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Plant Sourced Compounds: Extraction, Identification and Bioactivity

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 8354

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia
Interests: extraction; encapsulation technique; stabilization of bioactive compounds; natural compound application in food processing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant-derived phytochemicals are linked to various health benefits; thus, they have been widely used in the nutraceutical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. However, phytochemicals are diverse, with various structures, compositions and plant material properties. Therefore, it is important to ensure the cost-effective extraction, identification and testing of the bioactivities of phytochemicals derived from plants for the development of further applications. Numerous factors affect the extractability, stability and properties of phytochemicals during the pre-treatment, extraction and isolation processes. Thus, comprehensive studies are needed to establish the optimal conditions for these procedures. In addition, the identification of unknown compounds and testing of their biological properties are essential to establish further potential uses of phytochemicals as functional ingredients in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals or other products. This Special Issue aims to bring together the most recent reviews and research papers related to the pre-treatment, extraction, identification and bioactivity of volatile and non-volatile phytochemicals derived from plants and their potential uses as functional ingredients.

Dr. MD Saifullah
Dr. Quan V. Vuong
Dr. Mohammad Rezaul Islam Shishir
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • extraction
  • optimization
  • identification
  • bioactivity
  • application
  • bioavailability
  • new compound discovery

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2651 KiB  
Article
Immunomodulatory Effect of Cordyceps militaris Polysaccharide on RAW 264.7 Macrophages by Regulating MAPK Signaling Pathways
by Yan Liu, Jiayi Yang, Zhijian Guo, Qizhang Li, Lida Zhang, Lingxia Zhao and Xuanwei Zhou
Molecules 2024, 29(14), 3408; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29143408 - 20 Jul 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1237
Abstract
Polysaccharide is one of the principal bioactive components found in medicinal mushrooms and has been proven to enhance host immunity. However, the possible mechanism of immunomodulatory activity of Cordyceps militaris polysaccharide is not fully understood. Hot water extraction and alcohol precipitation, DEAE-Sephadex A-25 [...] Read more.
Polysaccharide is one of the principal bioactive components found in medicinal mushrooms and has been proven to enhance host immunity. However, the possible mechanism of immunomodulatory activity of Cordyceps militaris polysaccharide is not fully understood. Hot water extraction and alcohol precipitation, DEAE-Sephadex A-25 chromatography, and Sephadex G-100 chromatography were used to isolate polysaccharide from C. militaris. A high-molecular-weight polysaccharide isolated from C. militaris was designated as HCMP, which had an Mw of 6.18 × 105 Da and was composed of arabinose, galactose, glucose, mannose, and xylose in a mole ratio of 2.00:8.01:72.54:15.98:1.02. The polysaccharide content of HCMP was 91.2% ± 0.16. The test in vitro showed that HCMP activated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells by enhancing phagocytosis and NO production, and by regulating mRNA expressions of inflammation-related molecules in RAW 264.7 cells. Western blotting revealed that HCMP induced the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Moreover, using inhibitors of MAPKs decreased the mRNA levels of inflammation-related molecules induced by HCMP. These data evidenced that the immunomodulatory effect of HCMP on RAW 264.7 macrophages was mediated via the MAPK signaling pathway. These findings suggested that HCMP could be developed as a potent immunomodulatory agent for use in functional foods and dietary supplements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Sourced Compounds: Extraction, Identification and Bioactivity)
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20 pages, 2188 KiB  
Article
Comparison among Different Green Extraction Methods of Polyphenolic Compounds from Exhausted Olive Oil Pomace and the Bioactivity of the Extracts
by Valter F. R. Martins, Tânia B. Ribeiro, Ana I. Lopes, Manuela E. Pintado, Rui M. S. C. Morais and Alcina M. M. B. Morais
Molecules 2024, 29(9), 1935; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29091935 - 24 Apr 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1245
Abstract
The use of by-products as a source of bioactive compounds with economic added value is one of the objectives of a circular economy. The olive oil industry is a source of olive pomace as a by-product. The olive pomace used in the present [...] Read more.
The use of by-products as a source of bioactive compounds with economic added value is one of the objectives of a circular economy. The olive oil industry is a source of olive pomace as a by-product. The olive pomace used in the present study was the exhausted olive pomace, which is the by-product generated from the air drying and subsequent hexane extraction of residual oil from the olive pomace. The objective was to extract bioactive compounds remaining in this by-product. Various types of green extraction were used in the present study: solvent extraction (water and hydroalcoholic); ultrasound-assisted extraction; Ultra-Turrax-assisted extraction; and enzyme-assisted extraction (cellulase; viscoenzyme). The phenolic profile of each extract was determined using HPLC-DAD and the total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH, and ORAC) were determined as well. The results showed significant differences in the yield of extraction among the different methods used, with the enzyme-assisted, with or without ultrasound, extraction presenting the highest values. The ultrasound-assisted hydroethanolic extraction (USAHE) was the method that resulted in the highest content of the identified phenolic compounds: 2.021 ± 0.29 mg hydroxytyrosol/100 mg extract, 0.987 ± 0.09 mg tyrosol/100 mg extract, and 0.121 ± 0.005 mg catechol/100 mg extract. The conventional extraction with water at 50 °C produced the best results for TPC and antioxidant activity of the extracts. The extracts from the USAHE were able to inhibit Gram-positive bacteria, especially Bacillus cereus, showing 67.2% inhibition at 3% extract concentration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Sourced Compounds: Extraction, Identification and Bioactivity)
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13 pages, 1702 KiB  
Article
The Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Moisturizing Effects of Camellia oleifera Oil and Its Potential Applications
by Lijun Zhou, Yunlan Peng, Zhou Xu, Jingyi Chen, Ningbo Zhang, Tao Liang, Tao Chen, Yao Xiao, Shiling Feng and Chunbang Ding
Molecules 2024, 29(8), 1864; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29081864 - 19 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1535
Abstract
Camellia oleifera oil (CO oil) extracted from C. oleifera seeds has a 2300-year consumption history in China. However, there is relatively little research regarding its non-edible uses. This study determined the physicochemical properties of CO oil extracted via direct pressing, identified its main [...] Read more.
Camellia oleifera oil (CO oil) extracted from C. oleifera seeds has a 2300-year consumption history in China. However, there is relatively little research regarding its non-edible uses. This study determined the physicochemical properties of CO oil extracted via direct pressing, identified its main components using GC-MS, and evaluated its antioxidant, moisturizing, and anti-inflammatory activities. The results revealed that CO oil’s acid, peroxide, iodine, and saponification values were 1.06 ± 0.031 mg/g, 0.24 ± 0.01 g/100 g, 65.14 ± 8.22 g/100 g, and 180.41 ± 5.60 mg/g, respectively. CO oil’s tocopherol, polyphenol, and squalene contents were 82.21 ± 9.07 mg/kg, 181.37 ± 3.76 mg/kg, and 53.39 ± 6.58 mg/kg, respectively; its unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) content was 87.44%, and its saturated fatty acid (SFA) content was 12.56%. CO oil also demonstrated excellent moisture retention properties, anti-inflammatory effects, and certain free radical scavenging. A highly stable CO oil emulsion with competent microbiological detection was developed using formulation optimization. Using CO oil in the emulsion significantly improved the formulation’s antioxidant and moisturizing properties compared with those of the emulsion formulation that did not include CO oil. The prepared emulsion was not cytotoxic to cells and could reduce cells’ NO content; therefore, it may have potential nutritional value in medicine and cosmetics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Sourced Compounds: Extraction, Identification and Bioactivity)
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Review

