Pharmacological Activity of Medicinal and Functional Plants

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2024) | Viewed by 3297

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
Interests: laboratory animal models; herb medicine; immunology; endocrinology; anti-bacterial and anti-protozoal phytogenic feed additives; artificial intelligence device

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Plants titled “Pharmacological Activity of Medicinal and Functional Plants” will focus on original research papers and comprehensive reviews. The topics of this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, recent advances in:

Medicinal and functional plants containing bioactive molecules utilized for the benefit of human and animal health.

Combinations of herbs and probiotics as an alternative growth promoter in economic animal production and antimicrobial resistance control.

Phytogenics with antimicrobial activities as alternatives to conventional antibiotics to decrease risks of drug resistance and environmental contamination. Natural growth promoters as the optimal choice to improve global food safety risk and feed supplement.

Functional mechanism(s) or synthetic pathway(s) of active phytocompound(s) in medicinal plants.

Biomaterials and delivery strategies of phytochemical compounds used to prevent and treat human and animal diseases.

Application of optical and electrochemical biosensing or artificial intelligence techniques utilized for the detection of phytochemicals levels and expression of medical function.

Stable production systems, e.g., good agricultural and collection practice (GACP). Introductions or reviews on medicinal and functional plants as nutrigenomic or phytogenic feed additives with confirmed active phytocompound(s) or a unique fingerprint.

We hope you find this topic of interest. As Guest Editors, we cordially invite you to submit a manuscript for consideration and possible publication in a Special Issue on “Pharmacological Activity of Medicinal and Functional Plants” to be published in the Plants (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/plants, EISSN: 2223-7747, IF 4.658). Original research articles, reviews, and methodologies are welcome contributions.

Prof. Dr. Lee Tian Chang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • active phytocompounds
  • alternative antimicrobial agents
  • artificial intelligence
  • biomaterials
  • biosensing
  • good agricultural and collection practice
  • herbal medicines
  • medicinal plants
  • phytogenic feed additives
  • probiotics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 6984 KiB  
Article
Phytochemical Composition and Bioactivities of Some Hydrophytes: Antioxidant, Antiparasitic, Antibacterial, and Anticancer Properties and Mechanisms
by Fahad Alharthi, Hussam A. Althagafi, Ibrahim Jafri, Atif Abdulwahab A. Oyouni, Mohammed M. Althaqafi, Layla Yousif Abdullah Al-Hijab, Nawal E. Al-Hazmi, Somia M. Elagib and Deyala M. Naguib
Plants 2024, 13(15), 2148; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152148 - 2 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1112
Abstract
Few researches have explored the production of pharmaceuticals from aquatic plants. Therefore, this study explored, for the first time, the phytochemical composition and bioactivities of ten aquatic plants. Aquatic plant shoots from various Nile River canals were collected, dried, and ground for aqueous [...] Read more.
Few researches have explored the production of pharmaceuticals from aquatic plants. Therefore, this study explored, for the first time, the phytochemical composition and bioactivities of ten aquatic plants. Aquatic plant shoots from various Nile River canals were collected, dried, and ground for aqueous extract preparation. Phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity were assessed using DPPH assays. Extracts were tested for antiparasitic, antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and anticancer activities through standard in vitro assays, measuring IC50 values, and evaluating mechanisms of action, including cell viability and high-content screening assays. The results showed that the aquatic plants were rich in pharmaceutical compounds. The antioxidant capacity of these extracts exceeded that of vitamin C. The extracts showed promising antiparasitic activity against pathogens like Opisthorchis viverrini and Plasmodium falciparum, with IC50 values between 0.7 and 2.5 µg/mL. They also demonstrated low MICs against various pathogenic bacteria, causing DNA damage, increased plasma membrane permeability, and 90% biofilm inhibition. In terms of anticancer activity, extracts were effective against a panel of cancer cell lines, with Ludwigia stolonifera exhibiting the highest efficacy. Its IC50 ranged from 0.5 µg/mL for pancreatic, esophageal, and colon cancer cells to 1.5 µg/mL for gastric cancer cells. Overall, IC50 values for all extracts were below 6 µg/mL, showing significant apoptotic activity, increased nuclear intensity, plasma membrane permeability, mitochondrial membrane permeability, and cytochrome c release, and outperforming doxorubicin. This study highlights the potential of aquatic plants as sources for new, safe, and effective drugs with strong antiparasitic, antibacterial, and anticancer properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacological Activity of Medicinal and Functional Plants)
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19 pages, 2634 KiB  
Article
Integrative Approach to Identifying System-Level Mechanisms of Chung-Sang-Bo-Ha-Hwan’s Influence on Respiratory Tract Diseases: A Network Pharmacological Analysis with Experimental Validation
by Sa-Yoon Park, Kang-Sub Kim, Won-Yung Lee, Chang-Eop Kim and Sullim Lee
Plants 2023, 12(17), 3024; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12173024 - 22 Aug 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1522
Abstract
Chung-Sang-Bo-Ha-Hwan (CSBHH) is an herbal prescription widely used to treat various chronic respiratory diseases. To investigate the system-level treatment mechanisms of CSBHH in respiratory tract diseases, we identified 56 active ingredients of CSBHH and evaluated the degree of overlap between their targets and [...] Read more.
Chung-Sang-Bo-Ha-Hwan (CSBHH) is an herbal prescription widely used to treat various chronic respiratory diseases. To investigate the system-level treatment mechanisms of CSBHH in respiratory tract diseases, we identified 56 active ingredients of CSBHH and evaluated the degree of overlap between their targets and respiratory tract disease-associated proteins. We then investigated the respiratory tract disease-related signaling pathways associated with CSBHH targets. Enrichment analysis showed that the CSBHH targets were significantly associated with various signaling pathways related to inflammation, alveolar structure, and tissue fibrosis. Experimental validation was conducted using phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated NCI-H292 cells by analyzing the mRNA expression levels of biomarkers (IL-1β and TNF-α for inflammation; GSTP1, GSTM1, and PTEN for apoptosis) derived from network pharmacological analysis, in addition to the mucin genes MUC5AC and MUC2, to investigate the phlegm-expelling effect of CSBHH. The mRNA expression levels of these genes were consistent with network pharmacological predictions in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that the therapeutic mechanisms of CSBHH in respiratory tract diseases could be attributed to the simultaneous action of multiple active ingredients in the herbal prescription. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacological Activity of Medicinal and Functional Plants)
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