Pharmacological Insights into Halophyte Bioactive Extract Action on Anti-Inflammatory, Pain Relief and Antibiotics-Type Mechanisms

• Main Authors: Rocco Giordano, Zeinab Saii, Malthe Fredsgaard, Laura Sini Sofia Hulkko, Thomas Bouet Guldbæk Poulsen, Mikkel Eggert Thomsen, Nanna Henneberg, Silvana Maria Zucolotto, Lars Arendt-Nielsen, Jutta Papenbrock, Mette Hedegaard Thomsen, Allan Stensballe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: secondary metabolites; halophytes; hydroxycinnamic acid; inflammation; nutraceuticals
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/11/3140

The pharmacological activities in bioactive plant extracts play an increasing role in sustainable resources for valorization and biomedical applications. Bioactive phytochemicals, including natural compounds, secondary metabolites and their derivatives, have attracted significant attention for use in both medicinal products and cosmetic products. Our review highlights the pharmacological mode-of-action and current biomedical applications of key bioactive compounds applied as anti-inflammatory, bactericidal with antibiotics effects, and pain relief purposes in controlled clinical studies or preclinical studies. In this systematic review, the availability of bioactive compounds from several salt-tolerant plant species, mainly focusing on the three promising species <i>Aster tripolium</i>, <i>Crithmum maritimum</i> and <i>Salicornia europaea</i>, are summarized and discussed. All three of them have been widely used in natural folk medicines and are now in the focus for future nutraceutical and pharmacological applications.