Natural Products in Immune Regulation
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2026 | Viewed by 454
Editor
Interests: inflammation; macrophage; cytokine; herbal medicine; nitric oxide; CHOP; ER stress; immunity; infection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Natural products derived from plants, fungi, and marine organisms play an important role in modulating immune responses. These bioactive compounds affect both innate and adaptive immunity by modulating the activity of immune cells such as macrophages, T cells, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells. Key mechanisms include the suppression of proinflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6) and the enhancement of anti-inflammatory pathways, often mediated through the NF-Bκ, MAPK, JAK-STAT, and calcium-CHOP signaling cascades.
Notable compounds such as baicalein, quercetin, wogonin, curcumin, resveratrol, and ginsenosides have demonstrated immunomodulatory effects in preclinical and clinical studies. These natural substances support immune balance not only in inflammatory control but also in autoimmune diseases, infections, and cancer immunotherapy. Some compounds act as immunostimulants, while others act as immunosuppressants, depending on the context and dose.
Recent advances in omics technologies, systems biology, molecular docking studies, and AI-based informatics have enabled the identification of immune-related targets from natural products, facilitating drug discovery and integrative medicine approaches. Overall, natural products are a valuable source for developing safe and effective immunomodulatory therapies, offering potential in both preventive and therapeutic strategies.
Prof. Dr. Wansu Park
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- natural products
- immune responses
- immunomodulatory therapies
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