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Natural Products and Their Modifications as Agents Used in the...
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Natural Products and Their Modifications as Agents Used in the Fight against Pathogens

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 February 2025 | Viewed by 11078

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Anna Duda-Madej

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Chałubińskiego 4, 50-368 Wrocław, Poland
Interests: flavonoid; natural compounds; biological activity; anticancer activity; antioxidant activity; chalcone; multidrug-resistant pathogens; food science; antimicrobial agents; cytotoxicity assays; amyloid; Crohn’s disease; AIEC; biofilm
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The problem of the resistance of bacterial strains to commercially available antibiotics keeps clinicians around the world awake at night. Therefore, the search for new compounds of natural origin is crucial in solving this problem. It is crucial that these products simultaneously protect the intestinal microbiota, which plays a huge role in maintaining the health of the entire body.     

Various extracts of natural origin show biological activity at a different levels, and at the same time have a protective effect on the intestinal microbiota. It is important to choose such chemical modifications that increase antimicrobial activity, and at the same time support our immune system and have anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties.               

Therefore, articles that compare the biological activity of pathogenic strains and/or intestinal microbiota in the presence of natural compounds/compounds used in medicine in various chemical modifications will be of interest here. Manuscripts examining the effect of plant extracts themselves and pure compounds or their combinations dominant in the plant will also be of interest.              

Extracts and their main components obtained as a result of chemical modifications and biotransformations seem to be the future in the fight against infections caused by multidrug-resistant strains.

Dr. Anna Duda-Madej
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Pharmaceuticals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

  • plant extract
  • natural compounds
  • multidrug-resistant strains
  • intestinal microbiota
  • chemical modyfication
  • biotransformation

