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The Role of Bioactive Natural Products in Health and Disease
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The Role of Bioactive Natural Products in Health and Disease

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 March 2025 | Viewed by 7086

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anna Muzykiewicz-Szymańska

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Guest Editor
Chair, Department of Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, Powstańców Wielkopolskich Ave. 72, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
Interests: plant extract; antioxidants; extraction technique; natural products; skin penetration study; HPLC; pharmaceutical sciences; medical biology; cosmetics
Dr. Karolina Jakubczyk

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Human Nutrition and Metabolomics, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 24 Broniewskiego Street, 71-460 Szczecin, Poland
Interests: antioxidants; plant extracts; food products; polyphenolic compounds; edible flowers; matcha green tea; food contamination; mycotoxins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Anna Nowak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chair and Department of Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland
Interests: skin penetration study; HPLC; pharmaceutical sciences; plant extraction techniques; antioxidants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural products are an important part of various industries, such as the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. In recent years, we have observed a growing interest in natural products from researchers from various fields, including those closely related to human health. Natural products are the subject of research by scientists from various fields, including medical sciences, pharmacology, biology, chemistry, engineering, microbiology, cosmetology, dietetics, and various other fields relating to human health. A vast amount of published research focuses on the use of bioactive natural products in the treatment of diseases. New drugs are being developed whose pharmacological action is based on natural products or their derivatives. However, in order for natural substances to be used in the prevention and treatment of various diseases, multidisciplinary research is necessary.

Therefore, we are pleased to invite you to publish original scientific articles and reviews regarding, among others:

  • Isolation of active ingredients from natural resources;
  • Standardization methods for bioactive natural products;
  • Identification and characterization of bioactive ingredients of natural origin;
  • Bioavailability, pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and clinical studies of natural products;
  • Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-aging activity of natural products;
  • The effect of bioactive natural products on skin;
  • Bioactive natural products as health-promoting food;
  • In vitro and in vivo analyses confirming the health-promoting and therapeutical properties of the bioactive natural products.

Therefore, this Special Issue will be devoted to a multidisciplinary discussion on the health-promoting and therapeutic effects of bioactive natural products.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Anna Muzykiewicz-Szymańska
Dr. Karolina Jakubczyk
Dr. Anna Nowak
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Applied Sciences 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 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

  • natural products
  • medicinal plants
  • chemistry
  • pharmacology
  • plant extract
  • isolation method
  • natural drugs
  • chromatography
  • antioxidants
  • natural food

