About this Research Topic

Background

The skin is the largest human organ and an interphase of the body with its environment. Its histologic and physiologic integrity are challenged by both external aggressions (free radicals, microorganisms) and internal factors (immunologic, hormonal).

Both isolated metabolites and plant extracts (like Arnica preparations) are important in treating skin diseases. Plant extracts are renowned for their pleiotropic effects. Applied to the skin, they can provide versatile pharmacological tools that restore the cell-to-cell signalling in diseases like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, influence physiopathological mechanisms involved in skin cancer, exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wound-healing, and antimicrobial effects.

Departing from modern and historical empirical uses of plant-based preparations, modern pharmacology offers opportunities for an in depth understanding of their mechanism of action as well as their potential for further development. New molecular targets in the human body have been identified for specific metabolites, enlarging their potential applications. Today’s topical preparations are centred on chemically characterized natural products (pure compounds and standardized extracts) integrated in innovative pharmaceutical formulations. A particular challenge of all topical preparations is their formulation (e.g. as a gel or cream) highlighting the need for research on specific preparations. The choice of suitable vehicles and excipients enables improved therapeutic outcomes. Combining an approach based on ethnopharmacological research with an understanding of the role that natural products play in plant physiology enables novel approaches for focusing on photoprotection and anti-dehydration, antibacterial, antifungal effects). This also includes the combination of plant derived preparations with, for example, exposure to light (photodynamic therapy). All these developments offer a substantial body of data that deserves to be assembled.

This Research Topic aims to reassess new data on the significance of various natural products (including flavonoids, tannins, polysaccharides, alkaloids, volatile oils, di- and triterpenes) in the treatment of skin disorders.

Authors are invited to contribute with original articles and reviews including but not limited to the following topics:
 Latest data on the mechanism of action and benefits of plant extract and metabolites in skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, skin cancer, actinic keratosis, wound healing, urticaria, and infections of the skin
 Advantages of plant molecules / extracts in skincare cosmetics (photoprotection, skin aging, alopecia)
 Strategies aimed at enhancing the efficacy and bioavailability of natural compounds and extracts in topical preparations
 Discovery of new drugs against skin disorders from natural sources.


All manuscripts submitted to the collection will need to fully comply with the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology (you can freely download the full version here).

Keywords: skin, topical, natural products, mechanism of action, bioavailability

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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