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Metabolites of Biofunctional Interest from Plant Sources
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Metabolites of Biofunctional Interest from Plant Sources

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 5793

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rosalva Mora-Escobedo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto Politécnico Nacional–ENCB, U.P.A.L.M., San Pedro Zacatenco, Ciudad de Mexico 07738, Mexico
Interests: aloe vera; polysaccharides; antioxidant capacity; functional food; Biomacromolecules of plant origin; bioactive peptides; evaluation of antioxidant activity
Dr. Cristian Jiménez Martínez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Av. Wilfrido Massieu Esq. Manuel Stampa, Gustavo A. Madero, Ciudad de Mexico C.P. 11340, Mexico
Interests: antioxidant activity; plant biotechnology; food science; proteins; bioactivity; phenolic compounds; antioxidants; seeds; anthocyanins
Dr. Mercedes Martín Pedrosa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departmento Tecnología de Alimentos, INIA-CSIC, Ctra. de La Coruña km 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: bioactive compounds; novel food product legume-based; processed legumes; animal and human nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As is known, biofunctional metabolites with biological activity are widely distributed in plants. Increasing numbers of researchers have reported results confirming that plant metabolites have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer, and other biological activities that contribute to good health and fight against diseases. Therefore, biofunctional plant metabolites are widely used in cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, especially post-COVID-19.

In this Special Issue, researchers are invited to contribute original research and review articles that cover all topics related to the extraction, chemical analysis, and assessment of the biological activity of plant metabolites. Potential topics include (but are not limited to) the following: the biological activity of plant metabolites; the biological activity of plant extracts; plants as active ingredients in cosmetics; plants as dietary nutrients; the effects of different environments on the chemical composition of plant metabolites.

Dr. Rosalva Mora-Escobedo
Dr. Cristian Jiménez Martínez
Dr. Mercedes Martín Pedrosa
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

  • plant metabolites
  • biological activity
  • medicinal plants
  • functional plants
  • plant extracts