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 1057 KiB  
Article
Potential Role of Bioactive Compounds: In Vitro Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Fermented Milk Thistle
by Edyta Kucharska, Bartłomiej Grygorcewicz, Monika Spietelun, Patrycja Olszewska, Anna Bobkowska, Joanna Ryglewicz, Anna Nowak, Anna Muzykiewicz-Szymańska, Łukasz Kucharski and Robert Pełech
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4287; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104287 - 18 May 2024
Viewed by 1222
Abstract
The group of innovative ingredients in cosmetic preparations includes bio-ferments (Bs), which are characterized by high bioactivity and biocompatibility, and one of the plants rich in bioactive compounds that has a beneficial effect on the skin and the body is Silybum marianum. [...] Read more.
The group of innovative ingredients in cosmetic preparations includes bio-ferments (Bs), which are characterized by high bioactivity and biocompatibility, and one of the plants rich in bioactive compounds that has a beneficial effect on the skin and the body is Silybum marianum. Bio-ferments obtained from this plant are becoming increasingly useful as active ingredients in cosmetics. In the present study, four different bio-ferments were obtained by fermentation of pomace (B-P), extract (B-E), oil (B-O), and seeds (B-S) of milk thistle. Their biodegradability (%B), total polyphenols content (Folin–Ciocalteu method), and antimicrobial, antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods), chelating (Fe2+ ions), and reduction (Cu2+ and Fe3+ ions) properties, as well as the acidity, were evaluated. The contact angle using the sessile drop method was assessed to investigate bio-ferments’ impact on skin wettability. Finally, the content of selected phenolic acids in the Bs was evaluated using the HPLC method, while the lactic acid (LA) content was assessed using the GC-MS method. All bio-ferments were characterized by high polyphenols content (13.56 ± 0.10–15.28 ± 0.12 mmol GA/L B), chelating (0.08 ± 0.01–0.17 ± 0.01 mmol Fe2+/L B) and antioxidant activity (DPPH method, 2.41 ± 0.01–3.53 ± 0.01 mmol Tx/L B), and reducing Cu2+ and Fe3+ ions. Gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, neochlorogenic acid, coumaric acid, and LA were identified in Bs. The most increased antibacterial activity for B-P was observed for a strain of Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 250 μL/mL) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC = 250 μL/mL). Simultaneously, B-S demonstrated the highest inhibitory effects against Escherichia coli (MIC = 125 μL/mL), emphasizing the varied antimicrobial profiles of these bio-ferments against different bacterial strains. Research on aerobic biodegradation demonstrated a high level of degradation (%B = 60 ± 1–65 ± 3), and all Bs were categorized as readily degradable according to the OECD classification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Bioactive Natural Products in Health and Disease)
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16 pages, 2071 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Biological Activity Studies of Octenyl Succinic Anhydride Starch-Based Emulsions Containing Natural Essential Oils and Their Components
by Vesta Navikaite-Snipaitiene, Kamile Spirikavice, Jurate Siugzdaite, Egle Beatrice Grigonyte and Ramune Rutkaite
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4050; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104050 - 10 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1068
Abstract
In this study, clove essential oil (CL), eugenol (EU), and cinnamaldehyde (CI) were immobilized in starch sodium octenyl succinate (SSO) using an emulsification method. The main characteristics, stability, and biological properties of the prepared emulsions were established. Particle size analyses using dynamic light [...] Read more.
In this study, clove essential oil (CL), eugenol (EU), and cinnamaldehyde (CI) were immobilized in starch sodium octenyl succinate (SSO) using an emulsification method. The main characteristics, stability, and biological properties of the prepared emulsions were established. Particle size analyses using dynamic light scattering showed that the smaller droplets were characteristic of emulsions containing CI (205–218 nm) and EU (181–236 nm), while the largest droplets were determined for CL emulsions (293–348 nm). Moreover, the highest antioxidant activity was determined for CL (79–83%) and EU (80–88%) emulsions, while CI emulsions showed the greatest antibacterial activity. The obtained emulsions were applied to the paper sheets and the bioactive properties of coated paper were studied. Evaluation of antioxidant properties revealed that high antioxidant activity reaching 76–92% and 87–91% was characteristic of coatings containing CL and EU, respectively. Meanwhile, coatings containing CI showed quite low antioxidant activity (4–9%) but demonstrated the greatest antimicrobial effect on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria as well as yeasts. Hence, CL and EU emulsions could be used as effective natural antioxidants, whereas CI emulsions could be applied as an antimicrobial agent on cellulose-based substrates for a wide range of human health protection applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Bioactive Natural Products in Health and Disease)
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14 pages, 2352 KiB  
Article
Cornus mas L. Extract-Mediated Modulations of the Redox State Induce Cytotoxicity in Schizosaccharomyces pombe
by Lucia Klongová, Marek Kovár, Alica Navrátilová, Veronika Fialkova and Miroslava Požgajová
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(10), 4049; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104049 - 10 May 2024
Viewed by 1018
Abstract
The Cornus mas L. fruit is well known for having a high presence of bioactive substances that include phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, vitamins, flavonoids, carotenoids, and ursolic acid. The health-promoting effects of those substances are mainly associated with their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. [...] Read more.
