This reprint of the Special Issue "Advances in Plant Taxonomy and Systematics", includes an Editorial and fifteen high-quality papers published between April 2022 and April 2023 by global researchers. This collection addresses scholars and students interested in current progresses in taxonomy and systematics, which are crucial for all plant applications.

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Nature represents an amazing source of inspiration, since it produces a great diversity of natural compounds selected by evolution, which exhibit multiple biological activities and applications. A large and very active research field is dedicated to identifying biosynthesized compounds, to improve/develop new methodologies, to produce/reuse natural compounds, and to assess their potential for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries, among others, and additionally, to understand their mechanism of action. This book is dedicated to presenting the most recent results on the development of natural compounds’ applications. Ten original research works, organized by applications, and two reviews are included. Each of them contributes to the knowledge advance, insofar as they present new applications for known products, new methodologies to obtain new products, or the evaluation of a given application, with the applications related to health promotion being the most frequently considered. These works are significant contributions and reinforce the dynamic field of natural products’ applications.

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The impetus for the development of this Field Guide came about as a result of pleas from the community around the village of Doldol, Laikipia County, to initiate a control programme for Australian prickly pear [Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw.; Fabaceae], an invasive plant which was having a dramatic impact on livelihoods. However, a number of other exotic plants, which were less widespread, but had the potential of becoming invasive, were not seen as a potential problem. In order to avoid a similar situation from arising in the future, the community expressed a need for a Field Guide, which would include descriptions of naturalized and invasive species already present in, and those that were most likely to invade Laikipia County and, information on how best to manage them. An additional impetus was to contribute to the four main objectives of the National Strategy and Action Plan for the Management of Invasive Species in Kenya's Protected Areas. The Field Guide contributes in some or other way to all of these objectives which are to (i) Enhance awareness of invasive species to relevant actors; (ii) Prevent new invasions, manage established invasions and rehabilitate degraded habitats; (iii) Enhance research, monitoring and information management on invasive species; and (iv) Enhance capacity, resource mobilization and coordination. Extensive surveys revealed the presence of a number of introduced plant species which had escaped cultivation and established populations in the 'wild' to the detriment of natural resources and the people that depend on them. Introduced succulents, especially those in the genus Opuntia (Cactaceae), were found to be the most widespread and abundant invasive species in the semi-arid regions in the north and east of Laikipia County. Other succulents, those in the genus Bryophyllum (Crassulaceae), were also found to have escaped cultivation and were locally abundant. In the higher rainfall areas to the west and southwest, introduced trees such as black wattle (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.; Fabaceae) and Australian blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon R. Br.; Fabaceae) and the shrubs/climbers, Mauritius thorn [Caesalpinia decapetala (Roth) Alston; Fabaceae] and yellow cestrum (Cestrum aurantiacum Lindl.; Solanaceae), were invasive. Introduced plants, which have the potential to become problematic in Laikipia, unless eradicated or controlled, have also been included in the Guide. This includes species such as famine weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.; Asteraceae) and 'mathenge' [Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.; Fabaceae], which are already abundant in areas adjoining the County.

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The impetus for the development of this Field Guide came about as a result of pleas from the community around the village of Doldol, Laikipia County, to initiate a control programme for Australian prickly pear [Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw.; Fabaceae], an invasive plant which was having a dramatic impact on livelihoods. However, a number of other exotic plants, which were less widespread, but had the potential of becoming invasive, were not seen as a potential problem. In order to avoid a similar situation from arising in the future, the community expressed a need for a Field Guide, which would include descriptions of naturalized and invasive species already present in, and those that were most likely to invade Laikipia County and, information on how best to manage them. An additional impetus was to contribute to the four main objectives of the National Strategy and Action Plan for the Management of Invasive Species in Kenya's Protected Areas. The Field Guide contributes in some or other way to all of these objectives which are to (i) Enhance awareness of invasive species to relevant actors; (ii) Prevent new invasions, manage established invasions and rehabilitate degraded habitats; (iii) Enhance research, monitoring and information management on invasive species; and (iv) Enhance capacity, resource mobilization and coordination. Extensive surveys revealed the presence of a number of introduced plant species which had escaped cultivation and established populations in the 'wild' to the detriment of natural resources and the people that depend on them. Introduced succulents, especially those in the genus Opuntia (Cactaceae), were found to be the most widespread and abundant invasive species in the semi-arid regions in the north and east of Laikipia County. Other succulents, those in the genus Bryophyllum (Crassulaceae), were also found to have escaped cultivation and were locally abundant. In the higher rainfall areas to the west and southwest, introduced trees such as black wattle (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.; Fabaceae) and Australian blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon R. Br.; Fabaceae) and the shrubs/climbers, Mauritius thorn [Caesalpinia decapetala (Roth) Alston; Fabaceae] and yellow cestrum (Cestrum aurantiacum Lindl.; Solanaceae), were invasive. Introduced plants, which have the potential to become problematic in Laikipia, unless eradicated or controlled, have also been included in the Guide. This includes species such as famine weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.; Asteraceae) and 'mathenge' [Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.; Fabaceae], which are already abundant in areas adjoining the County.

