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Bioactive Potential of Plants
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Bioactive Potential of Plants

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (17 November 2022) | Viewed by 13517

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Tomasz Sawicki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Food Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: nutrition; food chemistry; metabolomics; bioactive compounds; diet-related diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Adam Jurgoński

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: nutrition; food chemistry; phytochemistry; diet-related diseases; physiology of the digestive system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ewa Niedźwiedzka

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Food Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: nutrition; diet-related diseases; eating habits; public health; non-communicable disease risk; dietary patterns

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plants are rich in several bioactive compounds that show health-promoting properties. Currently, many scientists are conducting research to characterize the profiles/contents of bioactive compounds present in plants and deepen the knowledge about their health-promoting properties and/or potential to prevent a number of diseases. In this Special Issue, we welcome the submission of studies on the characterization of the composition of bioactive compounds present in plants or their products and the assessment of their impact on human health.

Dr. Tomasz Sawicki
Dr. Adam Jurgoński
Dr. Ewa Niedźwiedzka
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. 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

  • bioactive compounds
  • plants
  • fruits
  • vegetables
  • nutrition
  • antioxidant activity
  • health benefits

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 5435 KiB  
Article
Carum carvi Modulates Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity: Effects on TNF-α, NF-κB, and Caspases
by Tahir Maqbool Mir, Muneeb U Rehman, Mohammad Khalid Ashfaq, Wajhul Qamar, Rehan Khan, Aarif Ali, Mansour Almuqbil, Sultan Alshehri and Sarwat Sultana
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(21), 11010; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122111010 - 30 Oct 2022
Viewed by 2108
Abstract
Carum carvi is a well-known herb traditionally used as a spice in Asian countries. Acetaminophen is a known marketed drug mainly used as an analgesic. It has been scientifically proven that consumption of acetaminophen (paracetamol) is associated with liver toxicity if taken in [...] Read more.
Carum carvi is a well-known herb traditionally used as a spice in Asian countries. Acetaminophen is a known marketed drug mainly used as an analgesic. It has been scientifically proven that consumption of acetaminophen (paracetamol) is associated with liver toxicity if taken in high doses without medical supervision. The present study evaluated the in vivo antioxidant and hepatoprotective efficacy of Carum carvi against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Our results demonstrate that Carum carvi, at doses (mg/kg) of 100 (D1) and 200 (D2), showed inhibitory properties for DNA-sugar damage, lipid peroxidation, DPPH scavenging, and increased reducing potential in a concentration-dependent manner. Our results also confirm that liver toxicity associated with paracetamol, such as depletion of reduced glutathione and antioxidant enzyme levels, as well as induction of cytochrome P450, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammatory cytokines, was efficiently restored by Carum carvi treatment in rats. Moreover, the expression of redox-sensitive transcription factors, namely, NF-κB and TNF-α levels, was also modulated by Carum carvi in the rats. In summary, our study confirms that Carum carvi inhibits inflammation and oxidative stress, thereby protecting liver cells from paracetamol prompted hepatotoxicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Potential of Plants)
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13 pages, 943 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antibacterial, Antibiofilm Properties and Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Manuka Honey: A Nature’s Bioactive Honey
by Abdulrahman S. Bazaid, Abdulwahab Alamri, Majed N. Almashjary, Husam Qanash, Ali A. Almishaal, Junaid Amin, Naif K. Binsaleh, Jamil Kraiem, Abdu Aldarhami and Ahmed Alafnan
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(19), 9928; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12199928 - 2 Oct 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3516
Abstract
Honey has a history of medical use and is known as bio-alternative therapy. This research assessed the phytochemical and biological activity of the medical grade manuka honey (MH). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was chosen to investigate bioactive compounds of the MH. The DPPH [...] Read more.
Honey has a history of medical use and is known as bio-alternative therapy. This research assessed the phytochemical and biological activity of the medical grade manuka honey (MH). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was chosen to investigate bioactive compounds of the MH. The DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging and beta-carotene antioxidant activities as well as the antibacterial and antibiofilm effects against S. aureus, B. subtilis, E. coli and P. aeruginosa were all determined. Furthermore, to gauge anticancer properties of MH, a MTT assay was opted towards three cell lines, including HCT-116 (colon), A549 (lung) and MCF-7 (breast) cancer cells. The GC–MS analysis of the tested MH revealed the identification of various chemical constituents belonging to the fatty acids, phenols, and esters. The MH was found to have higher reducing power activity (DPPH IC50: 7.36; ABTS IC50: 4.49 mg/mL) than the beta-carotene bleaching power (IC50: 37.51 mg/mL). Similarly, the MH was noted to be more active against the planktonic and biofilm of Gram-positive bacteria. Furthermore, a dose-dependent anticancer potential was observed, although a significant anticancer potential was pointed out against the MCF-7 and A549 cell conforming to the IC50 values of 9.05 and 9.37 mg/mL, respectively. This study’s results have highlighted the MH’s chemical composition with significant bioactivities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Potential of Plants)
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13 pages, 1714 KiB  
Article
Ethanol Extract of Pinus koraiensis Leaves Mitigates High Fructose-Induced Hepatic Triglyceride Accumulation and Hypertriglyceridemia
by Min-Ho Lee, Sunyeong Park, Yinzhu Xu, Jung-Eun Kim, Hengmin Han, Jae-Hyeon Lee, Jean Kyung Paik and Hyo-Jeong Lee
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(13), 6745; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12136745 - 3 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1841
