Innovative Strategies in Medicinal Plant Biotechnology: From Traditional Knowledge to Modern Applications

Submission Deadline: 30 September 2025 View: 46 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editors

Dr. Naoufal El Hachlafi

Email: naoufal.elhachlafi@usmba.ac.ma 

Affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology and Bioactive Molecules, Sciences and Technologies Faculty, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, P.O.Box -2202, Imouzzer Road Fez, Morocco

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Research Interests: bioactive compounds; medicinal plantes; ethnobotany; microbiology; pharmaceuticals; biological properties; experimental design; chemical characterization; drug discovery; food products; development of new antimicrobial agents

Prof. Dr. Kawtar Fikri-Benbrahim

Email: kawtar.fikribenbrahim@usmba.ac.ma 

Affiliation: Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology and Bioactive Molecules, Sciences and Technologies Faculty, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, P.O.Box -2202, Imouzzer Road Fez, Morocco

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Research Interests: Biotechnogy; Microbiology; Essentiel oils; Medicinal plants; Ethnobotany; Pharmacology

Summary

This special issue seeks to explore the multidimensional potential of medicinal plants by merging the ancient wisdom of traditional knowledge with the scientific advancements of biotechnology. Medicinal plants have been an integral part of traditional medicine, providing a vast reservoir of bioactive components used for treating a wide range of ailments. With advancements in biotechnology, such as genetic engineering, metabolic engineering, tissue culture, and nanotechnology, there is a growing opportunity to improve and optimize the production, accessibility, and therapeutic potential of these plant-based compounds.

The issue will focus on how biotechnological innovations can complement and enhance the traditional uses of plants in medicine, providing a bridge between ancient healing practices and the modern scientific understanding of plant-based therapeutics. The objective is to showcase how traditional knowledge can inspire novel biotechnological applications, and in turn, how biotechnology can validate and optimize these age-old remedies, creating effective, scalable, and sustainable solutions for today's health challenges.

Potential subjects for this topic include, but are not limited to:

- Ethnobotanical Investigations

- Phytochemical Profiling and Bioactive Compound Discovery

- Advanced analytical techniques, such as GC-MS, HPLC, NMR, and LC-MS

- Biotechnological Approaches for Enhancing Medicinal Plant Productivity

- Pharmacological Validation of Medicinal Plants

- Sustainable Practices in Medicinal Plant Biotechnology

- Nanotechnology in Medicinal Plant Applications

- Innovative Biotechnological Tools for Quality Control and Standardization

- Applications in Cosmeceuticals and Nutraceuticals

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