EthnoHERBS: Harnessing traditional herbal knowledge for biodiversity conservation and innovative health solutions

EthnoHERBS represents a pioneering multidisciplinary initiative that integrates traditional herbal knowledge with advanced natural product chemistry to promote biodiversity conservation and foster innovative cosmeceutical solutions. The project systematically documents centuries-old ethnobotanical p...

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Main Authors: Dimitrios Zouraris, Konstantia Graikou, Panagiotis Vasileiou, Vladimir Dimitrov, Zora Dajic Stevanovic, Anna Rita Bilia, Jelena Zivkovic, Alberto Dias, Konstantinos Kasiotis, Konstantinos Gardikis, Paula Dias, Mirko Oluški, Juan Ramón Muñoz Montaño, Hristina Hristova, Hristo Iliev, Giovanna Petrangolini, Antreas Afantitis, Nektarios Aligiannis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2001037025001047
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author Dimitrios Zouraris
Konstantia Graikou
Panagiotis Vasileiou
Vladimir Dimitrov
Zora Dajic Stevanovic
Anna Rita Bilia
Jelena Zivkovic
Alberto Dias
Konstantinos Kasiotis
Konstantinos Gardikis
Paula Dias
Mirko Oluški
Juan Ramón Muñoz Montaño
Hristina Hristova
Hristo Iliev
Giovanna Petrangolini
Antreas Afantitis
Nektarios Aligiannis
author_facet Dimitrios Zouraris
Konstantia Graikou
Panagiotis Vasileiou
Vladimir Dimitrov
Zora Dajic Stevanovic
Anna Rita Bilia
Jelena Zivkovic
Alberto Dias
Konstantinos Kasiotis
Konstantinos Gardikis
Paula Dias
Mirko Oluški
Juan Ramón Muñoz Montaño
Hristina Hristova
Hristo Iliev
Giovanna Petrangolini
Antreas Afantitis
Nektarios Aligiannis
author_sort Dimitrios Zouraris
collection DOAJ
description EthnoHERBS represents a pioneering multidisciplinary initiative that integrates traditional herbal knowledge with advanced natural product chemistry to promote biodiversity conservation and foster innovative cosmeceutical solutions. The project systematically documents centuries-old ethnobotanical practices across South-Eastern Europe, leading to the identification of a diverse array of medicinal and aromatic plants traditionally used to treat skin disorders. Employing environmentally friendly extraction techniques alongside cutting-edge analytical tools—including UHPLC-HRMS, CPC, and NMR spectroscopy—over 500 bioactive compounds have been characterized, with 30 novel secondary metabolites isolated and structurally elucidated. Advanced in silico methodologies, such as docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and MM-GBSA rescoring, were implemented to evaluate the interaction profiles of these compounds with key skin disorder-related enzymes, including elastase, tyrosinase, hyaluronidase, and xanthine oxidase. Complementary in vitro and in vivo assays confirmed the potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties of the selected extracts. Furthermore, the project underscores sustainable practices by establishing organic cultivation protocols and pilot-scale production processes, ensuring the eco-friendly exploitation of natural resources. By fostering extensive collaboration between academic institutions and industry partners under the Horizon 2020 framework, EthnoHERBS not only advances scientific research and innovative product development but also serves as a model for preserving traditional knowledge and biodiversity.