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 732 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities and Acute Toxicity of Caco Seed (Chrysobalanus icaco L.) in Murine Models
by Abel Arce-Ortiz, Cristian Jiménez-Martínez, Gabriel Alfonso Gutiérrez-Rebolledo, Luis Jorge Corzo-Ríos, Zendy Evelyn Olivo-Vidal, Rosalva Mora-Escobedo, Yair Cruz-Narváez and Xariss M. Sánchez-Chino
Molecules 2024, 29(14), 3243; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29143243 - 9 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1176
Abstract
Chysobalanus icaco L. (C. icaco) is a plant that is native to tropical America and Africa. It is also found in the southeast region of Mexico, where it is used as food and to treat certain diseases. This study aimed to [...] Read more.
Chysobalanus icaco L. (C. icaco) is a plant that is native to tropical America and Africa. It is also found in the southeast region of Mexico, where it is used as food and to treat certain diseases. This study aimed to carry out a phytochemical analysis of an aqueous extract of C. icaco seed (AECS), including its total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and condensed tannins (CT). It also aimed to examine the antioxidant and metal-ion-reducing potential of the AECS in vitro, as well as its toxicity and anti-inflammatory effect in mice. Antioxidant and metal-ion-reducing potential was examined by inhibiting DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP. The acute toxicity test involved a single administration of different doses of the AECS (0.5, 1, and 2 g/kg body weight). Finally, a single administration at doses of 150, 300, and 600 mg/kg of the AECS was used in the carrageenan-induced model of subplantar acute edema. The results showed that the AECS contained 124.14 ± 0.32 mg GAE, 1.65 ± 0.02 mg EQ, and 0.910 ± 0.01 mg of catechin equivalents/g dried extract (mg EC/g de extract) for TPC, TFC and CT, respectively. In the antioxidant potential assays, the values of the median inhibition concentration (IC50) of the AECS were determined with DPPH (0.050 mg/mL), ABTS (0.074 mg/mL), and FRAP (0.49 mg/mL). Acute toxicity testing of the AECS revealed no lethality, with a median lethal dose (LD50) value of >2 g/kg by the intragastric route. Finally, for inhibition of acute edema, the AECS decreased inflammation by 55%, similar to indomethacin (59%, p > 0.05). These results demonstrated that C. icaco seed could be considered a source of bioactive molecules for therapeutic purposes due to its antioxidant potential and anti-inflammatory activity derived from TPC, with no lethal effect from a single intragastric administration in mice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolites of Biofunctional Interest from Plant Sources)
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23 pages, 1219 KiB  
Article
Health-Related Composition and Bioactivity of an Agave Sap/Prickly Pear Juice Beverage
by Luisa Fernanda Duque-Buitrago, Iraham Enrique Solórzano-Lugo, Marcela González-Vázquez, Cristian Jiménez-Martínez, María Antonia Hernández-Aguirre, Perla Osorio-Díaz, Georgina Calderón-Domínguez, Verónica Loera-Castañeda and Rosalva Mora-Escobedo
Molecules 2024, 29(12), 2742; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29122742 - 8 Jun 2024
Viewed by 776
Abstract
In this study, a beverage made from a combination of Agave sap (AS) and prickly pear juice (PPJ) was analyzed for its nutrients and bioactive and potentially health-promoting compounds. The beverage was evaluated for its ability to act as an antioxidant, regulate glycemic [...] Read more.
In this study, a beverage made from a combination of Agave sap (AS) and prickly pear juice (PPJ) was analyzed for its nutrients and bioactive and potentially health-promoting compounds. The beverage was evaluated for its ability to act as an antioxidant, regulate glycemic properties, and undergo gut bacterial fermentation in vitro. The major mono- and oligosaccharides present in the beverage were galacturonic acid (217.74 ± 13.46 mg/100 mL), rhamnose (227.00 ± 1.58 mg/100 mL), and fructose (158.16 ± 8.86 mg/mL). The main phenolic compounds identified were protocatechuic acid (440.31 ± 3.06 mg/100 mL) and catechin (359.72 ± 7.56 mg/100 mL). It was observed that the beverage had a low glycemic index (<40) and could inhibit digestive carbohydrases. The combination of ingredients also helped to reduce gas production during AS fermentation from 56.77 cm3 to 15.67 cm3. The major SCFAs produced during fermentation were butyrate, acetate, and propionate, with valerate being produced only during the late fermentation of the AS. This beverage is rich in bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols and dietary fiber, which will bring health benefits when consumed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolites of Biofunctional Interest from Plant Sources)
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14 pages, 2491 KiB  
Article
Effects of Red Sorghum-Derived Deoxyanthocyanidins and Their O-β-D-Glucosides on E-Cadherin Promoter Activity in PC-3 Prostate Cancer Cells
by Nathalie Mora, Maxence Rosa, Mohamed Touaibia and Luc J. Martin
Molecules 2024, 29(8), 1891; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29081891 - 21 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1490
Abstract
Although much less common than anthocyanins, 3-Deoxyanthocyanidins (3-DAs) and their glucosides can be found in cereals such as red sorghum. It is speculated that their bioavailability is higher than that of anthocyanins. Thus far, little is known regarding the therapeutic effects of 3-DAs [...] Read more.
Although much less common than anthocyanins, 3-Deoxyanthocyanidins (3-DAs) and their glucosides can be found in cereals such as red sorghum. It is speculated that their bioavailability is higher than that of anthocyanins. Thus far, little is known regarding the therapeutic effects of 3-DAs and their O-β-D-glucosides on cancer, including prostate cancer. Thus, we evaluated their potential to decrease cell viability, to modulate the activity of transcription factors such as NFκB, CREB, and SOX, and to regulate the expression of the gene CDH1, encoding E-Cadherin. We found that 4′,7-dihydroxyflavylium chloride (P7) and the natural apigeninidin can reduce cell viability, whereas 4′,7-dihydroxyflavylium chloride (P7) and 4′-hydroxy-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxyflavylium chloride (P3) increase the activities of NFkB, CREB, and SOX transcription factors, leading to the upregulation of CDH1 promoter activity in PC-3 prostate cancer cells. Thus, these compounds may contribute to the inhibition of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cancer cells and prevent the metastatic activity of more aggressive forms of androgen-resistant prostate cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolites of Biofunctional Interest from Plant Sources)
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18 pages, 19695 KiB  
Article
Identification of the Microbial Transformation Products of Secoisolariciresinol Using an Untargeted Metabolomics Approach and Evaluation of the Osteogenic Activities of the Metabolites
by Wen-Xuan Yu, Hok-Him Tang, Jun-Jie Ye, Hui-Hui Xiao, Chung-Yan Lam, Tim-Fat Shum, Zhi-Kang Sun, Yuan-Zhen Li, Xin-Yu Zang, Wen-Chao Du, Jian-Ping Zhang, Tsz-Hung Kong, Li-Ping Zhou, Jia-Chi Chiou, Chun-Fai Kung, Kam-Wah Mok, Jing Hu and Man-Sau Wong
Molecules 2023, 28(15), 5742; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28155742 - 29 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1683
Abstract
Secoisolariciresinol (SECO) is one of the major lignans occurring in various grains, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. The gut microbiota plays an important role in the biotransformation of dietary lignans into enterolignans, which might exhibit more potent bioactivities than the precursor lignans. This study [...] Read more.
Secoisolariciresinol (SECO) is one of the major lignans occurring in various grains, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. The gut microbiota plays an important role in the biotransformation of dietary lignans into enterolignans, which might exhibit more potent bioactivities than the precursor lignans. This study aimed to identify, synthesize, and evaluate the microbial metabolites of SECO and to develop efficient lead compounds from the metabolites for the treatment of osteoporosis. SECO was fermented with human gut microbiota in anaerobic or micro-aerobic environments at different time points. Samples derived from microbial transformation were analyzed using an untargeted metabolomics approach for metabolite identification. Nine metabolites were identified and synthesized. Their effects on cell viability, osteoblastic differentiation, and gene expression were examined. The results showed that five of the microbial metabolites exerted potential osteogenic effects similar to those of SECO or better. The results suggested that the enterolignans might account for the osteoporotic effects of SECO in vivo. Thus, the presence of the gut microbiota could offer a good way to form diverse enterolignans with bone-protective effects. The current study improves our understanding of the microbial transformation products of SECO and provides new approaches for new candidate identification in the treatment of osteoporosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolites of Biofunctional Interest from Plant Sources)
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