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Extraction, Characterization, and Potential Applications of Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources Ⅲ

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2024) | Viewed by 19689

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alessandra Morana

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
Interests: bioactive compounds; waste valorization; antioxidants; pigments; extremophilic microorganisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Giuseppe Squillaci

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
Interests: sustainable extraction; polyphenols; antioxidant; waste valorization; exopolysaccharides; halophilic microorganisms circular economy; bioactive compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural sources are incredible suppliers of bioactive molecules that find applications in several sectors: health, food, environment, cosmetics, etc.

The growing attention of consumers to health and environment and the increasing trend to use natural preparations in replacement of those of chemical origin to achieve health benefits has encouraged research on “new, natural providers” of bioactive molecules. This active research could lead to the production of both bioactive molecules with already known properties (e.g., antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant) and applications, as well as molecules with not yet well-established or totally unknown biological activities.

The natural sources covered by the Special Issue on “Extraction, Characterization, and Potential Applications of Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources Ⅲ” come from both the plant kingdom and from microorganisms. All these sources could provide an important contribution to producing and applying compounds of natural origin with biological activities which vary depending on the type of bioactive molecule.

The Special Issue on “Extraction, Characterization, and Applications of Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources III” aims to present the most recent achievements in the production and application of naturally derived bioactive compounds. We invite researchers to participate in this Special Issue by submitting a contribution in their field of expertise. Both original research papers and reviews are welcome.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

  • Eco-friendly extractions and characterization of bioactive compounds from plants and agro-industrial waste.
  • Production and characterization of bioactive compounds from microorganisms (saccharides, pigments, proteins, peptides, lipids).
  • Assessment of the biological properties of natural compounds (antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-phytopathogen, anti-inflammatory).
  • Novel applications of bioactive compounds extracted from natural sources in foods, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, cosmetics, and the environment.

Dr. Alessandra Morana
Dr. Giuseppe Squillaci
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

  • sustainable extraction
  • waste valorization
  • medicinal plants
  • antioxidant
  • naturally derived active ingredients
  • bioactive compounds from microorganisms
  • antimicrobials
  • anticancer

