Special Issues

Innovative Approaches in Experimental Botany: Essential Oils as Natural Therapeutics

Submission Deadline: 30 June 2025 View: 756 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

Prof. Dr. Hanae Naceiri Mrabti

Email: mrabtihanae.naceiri@usmba.ac.ma

Affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Laboratory of Epidemiology and Research in Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, Morocco

Homepage: 

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0522-118X

Research Interests: bioactive compounds; diabetes, medicinal plantes; ethnobotany; microbiology; pharmaceuticals; biological properties; experimental design; chemical characterization; drug discovery; food products; development of new antimicrobial agents

图片1.png


Summary

In the current special issue, we aimed to collected related paper on the multifaceted therapeutic potential of essential oils (Eos), highlighting their growing significance in natural pharmaceutical development within the context of experimental botany. Eos, derived from aromatic and medicinal plants, comprised a wide range of bioactive compounds, including terpenes, phenolic compounds, and aldehydes. These natural products exert several biological properties, including antimicrobial, antidiabetic antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties.


The focus of this issue is to bridge the gap between traditional botanical knowledge and contemporary pharmacological research. Articles will investigate the chemical composition of EOs, their biosynthesis within plants, and the role of specific metabolites in therapeutic applications. Experimental botany approaches, such as plant tissue culture and metabolic profiling, play a crucial role in understanding how environmental factors influence EO yield and composition, thereby impacting their pharmacological efficacy.


Furthermore, the special issue aims to address challenges and innovations in essential oil-based drug development. Topics will include the standardization of Eos, bioavailability, and safety concerns, as well as novel delivery systems that enhance therapeutic efficacy. By integrating insights from botany, chemistry, and pharmacology, this collection of studies will provide a comprehensive view of how essential oils can be harnessed for innovative natural therapies.


Keywords

Natural pharmaceuticals; Essential oils; Experimental botany; Therapeutic applications; Bioactive compounds; Phytochemistry; Antimicrobial activity; Antioxidant properties; Anti-inflammatory effects; Medicinal plants; Drug development; Plant tissue culture; Metabolic profiling; Pharmacognosy

Published Papers


  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Artemisia dracunculus Essential Oil: Estragole as the Major Bioactive Compound

    Ammar Attar
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.4, pp. 1225-1237, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.063207
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Innovative Approaches in Experimental Botany: Essential Oils as Natural Therapeutics)
    Abstract Artemisia dracunculus L., or tarragon, is a perennial herb from the Asteraceae family that is extensively cultivated for its aromatic leaves, which are valued for its preventative and therapeutic properties in both cookery and traditional medicine. This study aims to investigate the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of A. dracunculus (tarragon) essential oil (ADEO), with estragole (57.23%) identified as the major compound through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. ADEO exhibited varying degrees of antibacterial activity, with Escherichia coli showing higher resistance (inhibition zone (IZ) = 14.7 ± 0.58 mm, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 2% and minimum bactericidal… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Thymus capitatus Essential Oil: Experimental and Computational Approaches

    Hamada Imtara, Feras Abujaber, Faady Siouri, Aziz Tumeh, Bashar Saad
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.3, pp. 723-737, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.063403
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Innovative Approaches in Experimental Botany: Essential Oils as Natural Therapeutics)
    Abstract Traditional Palestinian medicine uses Thymus capitatus (T. capitatus), a plant recognized for its therapeutic properties due to its high concentration of essential oils such as thymol and carvacrol, to treat skin diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, and respiratory infections. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and anticancer activities of T. capitatus essential oil (EO). Moreover, this study employed computational methods including ADMET analysis and molecular docking. Using Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, the phytochemical composition of T. capitatus essential oil was identified. The DPPH scavenging method was used to assess antioxidant activity. The Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) and… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    GC-MS Analysis, Antimicrobial Activity, and Genotoxicity of Pimpinella anisum Essential oil: In Vitro, ADMET and Molecular Docking Investigations

    Ahmed Qasem
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.3, pp. 809-824, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.062683
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Innovative Approaches in Experimental Botany: Essential Oils as Natural Therapeutics)
    Abstract Pimpinella anisum, commonly known as anise, is generally used in both folk medicine and the culinary world. In traditional medicine, it is valued for its digestive, respiratory, and antispasmodic properties. This study aims to examine the volatile compounds and antibacterial effect of P. anisum essential oil (PAEO) as well as for the first time its genotoxicity employing both in vitro and computational approaches. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified anethole as the principal compound, which comprises 92.47% of PAEO. PAEO was tested for its potential antibacterial properties against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Listeria innocua ATCC 33090, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Klebsiella aerogenesMore >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Biological Potential and Chemical Characterization of Juniperus oxycedrus Leaves and Seed Cones

    Mohamed reda Kachmar, Toufik Bouddine, Abdelaziz Ed-dra, Safaâ Kachmar, Hammou Anarghou, Sulaiman Mohammed Alnasser, Fahad M. Alshabrmi, Samiah Hamad Al-Mijalli, Emad M. Abdallah, Nidal Naceiri Mrabti, Abdelmounaim Laabar, Mourad Chikhaoui, Galman Aziz, Lhoussain Hajji, Said Chakir
    Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.3, pp. 657-677, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.062289
    (This article belongs to the Special Issue: Innovative Approaches in Experimental Botany: Essential Oils as Natural Therapeutics)
    Abstract Juniperus oxycedrus (J. oxycedrus) is a traditional culinary spice and medicinal herb with a longstanding history of ethnopharmacological applications across diverse cultures. While prior research has explored the biological activities and phytochemical constituents of extracts derived from its leaves and seed cones, the present study systematically investigates their mineral and phenolic profiles alongside their multifunctional bioactive potential. Inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) analysis revealed a substantial abundance of essential macro- and microelements. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) further identified high concentrations of phenolic acids (e.g., p-coumaric acid) and flavonoids (e.g., rutin and quercetin). The extracts exhibited More >

Share Link