Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy

Natural Products and Phytopharmacology

Natural products and phytopharmacology focus on identifying, characterizing, and utilizing bioactive compounds derived from plants, microorganisms, and marine sources for therapeutic purposes. These agents, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, and phenolic compounds, offer diverse pharmacological activities, such as antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. Current challenges involve standardization of extracts, variability in bioactive content, quality control, safety evaluation, and establishing clear mechanisms of action. Regulatory authorities require rigorous preclinical and clinical testing to ensure efficacy, purity, and safety before approval, while pharmacovigilance monitors potential adverse reactions post-marketing. Emerging trends include AI-assisted screening of natural compounds, molecular docking studies to predict target interactions, high-throughput bioactivity assays, and nanoformulations to enhance bioavailability, solubility, and targeted delivery. Integration of omics technologies enables identification of active metabolites, understanding of pharmacodynamics, and personalized therapeutic applications. Sustainable sourcing and ethical bioprospecting practices are critical for long-term availability and environmental safety. Nanotechnology-based delivery platforms, including nanoparticles, liposomes, and polymeric carriers, facilitate controlled release, tissue targeting, and reduced systemic toxicity of natural products. Computational models and AI platforms assist in optimizing compound selection, predicting pharmacokinetic profiles, and designing multi-target therapies. Overall, natural products and phytopharmacology represent a critical component of modern drug discovery and pharmacotherapy, combining traditional knowledge, cutting-edge technology, nanotechnology, and regulatory oversight to develop safe, effective, and innovative therapeutic agents.