Comparative Chemical Profiling and Integrated Bioactivity Evaluation of Plant and Bee Natural Products: Unraveling Synergy, Mechanisms, and Health Applications

Natural product research is a dynamic field focused on uncovering the chemical diversity and functional potential of plant and bee-derived substances, such as honey, propolis, and essential oils. These natural sources are rich in a wide array of phytochemicals and secondary metabolites, many of which hold promise for health, food, and nutraceutical applications. Despite significant progress in identifying these compounds, important questions remain about their full spectrum of biological activities, how their effects compare across sources, which molecular features drive their bioactivity, and how their combined use might enhance efficacy. While advanced analytical methods such as mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and metabolomics have greatly improved our ability to profile these products, the integration of chemical data with innovative bioactivity assessments and mechanistic studies is still developing. The latest research highlights promising synergies and complex interactions between compounds from different origins, but there is a need for comparative studies, deeper insights into how these combinations work, and a better translation of these findings into practical health and nutritional solutions.This Research Topic aims to drive the comprehensive comparison and integrative evaluation of plant and bee natural products, with a focus on synergy, mechanisms of action, and real-world health benefits. The main goal is to promote research that simultaneously leverages analytical chemistry advances and functional bioactivity assessments to uncover the structure-function relationships of these substances. We seek to answer critical questions about which combinations of plant and bee products offer enhanced properties, what mechanisms underlie their observed bioactivities, and how these insights can inform applications in food, nutraceutical, or therapeutic contexts.The scope of this Research Topic is defined by studies that integrate chemical profiling and bioactivity assessments across plant and bee natural products, either alone or in combinations, with particular attention to comparative and mechanistic perspectives. We are especially interested in works that directly compare sources, evaluate synergistic effects, apply holistic metabolomics or fingerprinting, or provide mechanistic clarity relevant to health applications. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Comparative chemical and metabolic profiling of plant and bee natural products- Integrated evaluation of antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-biofilm activities- Structure–activity relationships and mechanistic studies of natural product mixtures- Innovations in metabolomics, fingerprinting, and analytical approaches- Exploration and quantification of synergy between plant and bee-derived compounds- Application-focused studies in food, nutraceutical, or health settings- Critical reviews of comparative, integrative, and mechanistic advances Topic editors: Lara Saftić Martinović, Ivana Gobin, Zvonimir Marijanović Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79213/comparative-chemical-profiling-and-integrated-bioactivity-evaluation-of-plant-and-bee-natural-products-unraveling-synergy-mechanisms-and-health-applications