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Molecules
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Biological and Pharmacological Significance of Natural Products
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Biological and Pharmacological Significance of Natural Products

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 10298

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Eduardo M. Costa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal
Interests: bioactive compounds; biological activity; cosmeceuticals; nutraceuticals; cellular models; proteomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Sara Silva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CBQF—Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina—Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Rua Arquiteto Lobão Vital 172, 4200-374 Porto, Portugal
Interests: byproducts valorization; bioactive ingredients; antimicrobials; nutraceuticals; microbiota modulation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural products are the cornerstone upon which the contemporaneous pharmaceutical industry has been built, with most drugs being inspired by or derived from natural compounds. Recently, natural products have re-gained relevance as alternative sources of effective and valuable bioactive compounds with relevant pharmacological activity for inflammatory diseases, metabolism modulation, neurological disorders and microbial pathogenesis. With this in mind, the aim of this Special Issue is to collect reviews and original articles detailing the biological and pharmacological potential of natural compounds obtained directly from natural products or from secondary sources, such as industrial byproducts. Thus, this Special Issue seeks to brighten the spotlight currently upon the biological potential of natural products, irrespective of their source, and provide an unified source of knowledge on the topic.

Dr. Eduardo M. Costa
Dr. Sara Silva
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

  • bioactive properties
  • natural products
  • pharmacological effects
  • anti-inflammatory
  • antimicrobial
  • compound extraction

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 3880 KiB  
Article
Beneficial Proapoptotic Effect of Heterobasidion Annosum Extract in Colorectal Cancer Xenograft Mouse Model
by Anna Sadowska, Diana Sawicka, Katarzyna Godlewska, Katarzyna Guzińska-Ustymowicz, Ewa Zapora, Emilia Sokołowska and Halina Car
Molecules 2023, 28(3), 1352; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031352 - 31 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2629
Abstract
Fungal extracts possess potential anticancer activity against many malignant neoplastic diseases. In this research, we focused on the evaluation of Heterobasidion annosum (HA) extract in colorectal cancer in an in vivo model. The mice with implanted DLD-1 human cancer cells were given HA [...] Read more.
Fungal extracts possess potential anticancer activity against many malignant neoplastic diseases. In this research, we focused on the evaluation of Heterobasidion annosum (HA) extract in colorectal cancer in an in vivo model. The mice with implanted DLD-1 human cancer cells were given HA extract, the referential drug—5-fluorouracil (5FU), or were treated with its combination. Thereafter, tumor volume was measured and apoptotic proteins such as caspase-8, caspase-3, p53, Bcl-2, and survivin were analyzed in mice serum with an ELISA assay. The Ki-67 protein was assessed in tumor cells by immunohistochemical examination. The biggest volumes of tumors were confirmed in the DLD-1 group, while the lowest were observed in the population treated with 5FU and/or HA extract. The assessment of apoptosis showed increased concentrations of caspase 8 and p53 protein after the combined administration of 5FU and HA extract. The levels of survivin and Bcl-2 were decreased in all tested groups compared to the DLD-1 group. Moreover, we observed a positive reaction for Ki-67 protein in all tested groups. Our findings confirm the apoptotic effect of extract given alone or with 5FU. The obtained results are innovative and provide a basis for further research concerning the antitumor activity of the HA extract, especially in the range of its interaction with an anticancer chemotherapeutic agent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Pharmacological Significance of Natural Products)
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15 pages, 818 KiB  
Article
Biological Activity of Pumpkin Byproducts: Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties
by Maria G. Leichtweis, Adriana K. Molina, Tânia C. S. Pires, Maria Inês Dias, Ricardo Calhelha, Khaldoun Bachari, Borhane E. C. Ziani, M. Beatriz P. P. Oliveira, Carla Pereira and Lillian Barros
Molecules 2022, 27(23), 8366; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27238366 - 30 Nov 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4569
Abstract
Pumpkin fruits are widely appreciated and consumed worldwide. In addition to their balanced nutritional profile, pumpkin species also present valuable bioactive compounds that confer biological and pharmacological properties to them. However, the seeds, peels, and fibrous strands resulting from pumpkin processing are still [...] Read more.
Pumpkin fruits are widely appreciated and consumed worldwide. In addition to their balanced nutritional profile, pumpkin species also present valuable bioactive compounds that confer biological and pharmacological properties to them. However, the seeds, peels, and fibrous strands resulting from pumpkin processing are still poorly explored by the food industry. The current study used those fruit components from the genotypes of pumpkin that are economically significant in Portugal and Algeria to produce bioactive extracts. In order to support their usage as preservatives, their phenolic content (HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS) and antioxidant (OxHLIA and TBARS) and antimicrobial properties (against eight bacterial and two fungal strains) were assessed. In terms of phenolic profile, the peel of the Portuguese ‘Common Pumpkin’ showed the most diversified profile and also the highest concentration of total phenolic compounds, with considerable concentrations of (-)-epicatechin. Regarding the antioxidant capacity, the seeds of ‘Butternut Squash’ from both countries stood out, while the fibrous strands of Portuguese ‘Butternut Squash’ and the seeds of Algerian ‘Gold Nugget Pumpkin’ revealed the strongest antimicrobial activity. The bioactive compounds identified in the pumpkin byproducts may validate their enormous potential as a source of bio-based preservatives that may enhance consumers’ health and promote a circular economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Pharmacological Significance of Natural Products)
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14 pages, 1197 KiB  
Article
Pomegranate Oil’s Potential as an Anti-Obesity Ingredient
by Manuela Machado, Eduardo M. Costa, Sara Silva, Luís M. Rodriguez-Alcalá, Ana M. Gomes and Manuela Pintado
Molecules 2022, 27(15), 4958; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27154958 - 4 Aug 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2597
Abstract
In recent years, pomegranate oil has obtained more attention due to its content of conjugated linolenic acids and possible application in the prevention of many diseases. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the potential ability of pomegranate oil to modulate obesity-related [...] Read more.
In recent years, pomegranate oil has obtained more attention due to its content of conjugated linolenic acids and possible application in the prevention of many diseases. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the potential ability of pomegranate oil to modulate obesity-related metabolism and immune response using in vitro models. In this regard, pomegranate oil was characterized in terms of fatty acids profile, tocopherols and phytosterols, and antioxidant capacity. After evaluation of the safety profile, pomegranate oil’s capacity to modulate obesity-related metabolism was evaluated through adipolysis and adipokines secretion quantification in 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes and hepatic lipid accumulation assay in Hep G2 hepatocytes. The immunomodulatory activity was evaluated in Caco-2 cells by quantification of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α. This oil showed high antioxidant capacity and was mainly composed of conjugated fatty acid, namely punicic acid. Its chemical composition was responsible for its capacity to reduce the lipid accumulation in Hep G2 cells and 3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes. In short, pomegranate oil shows great potential for the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals targeting obesity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological and Pharmacological Significance of Natural Products)
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