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"Natural Bioactive Compounds and Human Health" comprehensively explores the profound impact of natural substances on human well-being. From phytochemicals and antioxidants to polyphenols and beyond, this reprint delves into how these compounds, derived from plants, fungi, marine organisms, and more, contribute to health and disease prevention. Featuring contributions from experts across disciplines, it bridges traditional knowledge with modern scientific research to uncover their roles in combating chronic diseases, enhancing immune function, and promoting overall vitality. This volume serves as an invaluable resource for researchers, healthcare professionals, and anyone intrigued by the therapeutic potential of nature's bioactive compounds.

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Plant bioactive compounds are essential for human health due to their multiple biological effects, such as antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antiallergenic, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antimicrobial activities leading to beneficial effects on various non-communicable diseases, such as autoimmune, inflammatory, cardiovascular, cancer, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases. Identifying these components, as well as establishing their beneficial health effects, will contribute to the discovery of therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of various disorders. Additionally, the screening of natural sources for novel biologically active metabolites is an essential part of several drug discovery programs.This Special Issue aims to present recent developments in high-throughput and efficient analytical approaches enabling the identification of plant-based compounds, the establishment of new protocols for the evaluation of bioactivities, and methods for the extraction, isolation, and structural characterization of new bioactive components with nutraceutical and therapeutic potential.

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Natural-based biomolecules continuously play an important role in novel drug discovery for the treatment of chronic diseases. The development of natural peptide/protein-based, toxin-based, and antibody-based drugs can significantly improve the biomedical efficiency of disease-specific therapy. The focus of this Special Issue of Biomolecules will be on the most recent advances related to novel peptides/proteins, antibodies, and toxins as forms of medicinal therapy. Recent advances in the discovery and development of these natural biomolecules for use in targeted therapy and immunotherapy against chronic diseases (e.g., cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and rheumatoid arthritis) will be addressed. The discussion on using novel disease-specific proteins/peptides/toxins/antibodies along with currently available FDA-approved drugs as combinatorial treatments will also be encouraged in this context. Finally, an overview of some of the selected promising natural biomolecules that are potentially able to address the forthcoming challenges in this field will be included. Both research (in particular) and review articles proposing novelties or overviews, respectively, are welcome.

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The way plants grow and develop organs significantly impacts the overall performance and yield of crop plants. The basic knowledge now available in plant development has the potential to help breeders in generating plants with defined architectural features to improve productivity. Plant translational research effort has steadily increased over the last decade due to the huge increase in the availability of crop genomic resources and Arabidopsis-based sequence annotation systems. However, a consistent gap between fundamental and applied science has yet to be filled. One critical point often brought up is the unreadiness of developmental biologists on one side to foresee agricultural applications for their discoveries, and of the breeders to exploit gene function studies to apply to candidate gene approaches when advantageous on the other. In this book, both developmental biologists and breeders make a special effort to reconcile research on the basic principles of plant development and organogenesis with its applications to crop production and genetic improvement. Fundamental and applied science contributions intertwine and chase each other, giving the reader different but complementary perspectives from only apparently distant corners of the same world.

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Plant essential oils (PEOs) are hydrophobic liquids that contain volatile chemical components that are derived from various plant parts. They are among the most important plant natural products because of their diverse biological features as well as their therapeutic and nutritional applications. In addition, several aromatic PEOs are used to flavor food and add aromas to incense in the culinary sector. Recently, many PEOs have demonstrated promising antimicrobial activity against different post-harvest diseases and have been considered as possible natural alternatives for chemical treatments. This Special Issue titled “Plant Essential Oil with Biological Activity” provided an overview of several elements of PEOs, including their biological applications, antimicrobial activities, bio-pharmaceutical properties, principal single constituents, and mechanisms of action. This Special Issues fills in knowledge gaps and aids in the advancement of EO applications around the world. This issue contains thirteen research articles and two review papers that address a wide range of topics and applications relevant to the bioactivity of PEOs.

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Inflammation is a complex biological response to injury as a result of different stimuli such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammatory injuries induce the release of a variety of systemic mediators, cytokines, and chemokines that orchestrate cellular infiltration, consequentially bringing about the resolution of inflammatory responses and the restoration of tissue integrity. However, persistent inflammatory stimuli or the disregulation of the mechanisms of the resolution phase can lead to chronic inflammation and inflammatory-based diseases. Nowadays, commercially approved anti-inflammatory drugs are represented by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID); glucocorticoids (SAID); and, in some cases, immunosuppressant and/or biological drugs. These agents are effective for the relief of the main inflammatory symptoms. However, they induce severe side effects, and most of them are inadequate for chronic use. Starting from these premises, the demand for new, effective, and safe anti-inflammatory drugs has led research in new therapeutic directions. The recent and emerging scientific community slant is oriented towards natural products/compounds that could represent a boon for the discovery of new active molecules and for the development of new drugs and potentially useful therapeutic agents in different inflammatory-related diseases. We hope that it will stimulate the interest of the scientific community involved in studying the effects of natural and synthetic compounds in different fields of interest such as acute and chronic inflammation, inflammatory pain, inflammation-related diseases (e.g., autoimmune diseases), amongst others.

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