The 20th Anniversary of Pharmaceuticals — Multi-Targeted Natural Products as Therapeutics
A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 September 2024 | Viewed by 39831
Special Issue Editors
Interests: effectiveness and safety of natural products; herbal-drug interactions; pediatric clinical pharmacology
Interests: effectiveness and safety of natural products; herbal-drug interactions; pediatric clinical pharmacology
Interests: effectiveness and safety of natural products; herbal-drug interactions; pediatric clinical pharmacology
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
For centuries, humans have used medicinal herbs and other natural products to treat and prevent various diseases. In the 20th century, many new drugs approved by regulatory agencies worldwide were isolated from natural products. Consequently, medicinal herbs and other natural products represent a valuable resource and source for drug development.
Nowadays, we realize that the pathogenesis of many diseases is multifactorial. Therefore, successful treatment of these diseases should target several pathways for successful disease treatment. Conventional drugs, which are single-molecule medicines, usually target a single pathway or specific body function. Unlike conventional drugs, folk medicine traditionally uses one or more natural products to prepare extracts, infusions, and decoctions. A preparation from even one medicinal herb may contain hundreds, if not thousands, of bioactive molecules. These molecules target functions of different organs and systems and potentiate or antagonize the functions of the preparation's other bioactive molecules. For example, many, if not all, antibacterial and antiviral drugs also possess immunomodulatory properties. Another example is that anti-cancer remedies may activate or suppress various pathways involved in cancer development and progression.
In this Special Issue, we aim to summarize and examine the latest research findings, identifying natural products targeting multiple pathways and body functions that can lead to the successful treatment of multifactorial diseases.
On 28 September 2023, we chaired a webinar with the theme "Can phytomedicine target organ and system functions via multiple pathways?" (https://pharmaceuticals-2.sciforum.net/). Click the link to find the recordings of this webinar to watch, re-watch, and share with your colleagues!
Dr. Elena Y. Enioutina
Dr. Kathleen M. Job
Prof. Dr. Catherine Sherwin
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- natural products
- medicinal herbs
- marine products
- animal products
- bioactive compounds
- multifactorial diseases
- multi-targeting phytochemicals
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Planned Papers
The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.
1. The therapeutic potential of essential oils in managing inflammatory skin conditions: A scoping review
Anouk E.W.K. Dontje1, Catharina C. M. Schuiling-Veninga2, Florence P.A.M. van Hunsel2,3, Corine Ekhart3, Fatih Demirci4, Herman J. Woerdenbag1*
1Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands; [email protected] (AEWKD)
2Department of Pharmacotherapy, -Epidemiology, and -Economy, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP), University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands; [email protected] (CCMS-V)
3Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb, Goudsbloemvalei 7, 5237 MH ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands; [email protected] (FPAMvH); [email protected] (CE)
4Anadolu University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, 26470 Eskisehir, Türkiye; [email protected] (FD)
* correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +31-6-31921365
Sequence of authors 2-5 yet to be determined.
ABSTRACT
Conventional therapy is commonly used for the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions, but undesirable effects, such as erythema, dryness, skin thinning, and resistance to treatment, may cause poor patient compliance. Therefore, patients may seek for complementary treatment with herbal plant products including essential oils (EOs). This scoping review aims to generate a complete overview of EOs used to treat inflammatory skin conditions, being acne vulgaris, dermatitis, psoriasis, and/or rosacea, in a clinical setting. The quality, efficacy, and safety of various EOs and preparations thereof are described, and the potential and limitations of EOs in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions are shown. Twenty-nine eligible studies (case studies, uncontrolled clinical trials, randomized clinical trials) on EO applications for inflammatory skin conditions were retrieved from global electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane library). Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil emerged as the most studied EO. Clinical trials with tea tree oil gel for acne treatment showed efficacy with fewer adverse drug reactions compared to conventional treatment. Uncontrolled studies indicated the potential efficacy of ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) oil , eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) oil, and cedarwood (Cedrus libani) oil in the treatment of acne, but further research is required to reach conclusive evidence. Placebo-controlled studies revealed positive effects of kanuka (Kunzea ericoides) oil and boswellia (Boswellia sp.) oil (frankincense) in psoriasis and eczema. The quality verification of the EO products was inconsistent, with some studies lacking analyses and transparency on this point. Quality limitations of some trials included small sample sizes, short durations, and the absence of a control group. This scoping review underscores the need for extended, well-designed clinical trials to further assess EO efficacy and safety for treating inflammatory skin conditions with products of ensured quality, and to further elucidate mechanisms of action involved.
2. Effects of Chicory ( Cichorium intybus L.) Extract on male rat reproductive system.
Babenko AN; Krepkova LV; Borovkova MV; Kuzina OS, Mkhitarov VA, Job KM, Enioutina EY
In the past several decades, male infertility has become a serious problem. Plant-based drugs that enhance spermatogenesis and support the overall male reproductive system may represent particular interest. We have recently reported that chicory extract prepared from the aerial part of Chicory possesses hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, and hypoglycemic properties. The current paper will focus on preclinical studies investigating the effects of chicory extract on the male rat reproductive system.
3. Plant natural compounds which target multiple metabolic pathways in cancerTentative Abstract:
The metabolic rewiring is considered now as one of the “Hallmarks of cancer” and opens a window for therapeutic intervention. However, metabolic reprogramming is a complex process full of various complementary and substitute pathways. It provides malignant cells with adaptational plasticity, energy and “building blocks” for biosynthetic requirements, proliferation and invasion, antioxidant defense, resistance to anticancer immunity and therapeutics, etc. Today, it is well known that highly selective inhibition of only one of the processes in a tumor cell often leads to a limited response, and subsequently to the emergence of resistance. Therefore, to increase the overall effectiveness of antitumor drugs, it is advisable to use multitarget agents that can simultaneously suppress several key processes in the tumor cell. This review is focused on a group of plant-derived natural compounds which simultaneously target different pathways of cancer-associated metabolism including aerobic glycolysis, respiration, glutaminolysis, one-carbon metabolism, de novo lipogenesis and beta-oxidation of fatty acids. We have reviewed only those compounds which have inhibitory activity on several metabolic pathways as well as a number of key signaling pathways in cancer. The information about their pharmacokinetics in animals and human is also presented. Taken together, a number of known plant-derived compounds may target multiple metabolic and signaling pathways in various malognancies and bear a powerful potential for the further improvement of antineoplastic therapy.