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Molecules
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Natural Products: Isolation, Analysis and Biological Activity, 2nd Edition
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Natural Products: Isolation, Analysis and Biological Activity, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 3042

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hazem Salaheldin Elshafie

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Interests: natural products; microbiology; plant pathology; antimicrobial activities; bioactive secondary metabolites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Lucia Caputo

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Interests: plant extracts; essential oil; biological activity; weeds management; natural compound identification
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will provide up-to-date information on natural products and their possible applicative fields related to their biological activities. In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of interest in natural products, which are important sources of novel drug research and development. Contributions to this Special Issue may cover all advances related to natural product discovery, including the possible use of essential oils and extracts in new fields.

This Special Issue, “Natural Products: Isolation, Analysis and Biological Activity,” aims to publish original scientific articles on obtaining, identifying, and applying natural products in healthcare, agriculture, and foods.

Dr. Hazem Salaheldin Elshafie
Dr. Lucia Caputo
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. Molecules 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 2700 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

  • essential oils
  • plant extracts
  • biological activities
  • antiproliferative activity
  • enzymatic inhibitor activity
  • phytotoxic activity
  • bioactive compounds in natural products
  • secondary metabolites
  • structure–activity relationships
  • antimicrobial activity
  • phytopathogens

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2147 KiB  
Article
Stress-Relieving Effects of Green Tea Depend on the Ratio of Its Special Ingredients and the Infusion Conditions
by Keiko Unno, Kyoko Taguchi, Tomoko Matsuda and Yoriyuki Nakamura
Molecules 2024, 29(19), 4553; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29194553 - 25 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1147
Abstract
Theanine, an amino acid unique to tea leaves, has been reported to exhibit stress-relieving effects. However, the stress-relieving effects of theanine (T) are greatly inhibited by caffeine (C) and epigallocatechin gallate (E), the main components of green tea, while being enhanced by arginine [...] Read more.
Theanine, an amino acid unique to tea leaves, has been reported to exhibit stress-relieving effects. However, the stress-relieving effects of theanine (T) are greatly inhibited by caffeine (C) and epigallocatechin gallate (E), the main components of green tea, while being enhanced by arginine (A). Animal and clinical studies using matcha tea have shown that it can alleviate stress if the molar ratio of C and E against T and A (CE/TA) is less than 2. In general, the CE/TA ratio in tea leaves is reflected by the CE/TA ratio in the infused solution; however, it is not clear what infusion conditions would be expected to ensure a stress-relieving effect. In this study, to examine the stress-relieving effect of green-tea-infused solutions, the CE/TA ratio was measured under different infusion conditions. Furthermore, a study using a model solution consisting of C, E, T, and A revealed that a CE/TA ratio of at least less than 2 and a T content greater than 0.23 mM were required for stress reduction. Based on these results, we identified tea leaves and their infusion conditions that can be expected to reduce stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products: Isolation, Analysis and Biological Activity, 2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 3490 KiB  
Article
Lupeol-3-carbamate Derivatives: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation as Potential Antitumor Agents
by Shuang Tian, Yinxu Zhao, Siqi Deng, Liman Hou, Juan Song, Ming Wang and Ming Bu
Molecules 2024, 29(17), 3990; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29173990 - 23 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1139
Abstract
In the following study, a series of new lupeol-3-carbamate derivatives were synthesized, and the structures of all the newly derived compounds were characterized. The new compounds were screened to determine their anti-proliferative activity against human lung cancer cell line A549, human liver cancer [...] Read more.
In the following study, a series of new lupeol-3-carbamate derivatives were synthesized, and the structures of all the newly derived compounds were characterized. The new compounds were screened to determine their anti-proliferative activity against human lung cancer cell line A549, human liver cancer cell line HepG2, and human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Most of the compounds were found to show better anti-proliferative activity in vitro than lupeol. Among them, obvious anti-proliferation activity (IC50 = 5.39~9.43 μM) was exhibited by compound 3i against all three tumor cell lines. In addition, a salt reaction was performed on compound 3k (IC50 = 13.98 μM) and it was observed that the anti-proliferative activity and water solubility of compound 3k·CH3I (IC50 = 3.13 μM), were significantly enhanced subsequent to the salt formation process. The preliminary mechanistic studies demonstrated that apoptosis in HepG2 cells was induced by compound 3k·CH3I through the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. In conclusion, a series of new lupeol-3-carbamate derivatives were synthesized via the structural modification of the C-3 site of lupeol, thus laying a theoretical foundation for the design of this new anticancer drug. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products: Isolation, Analysis and Biological Activity, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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34 pages, 2238 KiB  
Review
Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG): Pharmacological Properties, Biological Activities and Therapeutic Potential
by Lucia Capasso, Luigi De Masi, Carmina Sirignano, Viviana Maresca, Adriana Basile, Angela Nebbioso, Daniela Rigano and Paola Bontempo
Molecules 2025, 30(3), 654; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30030654 (registering DOI) - 1 Feb 2025
Viewed by 384
Abstract
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the predominant catechin in green tea, comprises approximately 50% of its total polyphenol content and has garnered widespread recognition for its significant therapeutic potential. As the principal bioactive component of Camellia sinensis, EGCG is celebrated for its potent antioxidant, [...] Read more.
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the predominant catechin in green tea, comprises approximately 50% of its total polyphenol content and has garnered widespread recognition for its significant therapeutic potential. As the principal bioactive component of Camellia sinensis, EGCG is celebrated for its potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and antitumor properties. The bioavailability and metabolism of EGCG within the gut microbiota underscore its systemic effects, as it is absorbed in the intestine, metabolized into bioactive compounds, and transported to target organs. This compound has been shown to influence key physiological pathways, particularly those related to lipid metabolism and inflammation, offering protective effects against a variety of diseases. EGCG’s ability to modulate cell signaling pathways associated with oxidative stress, apoptosis, and immune regulation highlights its multifaceted role in health promotion. Emerging evidence underscores EGCG’s therapeutic potential in preventing and managing a range of chronic conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and metabolic syndromes. Given the growing prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases and the increasing interest in natural compounds, EGCG presents a promising avenue for novel therapeutic strategies. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on EGCG, emphasizing its critical role as a versatile natural bioactive agent with diverse clinical applications. Further exploration in both experimental and clinical settings is essential to fully unlock its therapeutic potential. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products: Isolation, Analysis and Biological Activity, 2nd Edition)
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