Abstract
Pinus koraiensis is a valuable plant source of functional health foods and medicinal materials. Hypertriglyceridemia affects about 15–20% of adults and is related to stroke, metabolic syndromes, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes mellitus. Dietary fructose, a risk factor for developing hypertriglyceridemia, significantly increases postprandial [...] Read more.
Pinus koraiensis is a valuable plant source of functional health foods and medicinal materials. Hypertriglyceridemia affects about 15–20% of adults and is related to stroke, metabolic syndromes, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes mellitus. Dietary fructose, a risk factor for developing hypertriglyceridemia, significantly increases postprandial triglyceride (TG) levels and aggravates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In this study, we aimed to analyze the effect of ethanol extract from P. koraiensis needles (EPK) on fructose (Fr)-induced cell culture and animal models, respectively. Our team determined the bioactivity, such as anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and anti-hyperlipidemic functions, of P. koraiensis needle extract. The EPK markedly reduced TG levels in the liver and serum and enhanced TG excretion through feces in high-fructose-fed rats. Furthermore, the EPK inhibited de novo lipogenesis and its markers—carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), fatty acid synthase (FAS), 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-CoA Reductase (HMGCR), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a pro-inflammatory marker. Consistent with the results of the in vivo experiment, the EPK decreased SREBP-1, ChREBP, HMGCR, FAS, TNF-α, and iNOS expression levels, resulting in slower lipid accumulation and lower TG levels in Fr-induced HepG2 cells. These findings suggest that EPK mitigates hypertriglyceridemia and hepatic TG accumulation by inhibiting de novo lipogenic and pro-inflammatory factors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Potential of Plants)
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15 pages, 1032 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Bioactive Surfactant Levels in Selected Cereal Products
by Magdalena Surma, Katarzyna Sznajder-Katarzyńska, Wiesław Wiczkowski and Henryk Zieliński
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(10), 5242; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12105242 - 22 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2181
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are bioactive surfactants that are widespread in the environment and living organisms. This study presents measurements of PFAS in selected food of plant origin that are part of the healthy eating pyramid, including bread, rolls, flour, bran, buckwheat, [...] Read more.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are bioactive surfactants that are widespread in the environment and living organisms. This study presents measurements of PFAS in selected food of plant origin that are part of the healthy eating pyramid, including bread, rolls, flour, bran, buckwheat, millet, rice, and noodles. A simple and reliable analytical method was developed for the simultaneous determination of seven perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and three perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs) in cereal-based products. Out of the 10 PFASs, 5 PFASs were detected at levels above LOQ. The most frequently detected compound was perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which was quantified in 65.2% of samples, while none of the others were present in more than 40.0% of tested products. Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) was the predominant PFAS in cereal-based products, and its maximum measured concentration was 202.85 ng/g for wheat bran. The soil–root–shoot interactions in relation to PFAS transfer to the above-ground parts of plants and PFAS’s ability to interfere with proteins are most likely the sources of these compounds in commonly consumed cereal products. As PFBA contributes greatly to total PFAS concentration, this food group should be included in future dietary exposure assessments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Potential of Plants)
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18 pages, 4894 KiB  
Article
Network-Based Pharmacology Study Reveals Protein Targets for Medical Benefits and Harms of Cannabinoids in Humans
by Xingyu Li, Amit Madhukar Kudke, Felix Joseph Nepveux V and Yan Xu
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(4), 2205; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12042205 - 20 Feb 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3007
Abstract
This network-based pharmacology study intends to uncover the underlying mechanisms of cannabis leading to a therapeutic benefit and the pathogenesis for a wide range of diseases claimed to benefit from or be caused by the use of the cannabis plant. Cannabis contains more [...] Read more.
This network-based pharmacology study intends to uncover the underlying mechanisms of cannabis leading to a therapeutic benefit and the pathogenesis for a wide range of diseases claimed to benefit from or be caused by the use of the cannabis plant. Cannabis contains more than 600 chemical components. Among these components, cannabinoids are well-known to have multifarious pharmacological activities. In this work, twelve cannabinoids were selected as active compounds through text mining and drug-like properties screening and used for initial protein-target prediction. The disease-associated biological functions and pathways were enriched through GO and KEGG databases. Various biological networks [i.e., protein-protein interaction, target-pathway, pathway-disease, and target-(pathway)-target interaction] were constructed, and the functional modules and essential protein targets were elucidated through the topological analyses of the networks. Our study revealed that eighteen proteins (CAT, COMT, CYP17A1, GSTA2, GSTM3, GSTP1, HMOX1, AKT1, CASP9, PLCG1, PRKCA, PRKCB, CYCS, TNF, CNR1, CNR2, CREB1, GRIN2B) are essential targets of eight cannabinoids (CBD, CBDA, Δ9-THC, CBN, CBC, CBGA, CBG, Δ8-THC), which involve in a variety of pathways resulting in beneficial and adverse effects on the human body. The molecular docking simulation confirmed that these eight cannabinoids bind to their corresponding protein targets with high binding affinities. This study generates a verifiable hypothesis of medical benefits and harms of key cannabinoids with a model which consists of multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways, which provides an important foundation for further deployment of preclinical and clinical studies of cannabis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Potential of Plants)
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