Genotoxicological Profiling of Ethnopharmacological Agents: Harnessing Traditional Knowledge for Safer Herbal Therapeutics

Traditional medicines remain an important component of healthcare in many regions of the world and represent a rich source of bioactive compounds investigated within ethnopharmacology. Numerous plant-, fungal-, and bee-derived preparations are reported to exhibit pharmacological activity, yet their cellular and genetic effects are not always systematically examined alongside their reported biological potential. Ethnopharmacological research has frequently emphasized the identification of bioactivity, whereas integrated evaluation of cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and longer-term cellular responses is less consistently incorporated into the same experimental framework.Natural preparations used in traditional medicine often consist of chemically complex mixtures that may influence oxidative balance, DNA stability, cell-cycle regulation, and apoptosis pathways. These interactions may contribute to therapeutic activity but may also produce unintended biological responses depending on concentration, exposure duration, and compositional variability. Experimental strategies that assess cellular and genetic responses can therefore provide important context for interpreting the biological relevance of ethnopharmacological agents.This Research Topic seeks to explore approaches for examining the cellular and genotoxicological profiles of bioactive compounds and preparations associated with traditional medicinal practices. By bringing together pharmacological investigation and mechanistic toxicological evaluation, contributions may help clarify how observed biological activity relates to cellular stress responses, adaptive mechanisms, or potential safety considerations.Studies are welcomed on plant-derived materials, fungal metabolites, bee products such as propolis, and other natural preparations associated with traditional or ethnomedicinal use. Submissions should clearly document biological source material and preparation methods to facilitate reproducibility and comparative interpretation.The collection particularly encourages studies that:• Assess DNA damage and repair responses associated with natural or traditional medicinal compounds• Explore how cytotoxic effects relate to therapeutic activity or potential cellular stress responses• Investigate molecular pathways involved in cellular adaptation, toxicity, or protective responses• Examine dose–response relationships relevant to experimental or potential human exposure• Compare crude preparations with isolated constituents or chemically characterized fractionsThe Research Topic will consider studies addressing genetic and cellular responses, including genotoxicity and mutagenicity assessments such as micronucleus, comet, or chromosomal damage assays. Contributions examining oxidative and redox-mediated mechanisms, modulation of cell-cycle progression, apoptosis, or cellular stress responses induced by ethnopharmacological agents are also welcome.Studies investigating widely used herbal preparations, propolis-type products, or other natural materials used in traditional medicine are particularly relevant, as are investigations using in vitro or in vivo experimental models that provide insight into biological responses. Research exploring how formulation strategies, biomaterials, or delivery systems may influence the biological response to natural compounds is also within scope.Contributions employing a range of experimental and analytical approaches, including molecular, cellular, biochemical, and chemical characterization strategies, are welcome where they help contextualize biological responses to ethnopharmacological preparations.By focusing on cellular and genetic responses associated with traditional medicinal preparations, this Research Topic seeks to explore how ethnopharmacological knowledge can be examined alongside mechanistic biological investigation. Such approaches may contribute to a more nuanced understanding of how traditional bioactive compounds interact with cellular systems, while encouraging careful interpretation of both pharmacological activity and potential safety considerations.All studies must adhere to the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology and the ConPhyMP statement (Front. Pharmacol., 13:953205). Manuscripts must include detailed descriptions of biological material, extraction methods, and processing procedures; submissions lacking these details will be desk-rejected. The full best-practice guidance is available at: https://ga-online.org/best-practice . Authors are encouraged to self-assess their manuscripts using the ConPhyMP tool before submission.Ultimately, this Research Topic seeks to integrate toxicological rigor into ethnopharmacology by establishing reproducible links between traditional use, chemical composition, and biological safety. The goal is not only to identify promising bioactive agents but also to determine the conditions under which they can be used without harm. Topic editors: Fabio Santos, Raquel Alves Dos Santos, Wilner Martinez Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78584/genotoxicological-profiling-of-ethnopharmacological-agents-harnessing-traditional-knowledge-for-safer-herbal-therapeutics