The Gut Microbiota as Potential Therapeutic Targets for Synthetic Chemical Entities and Natural Products

Dear Colleagues,

The gut microbiota or the so called ‘hidden organ’ include several trillions of microbial counts in the human gut, which is predominantly composed of bacteria and to a less extent others, including fungi. Beyond aiding digestion, the microbiota and their products, such as short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), promote health through a variety of mechanisms, including through profound effects on the immune system. Changes in the gut microbiota structure and diversity could thus lead to several gastrointestinal problems, such as inflammatory bowel diseases and bowl cancer. Recent studies have also shown that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is associated with the development of metabolic diseases ranging from obesity and diabetes to cardiovascular complications. There are also numerous central (e.g., neurodegenerative diseases) and peripheral diseases which trace their origin to changes to the gut microbiota. Accordingly, probiotics and/or other natural products that target the gut microbiota can be used either to promote health or reverse pathological conditions. Interestingly, variations in drug efficacy that used to be regarded of genetic origin have recently been established as those of environmental factors—predominantly due to variations in dietary habits that affect the structure/diversity of the gut the microbiota. Against such background, we have established this Special Issue: “The Gut Microbiota as Potential Therapeutic Targets for Synthetic Chemical Entities and Natural Products”, which will focus on:

• Large (carbohydrates, fats, proteins, fibers, etc.) and small molecular weight synthetic or natural products that promote health, and/or ameliorate diseases by targeting the gut microbiota;
• Crude natural products (e.g., well-characterized medicinal foods and plant extracts), purified compounds of synthetic or natural origin or drug combination approaches on targeting the gut microbiota;
• Molecules that enhance the bioavailability of drugs and biological agents through modulation of the gut microbiota;
• The medicinal chemistry of the gut microbiota modulators;
• Selective targeting of the gut microbiota by bioactive agents to improve the efficacy of therapeutic agents/approaches;
• Modulation of the gut microbiota products (e.g., SCFAs) by bioactive compounds and or potential drugs in health and disease;
• Molecules that modulate the gut microbiota diversity in human populations—on the way to personalized medicines;
• Experimental designs and protocols that aid research in the field.

We welcome contributions in the form of original research or review articles covering any aspects of the above topics but with special emphasis on chemistry/biochemistry of the disease or potential therapeutics.

Prof. Dr. Solomon Habtemariam
Guest Editor

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