Exploring Plant-Derived Medicinal Compounds: From Traditional Wisdom to Targeted Drug Discovery

Dear Colleagues,

Plants have been a fundamental source of medicinal compounds for centuries, forming the basis of traditional healing practices across the globe. Throughout history, diverse cultures have harnessed the therapeutic potential of plants, passing down knowledge of herbal remedies from generation to generation. These traditional practices are rooted in empirical observations of the healing properties of specific plants. Ethnobotanical studies have played a crucial role in documenting this traditional wisdom, cataloging a wealth of plant-derived medicinal knowledge.

In recent decades, advances in science and technology have transformed our understanding of plant-derived compounds. The field of phytochemistry has enabled the isolation and characterization of bioactive molecules from medicinal plants, revealing their intricate chemical structures. Concurrently, modern pharmacology and molecular biology have shed light on the mechanisms of action of these compounds within the human body.

One of the most promising aspects of plant-derived medicinal compounds lies in their potential as a source of new drug candidates. Natural products from plants have served as inspiration for the development of pharmaceuticals targeting a wide range of diseases, including cancer, infectious diseases, and chronic conditions. Researchers are increasingly applying sophisticated techniques such as high-throughput screening and bioinformatics to identify and optimize plant-derived molecules for drug discovery.

The integration of traditional wisdom about medicinal plants with cutting-edge research methods holds immense potential for the development of novel drugs that are both effective and culturally relevant.

This Special Issue of Plants will highlight / This Special Issue aims to provide examples of plant-derived medicines sourced through traditional wisdom and their development to modern applications in targeted drug discovery and medicinal use.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

Biological activity of medicinal plants, biological effects of active substances from plants; phytomedicine; new plant products, active substances and secondary metabolites; plant drug development

I/We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Vanessa Steenkamp
Guest Editor

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• traditional medicine
• medicinal compounds
• plants
• targeted drug discovery