The Cornus mas L. fruit is well known for having a high presence of bioactive substances that include phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, vitamins, flavonoids, carotenoids, and ursolic acid. The health-promoting effects of those substances are mainly associated with their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. In this study, we investigated the role of Cornus mas L. fruit ethanolic extract on the cell vitality of a model eukaryotic organism, the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The effect of Cornus mas L. fruit ethanolic extract on cell viability was determined by analyses of cell growth and cell doubling time during exposure to the extract. To determine the ability of Cornus mas L. to reduce or induce oxidative stress, quantification of intracellular reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels was performed. Additionally, the enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase was evaluated together with the determination of changes in the expression of genes related to oxidative stress response. The data suggest a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect of the Cornus mas L. fruit ethanol extract, as a higher concentration (2%) led to increased oxidative stress and reduced cell viability of S. pombe cells, while a lower concentration (0.5%) showed only a subtle effect on the analyzed parameters. This study provides a new perspective on the possible antimicrobial or medicinal properties of Cornus mas L. fruit ethanol extract due to its ability to induce oxidative stress in the cell. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Bioactive Natural Products in Health and Disease)
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12 pages, 761 KiB  
Article
Designing the Quality Characteristics of Berry Processing Byproducts Using Fermentation
by Sylwia Sady, Marta Ligaj, Bogdan Pachołek, Alfred Błaszczyk, Zuzanna Płaczek, Nikola Dłużniewska, Patrycja Kawałek, Karolina Pakuła, Adam Konopelski and Eryk Gołaszewski
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(7), 3110; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14073110 - 8 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1330
Abstract
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in berry fruit processing byproducts, namely, seeds, pulp, and peel, due to the high content of nutritionally valuable ingredients. The market is seeing an increase in the popularity of fermented products, especially those from vegetables [...] Read more.
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in berry fruit processing byproducts, namely, seeds, pulp, and peel, due to the high content of nutritionally valuable ingredients. The market is seeing an increase in the popularity of fermented products, especially those from vegetables or fruits. Fermented fruit pomace can be used as an ingredient or food additive. Many studies have confirmed that the fermentation process can increase the antioxidant activity of plant extracts due to the decomposition of cell walls. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality and antioxidant potential of fermented berry pomace (from chokeberry, blackcurrant, raspberry, and strawberry) in terms of its potential use as an alternative source of valuable ingredients for the design of new food products. The scope of this research included assessing microbiological quality, vitamin C and total phenolic compound (TPC) contents, and antioxidant activity using ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays. The polyphenolic compound and vitamin C contents, as well as antioxidant activity, depended on the mixture of microbial strains used for fermentation and the type of fruit pomace. The most favorable parameters for TPC, ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP were obtained for chokeberry pomace samples inoculated with yeast cultures. Chokeberry pomace exhibited the highest vitamin C content when inoculated with a mixture of bacteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Bioactive Natural Products in Health and Disease)
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13 pages, 1066 KiB  
Article
Interaction of Selected Commercial Antiseptics with Natural Products against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strain
by Monika Sienkiewicz, Paulina Młodzińska, Anna Kilanowicz, Ewa Dudzińska and Paweł Kwiatkowski
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 2060; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14052060 - 1 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1427
Abstract
The carriage of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains may determine the subsequent occurrence of infection, which mainly affects patients after surgeries. Therefore, its eradication with the use of antibiotics or antiseptics is a crucial method of preventing staphylococcal self-infections. The observed increase in [...] Read more.
The carriage of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains may determine the subsequent occurrence of infection, which mainly affects patients after surgeries. Therefore, its eradication with the use of antibiotics or antiseptics is a crucial method of preventing staphylococcal self-infections. The observed increase in bacterial resistance to known antibacterial substances poses a huge challenge to scientists. The aim of this study was to analyze the interaction of selected commercial antiseptics (Braunol, CITROclorex 2%, Microdacyn 60 Wound Care, Octenisept and Prontoderm Solution) with natural products (carvacrol, β-citronellol, geraniol, eugenol, farnesol, (-)-menthone, eucalyptol, limonene, linalyl acetate and trans-anethole) against the MRSA standard strain. The antistaphylococcal activity of commercial antiseptics in combination with natural products against MRSA was determined using the checkerboard method. The obtained results showed that most combinations decreased the MIC level of the commercial antiseptic and natural compounds. A statistically significant decrease in the MIC value of the antiseptic and natural constituent was observed for the Braunol–β-citronellol combination. Such a significant decrease in the MIC value of the natural compound against the analyzed strain was also detected for the Octenisept–β-citronellol and Prontoderm Solution–β-citronellol combinations. The interaction analysis showed that out of all 20 combinations of individual antiseptics with substances of natural origin, two combinations showed a synergistic effect (Braunol–β-citronellol, Braunol–carvacrol), and three combinations showed an additive effect (Braunol–eugenol, Braunol–geraniol, Prontoderm Solution–β-citronellol). The use of Braunol in combination with β-citronellol or carvacrol may become an alternative method of eradicating MRSA strains. However, further studies are needed to determine the toxicity of the analyzed combinations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Bioactive Natural Products in Health and Disease)
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