Harnessing Nutraceuticals: Advances and Challenges in Drug Discovery

Nutraceuticals, encompassing bioactive compounds from foods and botanicals, represent an exciting frontier in drug discovery. Recent advances in screening technologies, proteomics, metabolomics, and AI-driven analytics have greatly expanded our ability to discover, characterize, and optimize these natural compounds for therapeutic use. Despite this progress, significant questions remain regarding their reproducibility, precise mechanisms of action, standardization, and clinical translation.Cutting-edge studies now allow for systematic exploration of nutraceuticals’ bioactivities and therapeutic potential. However, major challenges such as variable composition, complex polypharmacology, limited bioavailability, heterogeneous regulatory standards, and sustainability of sourcing still require urgent attention. These barriers complicate the path from discovery to the development of clinically validated and widely adopted therapeutics.This Research Topic aims to spotlight innovative strategies and findings that bridge the gap between nutraceutical discovery and drug development. Our goal is to foster evidence-based approaches that overcome translational barriers and advance nutraceuticals as safe, effective, and sustainable medicines.To advance this field while maintaining clear focus, this Research Topic will prioritize work addressing discovery, characterization, and translation of nutraceuticals. We welcome submissions limited to original research, reviews, methods, and perspectives that address, but are not limited to:Target identification and mechanisms of actionSAR studies, analog development, and novel formulationsAI/ML-enabled discovery and predictive toxicologyPharmacokinetics, safety, and herb–drug interactionsQuality assurance and standardization frameworksClinical trial design and regulatory challengesSustainability, ethical sourcing, and equitable benefit-sharingNutrigenomics and nutrigenetics For manuscripts that focus on natural compounds, please utilize the ConPhyMP tool and ensure compliance with the standards outlined in the ConPhyMP statement (Front. Pharmacol. 13:953205). Additionally, compliance with the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology is mandatory. You can freely download the full version here. A comprehensive description of the studied material, including its identified source, extraction and processing methods, and clear composition, is essential.Please note that submissions lacking experimental validation of in silico findings will not be considered. Topic editors: Antonella Smeriglio, Damanpreet Singh, Domenico Trombetta Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79826/harnessing-nutraceuticals-advances-and-challenges-in-drug-discovery