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spelling doaj-art-25f220d5ea8a44ec830be8a68383b1cf2025-08-20T02:49:25ZengElsevierComputational and Structural Biotechnology Journal2001-03702025-01-0129859410.1016/j.csbj.2025.03.035EthnoHERBS: Harnessing traditional herbal knowledge for biodiversity conservation and innovative health solutionsDimitrios Zouraris0Konstantia Graikou1Panagiotis Vasileiou2Vladimir Dimitrov3Zora Dajic Stevanovic4Anna Rita Bilia5Jelena Zivkovic6Alberto Dias7Konstantinos Kasiotis8Konstantinos Gardikis9Paula Dias10Mirko Oluški11Juan Ramón Muñoz Montaño12Hristina Hristova13Hristo Iliev14Giovanna Petrangolini15Antreas Afantitis16Nektarios Aligiannis17NovaMechanics Ltd, Nicosia 1070, Cyprus; Entelos Institute, Larnaca 6059, CyprusDepartment of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens 15771, GreeceNovaMechanics Ltd, Nicosia 1070, CyprusInstitute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev 9, Sofia 1113, BulgariaFaculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, Belgrade 11080, SerbiaDepartment of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Piazza San Marco 4, Florence 50121, ItalyInstitute for Medicinal Plants Research “Dr Josif Pančić”, Tadeuša Košćuška 1, Belgrade 171000, SerbiaDepartment of Biology and CITAB-UM research Center, University of Minho, Largo do Paço, Braga 4704-553, PortugalBenaki Phytopathological Institute, Stefanou Delta street 8, Athens 14561, GreeceApivita SA, Industrial Park of Markopoulo, Athens 19003, GreeceTecMinho, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Azurém, Guimarães 4800-058, PortugalEuro Herbs d.o.o., Lovćenska 7, Novi Sad 21000, SerbiaZurko Research SL, Calle Gran via 62, 4 Izq, Madrid 28013, SpainVenusRoses Labsolutions Ltd., Department of Research and Innovation, 111, Tsarigradsko shose blvd, Sofia 1784, BulgariaGALEN-N Ltd., 23, Tvardishki Prohod Str., Sofia 1404, BulgariaIndena S.p.A., Via Don Minzoni 6, Settala 20049, ItalyNovaMechanics Ltd, Nicosia 1070, Cyprus; Entelos Institute, Larnaca 6059, Cyprus; NovaMechanics MIKE, Piraeus 18545, GreeceDepartment of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece; Corresponding author.EthnoHERBS represents a pioneering multidisciplinary initiative that integrates traditional herbal knowledge with advanced natural product chemistry to promote biodiversity conservation and foster innovative cosmeceutical solutions. The project systematically documents centuries-old ethnobotanical practices across South-Eastern Europe, leading to the identification of a diverse array of medicinal and aromatic plants traditionally used to treat skin disorders. Employing environmentally friendly extraction techniques alongside cutting-edge analytical tools—including UHPLC-HRMS, CPC, and NMR spectroscopy—over 500 bioactive compounds have been characterized, with 30 novel secondary metabolites isolated and structurally elucidated. Advanced in silico methodologies, such as docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and MM-GBSA rescoring, were implemented to evaluate the interaction profiles of these compounds with key skin disorder-related enzymes, including elastase, tyrosinase, hyaluronidase, and xanthine oxidase. Complementary in vitro and in vivo assays confirmed the potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing properties of the selected extracts. Furthermore, the project underscores sustainable practices by establishing organic cultivation protocols and pilot-scale production processes, ensuring the eco-friendly exploitation of natural resources. By fostering extensive collaboration between academic institutions and industry partners under the Horizon 2020 framework, EthnoHERBS not only advances scientific research and innovative product development but also serves as a model for preserving traditional knowledge and biodiversity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2001037025001047EthnobotanyTraditional herbal knowledgeNatural product chemistryBiodiversity conservationCosmeceutical Innovation
spellingShingle Dimitrios Zouraris
Konstantia Graikou
Panagiotis Vasileiou
Vladimir Dimitrov
Zora Dajic Stevanovic
Anna Rita Bilia
Jelena Zivkovic
Alberto Dias
Konstantinos Kasiotis
Konstantinos Gardikis
Paula Dias
Mirko Oluški
Juan Ramón Muñoz Montaño
Hristina Hristova
Hristo Iliev
Giovanna Petrangolini
Antreas Afantitis
Nektarios Aligiannis
EthnoHERBS: Harnessing traditional herbal knowledge for biodiversity conservation and innovative health solutions
Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal
Ethnobotany
Traditional herbal knowledge
Natural product chemistry
Biodiversity conservation
Cosmeceutical Innovation
title EthnoHERBS: Harnessing traditional herbal knowledge for biodiversity conservation and innovative health solutions
title_full EthnoHERBS: Harnessing traditional herbal knowledge for biodiversity conservation and innovative health solutions
title_fullStr EthnoHERBS: Harnessing traditional herbal knowledge for biodiversity conservation and innovative health solutions
title_full_unstemmed EthnoHERBS: Harnessing traditional herbal knowledge for biodiversity conservation and innovative health solutions
title_short EthnoHERBS: Harnessing traditional herbal knowledge for biodiversity conservation and innovative health solutions
title_sort ethnoherbs harnessing traditional herbal knowledge for biodiversity conservation and innovative health solutions
topic Ethnobotany
Traditional herbal knowledge
Natural product chemistry
Biodiversity conservation
Cosmeceutical Innovation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2001037025001047
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