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2864 KiB  
Article
Antibacterial Activity and Multi-Targeted Mechanism of Action of Suberanilic Acid Isolated from Pestalotiopsis trachycarpicola DCL44: An Endophytic Fungi from Ageratina adenophora
by Juan Wen, Samuel Kumi Okyere, Shu Wang, Jianchen Wang, Ruya Huang, Ziyao Tang, Xiaoxuan Wang, Chenyang Shao and Yanchun Hu
Molecules 2024, 29(17), 4205; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29174205 - 4 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1227
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a highly threatening foodborne pathogen capable of causing severe organ and life-threatening diseases. Over the past years, various commercial antibiotics have been used to treat MRSA infections. However, these commercial antibiotics have not yielded efficient results and also [...] Read more.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a highly threatening foodborne pathogen capable of causing severe organ and life-threatening diseases. Over the past years, various commercial antibiotics have been used to treat MRSA infections. However, these commercial antibiotics have not yielded efficient results and also cause other side effects; therefore, there is a need for the development of effective alternatives to replace these commercial antibiotics. Suberanilic acid, an amide alkaloid obtained from the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis trachycarpicola DCL44, has been identified as a significant antimicrobial agent. However, its antibiotic properties on multi-drug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA have not been fully explored. Therefore, to investigate the potential antimicrobial mechanism of suberanilic acid against MRSA, a quantitative proteomics approach using tandem mass tagging (TMT) was used. The results obtained in the study revealed that suberanilic acid targets multiple pathways in MRSA, including disruption of ribosome synthesis, inhibition of membrane translocation for nutrient uptake (ABC transporter system), and causing dysregulation of carbohydrate and amino acid energy metabolism. These results provide new insights into the mechanism of action of suberanilic acid against MRSA and offer technical support and a theoretical basis for the development of novel food antimicrobial agents derived from endophytic fungal origin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Characterization, and Potential Applications of Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources Ⅲ)
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11 pages, 5644 KiB  
Article
The Anti-Melanogenic Effects of Ganodermanontriol from the Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma lucidum through the Regulation of the CREB and MAPK Signaling Pathways in B16F10 Cells
by Che-Hwon Park, Youn-Lee Oh, Ju-Hyeon Shin and Young-Jin Park
Molecules 2024, 29(16), 3976; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29163976 - 22 Aug 2024
Viewed by 814
Abstract
Ganoderma lucidum, a member of the Basidiomycetes family, is attracting attention for its medicinal potential due to its biological activity and the presence of numerous bioactive compounds. Although it is known that extracts of this mushroom inhibit melanin production, there are few [...] Read more.
Ganoderma lucidum, a member of the Basidiomycetes family, is attracting attention for its medicinal potential due to its biological activity and the presence of numerous bioactive compounds. Although it is known that extracts of this mushroom inhibit melanin production, there are few reports on a single substance associated with this effect. In this study, we identified ganodermanontriol (GT), a novel compound from G. lucidum, that effectively inhibited melanin biosynthesis in B16F10 cells. GT inhibits melanin production by suppressing the expression of cellular tyrosinase proteins and microphthalmia-related transcription factor (MITF). Furthermore, GT affects the phosphorylation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element-binding protein (CREB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling molecules, which are involved in melanogenesis in B16F10 cells. Finally, the biosynthesis of GT and other substances by G. lucidum was evaluated using HPLC analysis. Thus, this study revealed the mechanism by which GT in G. lucidum inhibits melanin production in B16F10 cells, and these findings will contribute to promoting the potential use of this mushroom in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Characterization, and Potential Applications of Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources Ⅲ)
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13 pages, 2536 KiB  
Article
Myricetin Acts as an Inhibitor of Type II NADH Dehydrogenase from Staphylococcus aureus
by Jia-Le Zhou, Hao-Han Chen, Jian Xu, Ming-Yu Huang, Jun-Feng Wang, Hao-Jie Shen, Sheng-Xiang Shen, Cheng-Xian Gao and Chao-Dong Qian
Molecules 2024, 29(10), 2354; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29102354 - 16 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1155
Abstract
Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogenic microorganism in humans and animals. Type II NADH oxidoreductase (NDH-2) is the only NADH:quinone oxidoreductase present in this organism and represents a promising target for the development of anti-staphylococcal drugs. Recently, myricetin, a natural flavonoid from [...] Read more.
Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogenic microorganism in humans and animals. Type II NADH oxidoreductase (NDH-2) is the only NADH:quinone oxidoreductase present in this organism and represents a promising target for the development of anti-staphylococcal drugs. Recently, myricetin, a natural flavonoid from vegetables and fruits, was found to be a potential inhibitor of NDH-2 of S. aureus. The objective of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory properties of myricetin against NDH-2 and its impact on the growth and expression of virulence factors in S. aureus. Results: A screening method was established to identify effective inhibitors of NDH-2, based on heterologously expressed S. aureus NDH-2. Myricetin was found to be an effective inhibitor of NDH-2 with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2 μM. In silico predictions and enzyme inhibition kinetics further characterized myricetin as a competitive inhibitor of NDH-2 with respect to the substrate menadione (MK). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of myricetin against S. aureus strains ranged from 64 to 128 μg/mL. Time–kill assays showed that myricetin was a bactericidal agent against S. aureus. In line with being a competitive inhibitor of the NDH-2 substrate MK, the anti-staphylococcal activity of myricetin was antagonized by MK-4. In addition, myricetin was found to inhibit the gene expression of enterotoxin SeA and reduce the hemolytic activity induced by S. aureus culture on rabbit erythrocytes in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: Myricetin was newly discovered to be a competitive inhibitor of S. aureus NDH-2 in relation to the substrate MK. This discovery offers a fresh perspective on the anti-staphylococcal activity of myricetin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Characterization, and Potential Applications of Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources Ⅲ)
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13 pages, 1843 KiB  
Article
