From Ethnomedicinal Plants to Receptors and Formulations: Mechanism Deconvolution for Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Mood and anxiety disorders represent a leading cause of disability worldwide. Current first-line pharmacological treatments, primarily serotonin reuptake inhibitors and benzodiazepines, are effective in a proportion of patients but carry substantial limitations: delayed onset of action, incomplete response rates, adverse effect profiles, and risk of dependence. These gaps have renewed scientific interest in plant-derived compounds used across millennia in traditional medicine systems. Ethnomedicinal plants from diverse geographic and cultural contexts have been empirically associated with anxiolytic and antidepressant effects. Translating this traditional knowledge into mechanistic and pharmaceutical evidence requires integrated approaches spanning ethnobotany, receptor pharmacology, and formulation science. Despite growing interest in plant-derived psychoactive compounds, a persistent gap exists between ethnopharmacological observation and mechanistic understanding. Many studies report biological activity of plant extracts without identifying the molecular targets responsible, or without establishing therapeutic relevance of the doses tested. Similarly, promising active compounds often lack appropriate pharmaceutical forms that ensure bioavailability, stability, and reproducible delivery.This Research Topic aims to bridge these gaps by bringing together studies that systematically deconstruct the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of ethnomedicinal plants, from receptor binding and enzyme inhibition to in vivo behavioral validation and formulation development. By integrating ethnobotanical context with rigorous pharmacological and pharmaceutical methodology, this collection seeks to advance the evidence base for plant-derived treatments of mood and anxiety disorders and support their rational translation toward clinical utility.This Research Topic welcomes contributions from researchers working at the intersection of ethnopharmacology, neuropharmacology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmaceutical technology. Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:• Ethnobotanical surveys and documentation of plant use for mood and anxiety conditions• Isolation, identification, and structural characterization of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants• Mechanistic studies on receptor interactions (GABA-A, serotonin receptors, MAO enzymes, cannabinoid receptors) and neurotransmitter systems involved in mood regulation• In vitro and in vivo pharmacological evaluation of plant extracts, fractions, or pure compounds using validated models of anxiety and depression• Pharmacokinetic and bioavailability studies• Design of innovative formulations to optimize the therapeutic delivery of plant-derived activesOriginal research articles, systematic reviews, and mechanistic reviews are all welcome. All submissions involving plant extracts must comply with the Four Pillars of Ethnopharmacology as required by the journal. Topic editors: María Luisa Kennedy, María Isabel Calvo Martínez, Francisco Leon, Miguel M Garcia Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83035/from-ethnomedicinal-plants-to-receptors-and-formulations-mechanism-deconvolution-for-mood-and-anxiety-disorders