Phytopharmaceutical Technology

Dear Colleagues,

The use of herbal medicine for the treatment of human ailments dates back to antiquity, being the basis of ancient systems of traditional medicine. Over the past forty years, herbal medicine has remerged strongly in part due to the proof of its efficacy and safety, cultural reasons, low cost, self-medication and disbelief in and the ineffectiveness of some allopathic treatments. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 70 to 80% of the world's population in developing countries depend essentially on unconventional medicine in their primary health care. In addition to herbal medicines, plant-based products have also been used to extract chemical products and chemical precursors, essential oils, aromas, fragrances, functional actives, natural antioxidants, dyes, and preservatives, among other products. The natural origin of these products is a positive marketing differential, considering the current trend of society and industry, which seeks ecologically correct and sustainable products. However, mainly due to the plant material's complex and variable chemical composition, processing is essential in order to obtain a high-quality standardized plant-based product. Its production requires multidisciplinary knowledge, including botany, ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, toxicology, pharmacology, biotechnology, organic chemistry and pharmaceutical technology. Innovative products are also currently being developed, such as herbal delivery systems, promoting protection to active constituents, target release, and enhancing their biological activity, bioavailability and stability.

Therefore, we invite research groups working with the basic and applied themes of "Phytopharmaceutical Technology" to contribute to this Special Edition of Pharmaceutics. Manuscripts focusing on ethnobotany, ethnopharmacology, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, drying and encapsulation, delivery systems, bioavailability, and stability assessment are particularly welcome.

In advance, we thank the authors who take time in their busy schedules to contribute to this Special Issue of Pharmaceutics.

Prof. Dr. Wanderley Pereira Oliveira
Guest Editor

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