No Evidence Was Found for the Presence of Terreolides, Terreumols or Saponaceolides H-S in the Fruiting Bodies of Tricholoma terreum (Basidiomycota, Agaricales)
by Marco Clericuzio, Stefano Serra and Giovanni Vidari
Molecules 2024, 29(8), 1794; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29081794 - 15 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1001
Abstract
Two different collections of the gilled wild fungus Tricholoma terreum, collected in Italy, were subjected to phytochemical analysis. The fungal material was confidently identified by analysis of the ITS genomic sequences. Using both HR-LC-MS and NMR techniques, no evidence was found for [...] Read more.
Two different collections of the gilled wild fungus Tricholoma terreum, collected in Italy, were subjected to phytochemical analysis. The fungal material was confidently identified by analysis of the ITS genomic sequences. Using both HR-LC-MS and NMR techniques, no evidence was found for the presence in the fruiting bodies of terreolides, terreumols or saponaceolides H-S, in striking contrast with the isolation of these terpenoids by Chinese authors from a mushroom collected in France and identified as T. terreum. The main cytotoxic terpenoid identified and isolated from the extracts of the specimens investigated in this work was the C30 derivative saponaceolide B, which had been previously isolated from T. saponaceum and other T. terreum collections. Although saponaceolide B is a rather labile molecule, easily degradable by heat or in acidic conditions, our study indicated that none of the extraction protocols used produced saponaceolide H-S or terreolide/terreumol derivatives, thus excluding the possibility that the latter compounds could be extraction artifacts. Considered together, these findings point to the need for the unambiguous identification of mushroom species belonging to the complex genus Tricholoma, characterized by high variability in the composition of metabolites. Moreover, based on our data, T. terreum must be considered an edible mushroom. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Characterization, and Potential Applications of Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources Ⅲ)
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13 pages, 3540 KiB  
Article
A Nano-Based Approach to Deliver Satureja thymbra Essential Oil to the Skin: Formulation and Characterization
by Simone Pani, Carla Caddeo, Cinzia Sanna, Francesca Pintus, Sonia Floris, Ramon Pons, Aurélien Dupont and Carlo Ignazio Giovanni Tuberoso
Molecules 2024, 29(5), 1041; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29051041 - 28 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1127
Abstract
Essential oils are well known for their biological properties, making them useful for the treatment of various diseases. However, because of their poor stability and high volatility, their potential cannot be fully exploited. The use of nanoformulations to deliver essential oils can solve [...] Read more.
Essential oils are well known for their biological properties, making them useful for the treatment of various diseases. However, because of their poor stability and high volatility, their potential cannot be fully exploited. The use of nanoformulations to deliver essential oils can solve these critical issues and amplify their biological activities. We characterized an essential oil from Satureja thymbra via GC–MS and HPLC–DAD to provide qualitative and quantitative data. The essential oil was formulated in phospholipid vesicles which were characterized for size, surface charge, and storage stability. The entrapment efficiency was evaluated as the quantification of the major monoterpenoid phenols via HPLC–DAD. The morphological characterization of the vesicles was carried out via cryo-TEM and SAXS analyses. The essential oil’s antioxidant potential was assayed via two colorimetric tests (DPPH• and FRAP) and its cytocompatibility was evaluated in HaCaT skin cell cultures. The results showed that the nanoformulations developed for the loading of S. thymbra essential oil were below 100 nm in size, predominantly unilamellar, stable in storage, and had high entrapment efficiencies. The vesicles also displayed antioxidant properties and high cytocompatibility. These promising findings pave the way for further investigation of the therapeutic potential of S. thymbra nanoformulations upon skin application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Characterization, and Potential Applications of Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources Ⅲ)
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20 pages, 904 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antibiofilm Activities of Backhousia citriodora Essential Oil
by Ann Chie Lim, Shirley Gee Hoon Tang, Noraziah Mohamad Zin, Abdul Mutalib Maisarah, Indang Ariati Ariffin, Pin Jern Ker and Teuku Meurah Indra Mahlia
Molecules 2022, 27(15), 4895; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27154895 - 31 Jul 2022
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4405
Abstract
The essential oil of Backhousia citriodora, commonly known as lemon myrtle oil, possesses various beneficial properties due to its richness in bioactive compounds. This study aimed to characterize the chemical profile of the essential oil isolated from leaves of Backhousia citriodora (BCEO) [...] Read more.
The essential oil of Backhousia citriodora, commonly known as lemon myrtle oil, possesses various beneficial properties due to its richness in bioactive compounds. This study aimed to characterize the chemical profile of the essential oil isolated from leaves of Backhousia citriodora (BCEO) and its biological properties, including antioxidant, antibacterial, and antibiofilm activities. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, 21 compounds were identified in BCEO, representing 98.50% of the total oil content. The isomers of citral, geranial (52.13%), and neral (37.65%) were detected as the main constituents. The evaluation of DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power showed that BCEO exhibited strong antioxidant activity at IC50 of 42.57 μg/mL and EC50 of 20.03 μg/mL, respectively. The antibacterial activity results showed that BCEO exhibited stronger antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis) than against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae). For the agar disk diffusion method, S. epidermidis was the most sensitive to BCEO with an inhibition zone diameter of 50.17 mm, followed by S. aureus (31.13 mm), E. coli (20.33 mm), and K. pneumoniae (12.67 mm). The results from the microdilution method showed that BCEO exhibited the highest activity against S. epidermidis and S. aureus, with the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 6.25 μL/mL. BCEO acts as a potent antibiofilm agent with dual actions, inhibiting (85.10% to 96.44%) and eradicating (70.92% to 90.73%) of the biofilms formed by the four tested bacteria strains, compared with streptomycin (biofilm inhibition, 67.65% to 94.29% and biofilm eradication, 49.97% to 89.73%). This study highlights that BCEO can potentially be a natural antioxidant agent, antibacterial agent, and antibiofilm agent that could be applied in the pharmaceutical and food industries. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report, on the antibiofilm activity of BCEO against four common nosocomial pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Characterization, and Potential Applications of Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources Ⅲ)
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Review

