Plant Secondary Metabolites Used for the Treatment of Diseases and Drug Development

Abstract

The importance of natural products in medicine, and in particular, plant secondary metabolites used for the treatment of diseases and drug development, has been obvious for several thousands of years [...]

Analysis of the anti-Alzheimer potential of bioactive compounds from Citrus hystrix DC. peel, leaf, and essential oil by network pharmacology

“…A combined total of 69 substances present in the leaf, peel, and essential oil (extracted from leaf, branch, fruit peel, and blossom) of KL were initially detected across all sources before being reduced to 52 secondary metabolites. Secondary metabolites play a huge role in plants’ defense mechanism and have various pharmacological activities, making them important in drug discovery [ [66] , [67] , [68] , [69] , [70] ]. To assess the potential influence of these bioactive compounds on a range of proteins, they underwent a target identification process using SEA Search Server and STP.…”

Yerba Maté (Ilex paraguariensis) Supplement Exerts Beneficial, Tissue-Specific Effects on Mitochondrial Efficiency and Redox Status in Healthy Adult Mice

“…Secondary metabolites are naturally occurring substances produced by plants to make them more competitive in their environments, thus increasing their survival rate. These metabolites have historically been an important source of medicinal compounds and have been utilized in developing a number of therapeutics for diverse disease states [5]. Yerba maté is a herbal tea derived from the dried leaves of the South American Ilex paraguariensis plant and is widely consumed in South American countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.…”

“…Yerba maté is a particularly rich source of secondary metabolites that have been implicated in improving cardiometabolic health. These compounds include purine alkaloids such as caffeine and theobromine, polyphenols such as phenolic acids and flavonoids, terpenes such as saponins and carotenoids, as well as numerous minerals and vitamins [5]. While some foods are known sources of secondary metabolites [6], environmental and farming trends have resulted in the steady reduction in these beneficial molecules in the foods we consume [7], increasing the need to obtain secondary metabolites from supplementary sources.…”