Natural Products and Drug Discovery—2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Natural products are the oldest medicaments that have evolved throughout human history. They have always represented promising lead compounds for new drugs. Indeed, more than 50% of drugs approved in the past four decades are of natural origins. Natural products and their derivatives have historically made significant contributions to pharmacotherapy, especially for treating cancer and inflammatory and infectious diseases. They are now used as antibiotics, antimitotics, antidiabetics, anti-metabolites, anti-aging and neuroprotective agents, and antitumor drugs. In addition, fruits and vegetables, along with their nutritional constituents, are rich in bioactive compounds, often cited as ‘phytochemicals’, with health-promoting properties. Bioactives found in food plants, particularly polyphenols, exhibit activities that are considered of great interest in preventing and treating diseases largely present in an aging society. Thus, natural products as drug leads continue to be highly attractive, but the strategy for disease-based drug discovery must be achieved in parallel with the investigation of each natural compound's molecular mechanisms and intracellular targets. This General Topic is focused on, but not limited to the following: (1) The isolation of new active natural compounds and their structural identification; (2) The characterization, purification, and stabilization of bioactive natural compounds and their derivatives; (3) The bioavailability, enzyme inhibition, neuro-protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and anti-bacterial activities of natural products; (4) Biochemical and signaling pathways involved in the activity of natural compounds; (5) Different therapeutic applications of well-known natural compounds to explore new directions for future research. The General Topic “Natural Products and Drug Discovery—2nd Edition” will include original articles and reviews on in vitro or animal studies and human studies to define their efficacy as therapeutic agents.

Prof. Dr. Sonia Piacente
Prof. Marta Menegazzi
Topic Editors