Pharmaceuticals

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. David Briskey

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Guest Editor

School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
Interests: bioactive natural products; biochemical response to supplements; inflammation, signalling pathways; liver and kidney disease; exercise; absorption/bioavailability; exercise recovery; gastrointestinal health; intestinal permeability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural products, typically derived from plants, animals, and microorganisms, have long been recognized for their therapeutic potential. Natural compounds play a significant role in traditional medicine and are the basis of modern pharmaceuticals. Natural products are a valuable source of novel drug candidates, with numerous active compounds isolated and synthesized for various medical applications. Natural products also contribute to complementary and alternative medicine, as many individuals turn to herbal remedies for health and well-being. In recent years, clinical research has delved into the mechanisms of action of natural products, their safety, and efficacy. The therapeutic effects of natural products continue to offer promising avenues for improving healthcare and well-being.

The scope for natural products in clinical research is vast and continues to expand as our understanding of these compounds increases. Continued research, innovation, and collaboration between scientists and health professionals will further expand our understanding and application of these compounds in enhancing human health. This Special Issue aims to explore a wide range of natural products covering their potential benefits in human health through to their applied clinical effects.

Dr. David Briskey
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short 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 thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceuticals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

therapeutic effects
natural products
clinical research
biochemical response to supplements
inflammation
signalling pathways
absorption
bioavailability
exercise
gastrointestinal health
intestinal permeability

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 753 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effectiveness of Palmitoylethanolamide (Levagen+) Compared to a Placebo for Reducing Pain, Duration, and Medication Use during Migraines in Otherwise Healthy Participants—A Double-Blind Randomised Controlled Study

by David Briskey, Rachael Skinner, Chelsie Smith and Amanda Rao

Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(2), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17020145 - 23 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2335

Abstract

Migraines are a common neurological disorder that generally affects young to middle-aged adults and females more than males. Various treatment options are available; however, these can cause undesirable side effects. Therefore, alternative treatments with minimal side effects are still being investigated. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a signalling lipid known to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Previous prophylactic research has reported PEA supplementation to decrease pain associated with migraines. Upon commencement of migraine symptoms, participants were supplemented with either 600 mg of PEA (Levagen+) or a placebo (maltodextrin). Once a dose was taken, participants recorded a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain every 30 min for 4 h or until the migraine resolved. If the migraine had not resolved 2 h post-dose, participants were instructed to take a second dose. Levagen+ supplementation resolved more headaches after 2- and 8 h, had a lower VAS for pain score at 1.5 and 4 h, and reduced rescue medication use significantly more than a placebo. No adverse events were reported in either group. Overall, PEA was safe and effective in reducing migraine pain, duration, and medication use in an otherwise healthy adult population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Effects of Natural Products and Their Clinical Research)

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Review

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43 pages, 1100 KiB

Open AccessReview

Hive Products: Composition, Pharmacological Properties, and Therapeutic Applications

by Roberto Bava, Fabio Castagna, Carmine Lupia, Giusi Poerio, Giovanna Liguori, Renato Lombardi, Maria Diana Naturale, Rosa Maria Bulotta, Vito Biondi, Annamaria Passantino, Domenico Britti, Giancarlo Statti and Ernesto Palma

Pharmaceuticals 2024, 17(5), 646; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph17050646 - 16 May 2024

Viewed by 636

Abstract

Beekeeping provides products with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical characteristics. These products are characterized by abundance of bioactive compounds. For different reasons, honey, royal jelly, propolis, venom, and pollen are beneficial to humans and animals and could be used as therapeutics. The pharmacological action of these products is related to many of their constituents. The main bioactive components of honey include oligosaccharides, methylglyoxal, royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), and phenolics compounds. Royal jelly contains jelleins, royalisin peptides, MRJPs, and derivatives of hydroxy-decenoic acid, particularly 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), which possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuromodulatory, metabolic syndrome-preventing, and anti-aging properties. Propolis has a plethora of activities that are referable to compounds such as caffeic acid phenethyl ester. Peptides found in bee venom include phospholipase A2, apamin, and melittin. In addition to being vitamin-rich, bee pollen also includes unsaturated fatty acids, sterols, and phenolics compounds that express antiatherosclerotic, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the constituents of hive products are particular and different. All of these constituents have been investigated for their properties in numerous research studies. This review aims to provide a thorough screening of the bioactive chemicals found in honeybee products and their beneficial biological effects. The manuscript may provide impetus to the branch of unconventional medicine that goes by the name of apitherapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Effects of Natural Products and Their Clinical Research)

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