Plant Polyphenols: New Chemical and Pharmacological Approaches

The field of plant polyphenols has garnered significant attention due to their potential therapeutic benefits and diverse chemical structures. These secondary metabolites, which include phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, lignans, and stilbenes, are known for their role in combating free radical-linked diseases. Despite their promising biological potential, polyphenols often present challenges in research, particularly due to their propensity to yield false positive results in in vitro studies, leading to debates about their pharmacological relevance. Recent advancements in analytical methodologies have enabled the isolation of high-purity polyphenolic compounds, facilitating more accurate pharmacological investigations. However, there remains a need for comprehensive studies to better understand the pharmacokinetics and therapeutic applications of these compounds, as well as to address the issue of pan-assay interference.

This research topic aims to gather scientific evidence that identifies novel pharmacological properties of known and new polyphenolic substances in plants. It seeks to explore methods for their recovery from plant material on both analytical and industrial scales. By employing suitable methodologies and control experiments, the research will address the challenges associated with pan-assay interference, ultimately enhancing the understanding of polyphenols' impact on human health.

To gather further insights into the identification and application of bioactive polyphenols, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Optimization studies on plant material
- Fingerprinting of plant extracts for pharmacological potential
- Isolation protocols for recovering pharmacologically potent molecules
- Application of green chemistry principles in plant drug preparation
- Impact of polyphenols on biological functions
- Investigation of molecular mechanisms of polyphenols’ activity


All the manuscripts submitted to the collection will need to fully comply with the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology (you can freely download the full version here). Please self-assess your MS using the ConPhyMP tool, and follow the standards established in the ConPhyMP statement Front. Pharmacol. 13:953205. Please note the traditional context including the primary background and modern uses with supporting references must be included in the manuscript introduction.

If your MS involves plant or fungal extracts, check your MS using this tool.

Keywords: plant polyphenols, pharmacological approaches, isolation, natural products, separation methodology, structure elucidation, bioactivity

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.