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14 pages, 934 KiB  
Review
Biological and Cosmetical Importance of Fermented Raw Materials: An Overview
by Weronika Majchrzak, Ilona Motyl and Krzysztof Śmigielski
Molecules 2022, 27(15), 4845; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27154845 - 28 Jul 2022
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 8468
Abstract
The cosmetics industry is currently looking for innovative ingredients with higher bioactivity and bioavailability for the masses of natural and organic cosmetics. Bioferments are innovative ingredients extracted from natural raw materials by carrying out a fermentation process with appropriate strains of microorganisms. The [...] Read more.
The cosmetics industry is currently looking for innovative ingredients with higher bioactivity and bioavailability for the masses of natural and organic cosmetics. Bioferments are innovative ingredients extracted from natural raw materials by carrying out a fermentation process with appropriate strains of microorganisms. The review was conducted using the SciFinder database with the keywords “fermented plant”, “cosmetics”, and “fermentation”. Mainly bioferments are made from plant-based raw materials. The review covers a wide range of fermented raw materials, from waste materials (whey with beet pulp) to plant oils (F-Shiunko, F-Artemisia, F-Glycyrrhiza). The spectrum of applications for bioferments is broad and includes properties such as skin whitening, antioxidant properties (blackberry, soybean, goji berry), anti-aging (red ginseng, black ginseng, Citrus unshiu peel), hydrating, and anti-allergic (aloe vera, skimmed milk). Fermentation increases the biochemical and physiological activity of the substrate by converting high-molecular compounds into low-molecular structures, making fermented raw materials more compatible compared to unfermented raw materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Characterization, and Potential Applications of Bioactive Molecules from Natural Sources Ⅲ)
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