About this Research Topic

Background

Metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and cancer are among the most prevalent health problems worldwide. These diseases are characterized by altered metabolism and impaired energy homeostasis, leading to the development of chronic diseases. Medicines derived from plants and fungi including herbal extracts and isolated compounds, have been used for centuries to treat various ailments and have recently gained renewed attention as potential therapeutics for metabolic diseases. Pharmacological approaches are essential for developing such preparations to treat these diseases. Computational approaches can generate early-stage hypotheses about potential targets and mechanisms and can be one basis for assessing the pharmacological activity of an extract or a metabolite. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying metabolic diseases and the potential benefits of herbal medicines (incl. herbal medical products) can provide valuable insights into new therapeutic targets and treatment options.

This research topic explores the potential of herbal medicines as an adjuvant approach to treating metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and preventing some forms of cancer. Although these diseases have different pathophysiologies, they share common underlying mechanisms, such as insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Despite significant advances in modern medicine, these diseases remain a major public health problem worldwide, with few effective treatments available.

Herbal medicines have been used for centuries to treat various diseases and are also promising for preventing and treating metabolic diseases. Pharmacological approaches are essential to identify and evaluate the potential of herbal medicines as therapeutics for these diseases. Recent advances in computational and large-scale screening approaches, such as in silico modeling and high-throughput screening, offer new opportunities for discovering and developing effective natural medicines.

The research topic provides a platform to discuss recent advances in the identification, assessment, and development of (commercial) herbal medical products as potential treatments for metabolic diseases and to identify future research directions and opportunities in this field.

Scope of the Research Topic:
• Pharmacological approaches to natural product-based drug discovery for metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and preventing certain forms of cancer. Computational approaches which may generate early-stage hypotheses must be used in combination with detailed pharmacological methods.
• Identification, characterization, and optimization of herbal medicinal products for metabolic diseases
• Preclinical and clinical studies on herbal medicines and products derived from them for metabolic diseases
• Combination therapies with (commercial) herbal medical products for metabolic diseases
• Drug delivery and formulation approaches for natural herbal medical products

Please note the following:

1) All the manuscripts submitted to this project will be peer-reviewed and need to fully comply with the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology (you can freely download the full version here). Importantly, please ascertain that the ethnopharmacological context is clearly described (pillar 3d) and that the material investigated is characterized in detail (pillars 2 a and b).
2) In silico studies like network analysis or docking studies are outside of the scope of the section and of Frontiers in Pharmacology, unless these approaches are combined with a detailed pharmacological assessment of the hypothesis generated in silico
3) A detailed chemical profile of the extract and pharmacognostic definition of the botanical drugs used is essential, as defined in the ConPhyMP statement 2022 (see below).

4) All studies must use a therapeutically realistic dose level, and the data must be reported on the basis of the amount of extract administered. Single-dose studies are not accepted unless they focus on a species/compound not yet studied in detail and can be justified on specific ethical grounds (e.g. the 4R rule - Reduce, refine, replace – responsibility, see the Four Pillars).

Keywords: Metabolic diseases, Natural compounds, Artificial intelligence, Bioinformatics (computational biopharmaceutics and modeling), Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Network Pharmacology

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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