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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42 pages, 6363 KiB  
Article
Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Essential Oils and Seed Extracts of Anethum graveolens from Southern Morocco: In Vitro and In Silico Approach for a Natural Alternative to Synthetic Preservatives
by Nadia Hadi, Aziz Drioiche, El Moumen Bouchra, Soukayna Baammi, Abdelaaty Abdelaziz Shahat, Imane Tagnaout, Mohamed Radi, Fidaous Remok, Amal Bouzoubaa and Touriya Zair
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(7), 862; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17070862 - 1 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1449
Abstract
Anethum graveolens is an aromatic plant traditionally used as an antispasmodic and carminative. The objective of this study is to analyze the chemical composition of the essential oils and extracts obtained from seeds gathered in Errachidia, southern Morocco. Additionally, the antioxidant and antimicrobial [...] Read more.
Anethum graveolens is an aromatic plant traditionally used as an antispasmodic and carminative. The objective of this study is to analyze the chemical composition of the essential oils and extracts obtained from seeds gathered in Errachidia, southern Morocco. Additionally, the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of these oils and extracts will be evaluated. GC-MS analysis of the EO isolated by hydrodistillation revealed that its main compounds were E-anethole (38.13%), estragole (29.32%), fenchone (17.21%), and α-pinene (7.37%). The phenolic components were extracted using the methods of decoction and Soxhlet. The assay of the phenolic compounds showed that A. graveolens seeds contained considerable amounts of polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins, with variable levels depending on the extract analyzed. HPLC/UV-ESI-MS analyses performed on the decoction revealed a structural diversity of the molecules present in this extract, the most important of which were umbelliferone (12.35%), 3-hydroxyflavone (11.23%), rosmanol (8.95%), biotin (8.36%), emmotin H (4.91%), and coumarin (4.21%). The antioxidant activity, as determined by three techniques (DPPH•, FRAP, and CAT), demonstrated that the essential oils (EOs) and extracts had a potent capacity to counteract detrimental free radicals, control the generation of reactive oxygen species, and mitigate oxidative damages. The antimicrobial activity of the Eos and extracts was carried out in a liquid medium against five strains (E. cloacae, K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis) and four candidiasis (C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis) and Aspergillus niger. The results showed the effectiveness of the EOs compared to the aqueous, ethanolic, and decoction extracts against most of the microorganisms tested. In addition, the ethanolic extract showed antifungal activity that was distinguished from that of the other extracts. The antimicrobial efficacy of the essential oils under study can primarily be attributed to the synergistic interactions among its three principal constituents (E-anethole, estragole, and fenchone). Furthermore, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation results reveal significant interactions and stability between the selected bioactive compounds and different target proteins involved in antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Compounds like 3-hydroxyflavone, emmotin H, trans-caftaric acid, methyl rosmarinate, 1-caffeoyl-beta-D-glucose, and kaempferol exhibited better binding energies with the explored proteins, indicating their potential as antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. Finally, our findings emphasize the significance of A. graveolens seeds as a promising reservoir of advantageous health compounds that can serve as organic substitutes for the presently employed synthetic preservatives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products and Their Modifications as Agents Used in the Fight against Pathogens)
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18 pages, 5523 KiB  
Article
Czech Honeydew Honeys—A Potential Source of Local Medical Honey with Strong Antimicrobial Activity
by Ludovit Pudelka, Radek Sleha, Sylva Janovska, Vera Radochova and Pavel Bostik
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(7), 840; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17070840 - 27 Jun 2024
Viewed by 789
Abstract
An increasing resistance of microbes to antibiotics, the emergence of multidrug-resistant and extremely resistant strains, and the long time needed to develop new antibiotics are driving the search for additional sources of antibacterial agents. The aim of the study was to compare the [...] Read more.
An increasing resistance of microbes to antibiotics, the emergence of multidrug-resistant and extremely resistant strains, and the long time needed to develop new antibiotics are driving the search for additional sources of antibacterial agents. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of Czech honeys with already available pharmaceutical agents containing medicinal honey, and to perform basic biochemical analysis of Czech samples, including detection of undesirable chemical substances. The results showed strong antibacterial activity of Czech honeydew honeys compared to the control group, especially against G+ pathogens, with an average MIC of 9.44% compared to 17.54%, and comparable activity against G− of 16.48% versus 16.66%. In addition to the strong antibacterial activity, this study confirmed the safety and quality of Czech honeys and helped to select the character of a possible source for in vivo testing and subsequent clinical trials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products and Their Modifications as Agents Used in the Fight against Pathogens)
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39 pages, 2992 KiB  
Article
Phytochemical Analysis, Biological Activities, and Molecular Docking Studies of Root Extracts from Paeonia Species in Serbia
by Petar Batinić, Aleksandra Jovanović, Dejan Stojković, Gökhan Zengin, Ilija Cvijetić, Uroš Gašić, Natalija Čutović, Mirjana B. Pešić, Danijel D. Milinčić, Tamara Carević, Aleksandar Marinković, Branko Bugarski and Tatjana Marković
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(4), 518; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17040518 - 17 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1679
Abstract
Without being aware of their chemical composition, many cultures have used herbaceous peony roots for medicinal purposes. Modern phytopreparations intended for use in human therapy require specific knowledge about the chemistry of peony roots and their biological activities. In this study, ethanol–water extracts [...] Read more.
Without being aware of their chemical composition, many cultures have used herbaceous peony roots for medicinal purposes. Modern phytopreparations intended for use in human therapy require specific knowledge about the chemistry of peony roots and their biological activities. In this study, ethanol–water extracts were prepared by maceration and microwave- and ultrasound-assisted extractions (MAE and UAE, respectively) in order to obtain bioactive molecules from the roots of Paeonia tenuifolia L., Paeonia peregrina Mill., and Paeonia officinalis L. wild growing in Serbia. Chemical characterization; polyphenol and flavonoid content; antioxidant, multianti-enzymatic, and antibacterial activities of extracts; and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion (GID) of hot water extracts were performed. The strongest anti-cholinesterase activity was observed in PT extracts. The highest anti-ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical potential was observed in PP extracts, whereas against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals), the best results were achieved with PO extracts. Regarding antibacterial activity, extracts were strongly potent against Bacillus cereus. A molecular docking simulation was conducted to gather insights into the binding affinity and interactions of polyphenols and other Paeonia-specific molecules in the active sites of tested enzymes. In vitro GID of Paeonia teas showed a different recovery and behavior of the individual bioactives, with an increased recovery of methyl gallate and digallate and a decreased recovery of paeoniflorin and its derivatives. PT (Gulenovci) and PP (Pirot) extracts obtained by UAE and M were more efficient in the majority of the bioactivity assays. This study represents an initial step toward the possible application of Paeonia root extracts in pharmacy, medicine, and food technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products and Their Modifications as Agents Used in the Fight against Pathogens)
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15 pages, 4927 KiB  
Article
Identification of Metabolites from Catharanthus roseus Leaves and Stem Extract, and In Vitro and In Silico Antibacterial Activity against Food Pathogens
by Qazi Mohammad Sajid Jamal and Varish Ahmad
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(4), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17040450 - 30 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1857
Abstract
The plant produced powerful secondary metabolites and showed strong antibacterial activities against food-spoiling bacterial pathogens. The present study aimed to evaluate antibacterial activities and to identify metabolites from the leaves and stems of Catharanthus roseus using NMR spectroscopy. The major metabolites likely to [...] Read more.
The plant produced powerful secondary metabolites and showed strong antibacterial activities against food-spoiling bacterial pathogens. The present study aimed to evaluate antibacterial activities and to identify metabolites from the leaves and stems of Catharanthus roseus using NMR spectroscopy. The major metabolites likely to be observed in aqueous extraction were 2,3-butanediol, quinic acids, vindoline, chlorogenic acids, vindolinine, secologanin, and quercetin in the leaf and stem of the Catharanthus roseus. The aqueous extracts from the leaves and stems of this plant have been observed to be most effective against food spoilage bacterial strains, followed by methanol and hexane. However, leaf extract was observed to be most significant in terms of the content and potency of metabolites. The minimum inhibitory concentration (20 µg/mL) and bactericidal concentrations (35 g/mL) of leaf extract were observed to be significant as compared to the ampicillin. Molecular docking showed that chlorogenic acid and vindolinine strongly interacted with the bacterial penicillin-binding protein. The docking energies of chlorogenic acid and vindolinine also indicated that these could be used as food preservatives. Therefore, the observed metabolite could be utilized as a potent antibacterial compound for food preservation or to treat their illness, and further research is needed to perform. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products and Their Modifications as Agents Used in the Fight against Pathogens)
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15 pages, 1865 KiB  
Article
HPLC-DAD Analysis and Investigation of Biological Properties of the Leaves of Globularia alypum (L.), Infusion Extract
by Sahar Nouir, Aicha Laouani, Ahmed Loghmari, Khaireddine Bouassida, Raoudha Slim, Rim Bouhajeb, Yosra Hasni, Khaled Saguem, Bouraoui Ouni and Amira Zaïri
Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16(12), 1726; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16121726 - 14 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1535
Abstract
Globularia alypum L. (GA) belonging to the Globulariaceae family is a Mediterranean plant which is widely used in traditional Tunisian medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, anti-arthritic, antiproliferative, antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of aqueous GA leaf [...] Read more.
Globularia alypum L. (GA) belonging to the Globulariaceae family is a Mediterranean plant which is widely used in traditional Tunisian medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, anti-arthritic, antiproliferative, antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of aqueous GA leaf extracts (AGAL). Quantitative analyses of the different constituents of extracts were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode-array detection (HPLC-DAD). Spectrophotometric methods and chemical tests were used for antioxidant and anti-arthritic activities. The antiproliferative study was evaluated using colorectal cancer SW620 cells, while the antibacterial assessment and analysis of the antibiofilm effects were determined by the microdilution method and the crystal violet assay, respectively. AGAL extracts presented several components, mainly Nepetin-7-Glucoside and trans-ferrulic acid. The results showed that they had an important antioxidant (IC50 = 0.34; 0.38 and 1.20 mg/mL) and anti-arthritic (IC50 = 2.94 mg/mL) properties, and these effects are displayed in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, this extract demonstrated significant antiproliferative (IC50 = 50 µg/mL), antibacterial (MIC = 6.25 mg/mL and MBC = 6.25 mg/mL), and antibiofilm (59.70% at 25 mg/mL) properties especially against S. aureus. The results achieved confirm the important role of this plant as a source of therapeutic activities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products and Their Modifications as Agents Used in the Fight against Pathogens)
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Review

