Green and Analytical Approaches to Extraction, Characterization, and Bioactivity Screening of Plant-Derived Phytoconstituents

Plant-derived natural products remain an important source of structurally diverse compounds with pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and other health-related applications. However, the extraction, isolation, purification, and characterization of phytoconstituents can be challenging because of complex plant matrices, low compound abundance, chemical instability, and substantial variation related to species, geography, cultivation, and processing. Conventional extraction methods may also require large volumes of hazardous solvents, high energy consumption, and lengthy procedures. Recent progress in green extraction, chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis, metabolomics, chemometrics, and bioassay-guided workflows is enabling more efficient and sustainable natural product discovery. Nevertheless, integrated approaches that connect environmentally responsible extraction with reliable structural characterization and biologically relevant evaluation remain necessary.This Research Topic aims to bring together innovative and interdisciplinary research on sustainable extraction, isolation, purification, characterization, and bioactivity screening of plant-derived phytoconstituents. It will highlight methods that improve extraction efficiency, selectivity, reproducibility, and scalability while reducing solvent use, energy consumption, waste generation, and processing time. Particular emphasis will be placed on linking chemical composition and structural characteristics with biological activity through validated analytical and bioassay-guided approaches. Contributions may also explore the use of metabolomics, chemometrics, miniaturized workflows, and automated technologies to accelerate the identification of valuable phytoconstituents. By promoting robust methodological reporting and environmentally responsible practices, the Research Topic seeks to support the discovery, standardization, and potential translation of plant natural products for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and related applications.The Research Topic will focus on green and analytical approaches for extracting, isolating, purifying, characterizing, and evaluating phytoconstituents from medicinal, aromatic, edible, and other terrestrial plants, including plant-derived by-products. We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Methods, Perspectives, and Technology and Code articles addressing, but not limited to:o Green extraction using water, ethanol, natural deep eutectic solvents, and other sustainable alternativeso Ultrasound-, microwave-, enzyme-, and pulsed electric field-assisted extractiono Chromatographic separation, isolation, and purification of plant secondary metaboliteso Metabolomics- and chemometrics-guided discovery, dereplication, and characterization of phytoconstituentso Spectroscopic, spectrometric, chromatographic, and hyphenated analytical methodso Bioassay-guided isolation and biological evaluation of plant extracts and purified compounds Topic editors: Karol Wróblewski, Małgorzata Szultka-Młyńska Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84210/green-and-analytical-approaches-to-extraction-characterization-and-bioactivity-screening-of-plant-derived-phytoconstituents