http://www.mdpi.com/journal/toxins/special_issues/natprod-toxicity/ Dear Colleagues, Natural products are chemical compounds or substances produced by a living organism - found in nature that usually has a pharmacological or biological activity for use in pharmaceutical drug discovery and drug design. Although the natural products or medicines are beneficial by their pharmacological activities, some products may produce the toxicity and adverse effect to the body. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a substructure of the organism, such as a cell or an organ, such as the liver. On the other hand, the natural agents can show the therapeutic effect by exhibiting the toxicity to the pernicious cells or materials. Hence the natural products as the toxins may show dual roles, depending on the targets for treatment. Many researches have systematically studied the toxicity of natural products in recent years. This special issue would focus on any aspects about the toxic effects induced by the natural products. The toxicity of natural products against cancer cells, viruses, germs, or bacteria is also welcomed. Prof. Dr. Jia-You Fang Guest Editor Submission All manuscripts should be submitted to toxins@mdpi.com with a copy to the Guest Editor. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. Papers will be published continuously (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website. Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are refereed through a peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins is an international peer-reviewed Open Access monthly journal published by MDPI. Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. Article Processing Charges (APC) for publication in this Open Access journal will be waived for well-prepared manuscripts submitted before 30 June 2010. English correction and/or formatting fees of 250 CHF (Swiss Francs) will be charged in certain cases for those articles accepted for publication that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/2/9/2289/ Although many foods contain toxins as a naturally-occurring constituent or, are formed as the result of handling or processing, the incidence of adverse reactions to food is relatively low. The low incidence of adverse effects is the result of some pragmatic solutions by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies through the creative use of specifications, action levels, tolerances, warning labels and prohibitions. Manufacturers have also played a role by setting limits on certain substances and developing mitigation procedures for process-induced toxins. Regardless of measures taken by regulators and food producers to protect consumers from natural food toxins, consumption of small levels of these materials is unavoidable. Although the risk for toxicity due to consumption of food toxins is fairly low, there is always the possibility of toxicity due to contamination, overconsumption, allergy or an unpredictable idiosyncratic response. The purpose of this review is to provide a toxicological and regulatory overview of some of the toxins present in some commonly consumed foods, and where possible, discuss the steps that have been taken to reduce consumer exposure, many of which are possible because of the unique process of food regulation in the United States. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/2/9/2289/ Mon, 20 Sep 2010 00:00:00 CEST Toxins 2010-09-20 2 9 Review 2289 2332 2072-6651 Naturally Occurring Food Toxins 2010-09-20 doi: 10.3390/toxins2092289 Laurie C. Dolan Ray A. Matulka George A. Burdock http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/2/8/1943/ Natural toxins are a source of new chemical classes of pesticides, as well as environmentally and toxicologically safer molecules than many of the currently used pesticides. Furthermore, they often have molecular target sites that are not exploited by currently marketed pesticides. There are highly successful products based on natural compounds in the major pesticide classes. These include the herbicide glufosinate (synthetic phosphinothricin), the spinosad insecticides, and the strobilurin fungicides. These and other examples of currently marketed natural product-based pesticides, as well as natural toxins that show promise as pesticides from our own research are discussed. http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/2/8/1943/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CEST Toxins 2010-07-29 2 8 Review 1943 1962 2072-6651 Natural Toxins for Use in Pest Management 2010-07-29 doi: 10.3390/toxins2081943 Stephen O. Duke Charles L. Cantrell Kumudini M. Meepagala David E. Wedge Nurhayat Tabanca Kevin K. Schrader http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/2/7/1676/ The bacteria Edwardsiella ictaluri and Flavobacterium columnare cause enteric septicemia and columnaris disease, respectively, in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Natural therapeutants may provide an alternative to current management approaches used by producers. In this study, a rapid bioassay identified plant compounds as potential therapeutants. Chelerythrine chloride and ellagic acid were the most toxic toward E. ictaluri, with 24-h IC50 of 7.3 mg/L and 15.1 mg/L, respectively, and MIC of 2.1 mg/L and 6.5 mg/L, respectively. Chelerythrine chloride, ellagic acid, β-glycyrrhetinic acid, sorgoleone, and wogonin were the most toxic towards two genomovars of F. columnare, and wogonin had the strongest antibacterial activity (MIC = 0.3 mg/L). http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/2/7/1676/ Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 CEST Toxins 2010-06-28 2 7 Article 1676 1689 2072-6651 Plant Natural Compounds with Antibacterial Activity towards Common Pathogens of Pond-Cultured Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) 2010-06-28 doi: 10.3390/toxins2071676 Schrader