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30 pages, 1459 KiB  
Review
Is Camphor the Future in Supporting Therapy for Skin Infections?
by Anna Duda-Madej, Szymon Viscardi, Małgorzata Grabarczyk, Ewa Topola, Joanna Kozłowska, Wanda Mączka and Katarzyna Wińska
Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(6), 715; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17060715 - 31 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2637
Abstract
The aim of this review is to present the potential application of camphor—a bicyclic monoterpene ketone—in the prevention of skin infections. Skin diseases represent a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by prolonged symptoms that significantly diminish the quality of life. They affect the [...] Read more.
The aim of this review is to present the potential application of camphor—a bicyclic monoterpene ketone—in the prevention of skin infections. Skin diseases represent a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by prolonged symptoms that significantly diminish the quality of life. They affect the dermis, the epidermis, and even subcutaneous tissue. They very often have a bacterial or fungal background. Therapy for dermatological skin disorders is difficult and long-term. Therefore, it is important to find a compound, preferably of natural origin, that (i) prevents the initiation of this infection and (ii) supports the skin’s repair process. Based on its documented anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-acne, anesthetic, strengthening, and warming properties, camphor can be used as a preventative measure in dermatological infectious diseases and as a component in medical and cosmetic products. This work discusses the structure and physicochemical properties of camphor, its occurrence, and methods of obtaining it from natural sources as well as through chemical synthesis. The use of camphor in industrial preparations is also presented. Additionally, after a detailed review of the literature, the metabolism of camphor, its interactions with other medicinal substances, and its antimicrobial properties against bacteria and fungi involved in skin diseases are discussed with regard to their resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products and Their Modifications as Agents Used in the Fight against Pathogens)
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