Bioactive Compounds from Natural Sources

In recent decades, there has been a huge level of interest in bioactive compounds fromnatural sources. The large range of plant biodiversity means that there is a huge varietyof bioactive compounds. Bioactive compounds are mostly specific secondary metaboliteswith antioxidant, inflammatory, immunomodulative potential, antimicrobial properties, etc.The bioactive compounds of classes of terpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, coumarins, stilbenes,etc., alongside the description of some of their mechanisms of action, are important tostudy. It is important to note that the use of plant extracts complicates the identificationof the effects of antiviral, antimicrobial or other capacities of separate biologically activecompounds; additionally, the effects of activities of solute compounds in extracts can causean additive (the synergistic effect) or antogonistic effect to come into play. In that context,the current issue is open for scientific research on the description of novel isolated bioactivecompounds, as well as some of their unknown effects, which are a priority for the appliedneeds of humans in different areas of life.