bacteria; microbiology; medicinal plants; phytochemicals; biological properties; experimental design; GC-MS characterization; drug discovery; natural products; development of new antimicrobial agents
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: plants; agronomy; control methods; green chemistry; medicinal plants; sustainable agriculture; natural products; environmental protection; phytochemistry; organic farming
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Phytochemicals are becoming increasingly popular because of their various therapeutic effects, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other biological properties. Studying these compounds requires an integrated approach that combines effective extraction, accurate measurement, and a detailed assessment of their bioactivity. This approach is essential in bridging the gap between chemical characterization and understanding the therapeutic potential of phytochemicals.
Chromatography remains an essential tool in this field. Innovations such as high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), as well as composite techniques such as gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), along with two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC), chiral separation, core–shell columns, and new stationary phases, have greatly improved speed, accuracy, sensitivity, and precision. These developments not only allow the detailed chemical properties of phytochemicals to be determined, but also support studies of their biological and pharmacological activities, with particular attention paid to antibacterial properties.
Sample preparation is also of paramount importance. Advances in extraction techniques, absorbent materials, and pretreatment strategies have improved the extraction of biologically active molecules from complex matrices, ensuring a reliable assessment of their therapeutic potential.
This Special Issue seeks contributions that explore the integrated evaluation of phytochemicals, combining improved extraction, chromatographic analysis, and the evaluation of biological activities, particularly antibacterial effects. We warmly welcome original research and comprehensive reviews highlighting the chemical characterization and therapeutic evaluation of natural compounds, with the aim of advancing the understanding of phytochemicals as promising candidates for pharmaceutical, nutritional, and biomedical applications.
Dr. Naoufal El Hachlafi
Prof. Dr. Amine Assouguem
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. Separations 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 2600 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
- phytochemicals
- drug analysis
- medicinal plants
- biological activities
- chromatographic analysis
- liquid chromatography
- pre-analytical sample processing
- gas chromatography
- extraction
- bioactive compounds
- therapeutic potential
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.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
