Tissue Structure and Plant Phytochemicals

Dear Colleagues,

Background and history of this topic:

Currently, there is a search for new, natural, health-promoting biologically active chemical compounds with a wide range of effective, pro-health, nutraceutical and pharmacological properties and chemotherapeutic effects. They must also be safe for organisms and cause no side effects.

Biologically active compounds are present in lower plants and in a number of organs in many higher plants:

• Crop plants (oil-bearing plants, fibre-bearing plants, special-purpose plants, and sugar plants);
• Fruit plants (pome plants, stone fruits, berry plants, and nuts);
• Vegetable plants (cruciferous vegetables, bulb vegetables, leaf vegetables, nightshades, cucurbits, and root vegetables);
• Ornamental plants (pot plants, flowerbed or edging plants, and plants grown for cut flowers).

Various species from these plant groups play a role in the maintenance of biological diversity and form a source of primary and secondary metabolites with nutritional, dietary, medicinal, and cosmetic properties. Medicinal, seasoning, and cosmetic plants are important for the ecological biodiversity of the environment. Moreover, many species from these groups are responsible for ecological diversity by providing nectar and pollen for pollinators.

Phytochemicals are natural compounds used as therapeutic ingredients in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic formulations. Histochemical tests and other microscopic methods can be used to identify their presence in cells at the tissue micromorphology, anatomy, and ultrastructure levels.

Aim, scope, and purpose of this Special Issue:

The aim of this Special Issue is to address the following topics:

1. The micromorphology, anatomy, and ultrastructure of various plant organs;
2. The structure and secretions of secretory tissues;
3. Biologically active chemical compounds;
4. Primary and secondary metabolites;
5. Phytotherapy;
6. Lower plants;
7. Crop plants;
8. Fruit plants;
9. Vegetable plants;
10. Ornamental plants;
11. Medicinal, seasoning, and cosmetic plants;
12. Environmental biodiversity.

Dr. Mirosława Chwil
Guest Editor

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• micromorphology, anatomy, and ultrastructure
• secretory tissues
• exo- and endogenous structures
• environmental biodiversity
• herbal raw materials
• primary and secondary metabolites
• phytochemicals
• phytotherapy
• pharmaceutical and cosmetic products
• nutraceutical and health-enhancing properties