Small Molecules, from Natural Sources, in Drug Discovery
A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Drug Discovery, Development and Delivery".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 1143
Editors
2. Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University Institute of Health Sciences—CESPU, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
3. H2M—Health and Human Movement Unit, Instituto Politécnico de Saúde do Norte, Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário (CESPU), CRL, 4760-409 Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal
Interests: drug discovery; natural products; antimicrobials; translational research; food supplements
2. ESS, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 400, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
Interests: chemistry and bioactivity; natural products; ethnopharmacology; dietary supplements
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Natural sources remain a key reservoir of structurally diverse small molecules with significant potential for drug discovery. Recent methodological and technological advances have strengthened the integration of natural product research with modern medicinal chemistry, pharmacology and computational approaches.
This Special Issue focuses on small molecules derived from natural sources with relevance to drug discovery and early-stage development. Contributions addressing the isolation and structural characterization of natural compounds, their biological activity and mechanisms of action, structure–activity relationships and natural product-based lead discovery are welcome. Studies integrating experimental and computational approaches, as well as research highlighting the pharmacological and translational potential of natural small molecules, are particularly encouraged.
The aim of this Special Issue is to showcase interdisciplinary research supporting the advancement of natural small molecules into promising therapeutic leads.
Dr. Marisa Machado
Dr. Cláudia Pinho
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- natural products
- translational research
- drug discovery
- herbal therapy
- small molecules
- therapeutic leads
- pharmacology
- natural bioactive compounds
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