Phytochemical Properties and Bioactivity of Medicinal Plants
Summary
Medicinal plants produce a vast array of phytochemicals—secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids and glycosides—that underpin their therapeutic potential. These compounds exhibit diverse bioactivities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anticancer effects, often mediated through free-radical scavenging, enzyme inhibition or modulation of cellular signalling pathways. Advances in extraction techniques and analytical platforms—from solvent optimisation and chromatographic separation to high-resolution spectrometry and metabolomics—have deepened our understanding of compound profiles and their mechanistic roles. Such insights have accelerated the translation of traditional remedies into standardised herbal formulations, nutraceuticals and leads for novel drug discovery. In an era of rising antimicrobial resistance and chronic metabolic disorders, harnessing the chemical diversity of medicinal flora addresses global health challenges while promoting sustainable sourcing and quality control in phytopharmaceutical development.
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Phytochemical Properties and Bioactivity of Medicinal Plants publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in phytochemical properties and bioactivity of medicinal plants across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Phytochemical: Bioactive chemical compound produced by plants, often with therapeutic effects.
Secondary metabolite: Non-essential organic molecule synthesised by plants, frequently involved in defence and signalling.
Bioactivity: The effect of a substance on living organisms or cellular systems.
Flavonoid: Polyphenolic compound found in plants, noted for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Phenolic compound: Organic molecule characterised by one or more hydroxyl groups attached to an aromatic ring, often antioxidative.
DPPH assay: Analytical method using the stable DPPH radical to evaluate free-radical scavenging activity of extracts.
References
- Flavonoids and Other Phenolic Compounds from Medicinal Plants for Pharmaceutical and Medical Aspects: An Overview. Medicines (2018).
- Phytochemicals: Extraction, Isolation, and Identification of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Extracts. Plants (2017).
- Determination of Antioxidants by DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity and Quantitative Phytochemical Analysis of Ficus religiosa. Molecules (2022).
- Evaluation of the Use of Different Solvents for Phytochemical Constituents, Antioxidants, and In Vitro Anti‐Inflammatory Activities of Severinia buxifolia. Journal of Food Quality (2019).
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