Chromatographic Techniques Using Counter-Current Separation for Medicinal Plants and Natural Products

The resurgence in ethnopharmacology and natural product research underscores the need for efficient, selective, and sustainable separation techniques. Chromatographic methods remain indispensable within this context, especially for complex plant matrices. Counter-current separation, including high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) and centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC), has emerged as a green alternative to traditional chromatographic techniques. These approaches eliminate the use of solid supports and thus reduce the risk of sample loss, degradation, and contamination. The unique partitioning process allows for the direct and efficient recovery of secondary metabolites alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, and polyphenols, from crude extracts without the traditional drawbacks. Despite its significant advantages, CCS remains underutilized in many ethnopharmacology laboratories, often due to technical challenges and limited dissemination of methodological best practices. This Topic seeks to highlight recent successes, methodological advances, and real-world applications of CCS in medicinal plant and natural products research, aiming to democratize access to these powerful techniques. Contributions addressing automation, scale-up, solvent system selection, and downstream analysis are particularly encouraged, as are case studies emphasising compound activity, purity, and bioassay-guided fractionation.The primary goal of this collection is to showcase cutting-edge advances in counter-current separation (CCS) chromatographic techniques applied to the isolation, purification, and characterization of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants and natural products. Medicinal plant research is continually expanding, driven by the urgent necessity for novel therapeutic agents and the resurgence of natural product-based drug discovery. This Topic aims to provide a comprehensive platform for researchers to share recent developments, technical innovations, and practical approaches in the use of CCS, highlighting both preparative and analytical advances. By fostering knowledge exchange in this domain, the Topic endeavours to improve the standardization, quality control, and bioactivity assessment of phytochemicals. Ultimately, the goal is to bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and modern separation science, facilitating the translation of ethnopharmacological resources into pharmacological leads and clinically viable compounds.We welcome original research, methodological advances, reviews, and case studies focusing on counter-current separation chromatographic techniques as applied to medicinal plants and natural products. Submissions may cover solvent system development, process optimization, scale-up strategies, and integration with bioactivity screening or omics technologies. Papers demonstrating innovative applications to phytochemical isolation, dereplication, or compound identification are highly encouraged. We particularly invite contributions dealing with quality control, reproducibility, and eco-friendly approaches in phytochemical extraction and purification. Collaborative works merging experimental and computational methodologies or bridging the gap between traditional knowledge and modern analytics are also welcome. The aim is to create a forum for interdisciplinary dialogue that advances both the practice and the understanding of CCS in ethnopharmacology. All submissions should clearly highlight the novelty, relevance, and potential impact on the broader field of natural products research.Please self-assess your MS using the ConPhyMP tool: https://ga-online.org/best-practice/ Topic editors: Fabio Boylan, Wirginia Kukula-Koch, Patricia Rijo Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/71372/chromatographic-techniques-using-counter-current-separation-for-medicinal-plants-and-natural-products