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25 pages, 6802 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Grayanane Diterpenes: Isolation, Structural Diversity, and Bioactivities from Ericaceae Family (2018–2024)
by Sheng Liu, Lili Sun, Peng Zhang and Changshan Niu
Molecules 2024, 29(7), 1649; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29071649 - 6 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1670
Abstract
Diterpenes represent one of the most diverse and structurally complex families of natural products. Among the myriad of diterpenoids, grayanane diterpenes are particularly notable. These terpenes are characterized by their unique 5/7/6/5 tetracyclic system and are exclusive to the Ericaceae family of plants. [...] Read more.
Diterpenes represent one of the most diverse and structurally complex families of natural products. Among the myriad of diterpenoids, grayanane diterpenes are particularly notable. These terpenes are characterized by their unique 5/7/6/5 tetracyclic system and are exclusive to the Ericaceae family of plants. Renowned for their complex structures and broad spectrum of bioactivities, grayanane diterpenes have become a primary focus in extensive phytochemical and pharmacological research. Recent studies, spanning from 2018 to January 2024, have reported a series of new grayanane diterpenes with unprecedented carbon skeletons. These compounds exhibit various biological properties, including analgesic, antifeedant, anti-inflammatory, and inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). This paper delves into the discovery of 193 newly identified grayanoids, representing 15 distinct carbon skeletons within the Ericaceae family. The study of grayanane diterpenes is not only a deep dive into the complexities of natural product chemistry but also an investigation into potential therapeutic applications. Their unique structures and diverse biological actions make them promising candidates for drug discovery and medicinal applications. The review encompasses their occurrence, distribution, structural features, and biological activities, providing invaluable insights for future pharmacological explorations and research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Sourced Compounds: Extraction, Identification and Bioactivity)
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24 pages, 2091 KiB  
Review
Research Progress on Sesquiterpene Compounds from Artabotrys Plants of Annonaceae
by Yupei Sun, Jianzeng Xin, Yaxi Xu, Xuyan Wang, Feng Zhao, Changshan Niu and Sheng Liu
Molecules 2024, 29(7), 1648; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29071648 - 6 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1262
Abstract
Artabotrys, a pivotal genus within the Annonaceae family, is renowned for its extensive biological significance and medicinal potential. The genus’s sesquiterpene compounds have attracted considerable interest from the scientific community due to their structural complexity and diverse biological activities. These compounds exhibit [...] Read more.
Artabotrys, a pivotal genus within the Annonaceae family, is renowned for its extensive biological significance and medicinal potential. The genus’s sesquiterpene compounds have attracted considerable interest from the scientific community due to their structural complexity and diverse biological activities. These compounds exhibit a range of biological activities, including antimalarial, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory analgesic, and anti-tumor properties, positioning them as promising candidates for medical applications. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on the variety, species, and structural characteristics of sesquiterpene compounds isolated from Artabotrys plants. Furthermore, it delves into their pharmacological activities and underlying mechanisms, offering a comprehensive foundation for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Sourced Compounds: Extraction, Identification and Bioactivity)
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