Have We in Ethnopharmacology Forgotten Alkaloids? A New Look at the Molecular Diversity, Safety, and Translational Potential of Alkaloids

Alkaloids constitute one of the major classes of bioactive natural products identified in plant species used in traditional medical systems. Among them, indole alkaloids form a structurally diverse subgroup present in numerous medicinal plants documented across different cultural and geographical settings. Within ethnopharmacology, the focus lies not on “traditional knowledge of alkaloids” as isolated chemical entities, but on knowledge relating to alkaloid-containing plants, including their uses, preparation methods, modes of administration, and associated therapeutic contexts. This Research Topic examines alkaloids within ethnopharmacological research frameworks, with particular attention to their molecular diversity, safety, and translational relevance. It addresses the relationship between plant use practices, preparation procedures, chemical composition, biological activity, and pharmacological investigation. Traditional preparation methods, including decoction, maceration, infusion, and combined botanical formulations, may influence alkaloid composition, stability, and bioavailability, making these variables relevant to analytical and biological assessment.The Topic is hosted by Dr. Carolina Otero, Dr. Antia González Pereira, and Dr. Cristian Soza-Ried, and coordinated by Dr. Ricardo Ramirez-Barrantes. It brings together ethnobotanical, phytochemical, pharmacological, toxicological, and translational perspectives to examine alkaloids in plant-based medicinal systems and in contemporary research contexts.We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives addressing topics including, but not limited to:• Ethnopharmacological documentation of alkaloid-containing plant species and their recorded uses • Structural and molecular diversity of alkaloids in medicinal plants • Analytical characterization of alkaloid profiles in raw materials and traditional preparations • Effects of preparation methods on alkaloid composition, stability, and bioavailability • Pharmacological and mechanistic studies of alkaloids in extracts, fractions, and complex preparations • Toxicological evaluation, pharmacokinetics, herb–drug interactions, and dose–response relationships • Safety assessment and risk–benefit considerations in plant-based preparations containing potent alkaloids • Multi-component interactions within botanical matrices • Regulatory, ethical, and policy dimensions related to traditional medicinal knowledge and research translation Submissions employing interdisciplinary methodologies are encouraged, particularly those integrating ethnobotanical documentation with contemporary chemical and biological approaches. All manuscripts should follow established standards in ethnopharmacology, including accurate taxonomic identification of plant material, deposition of voucher specimens, transparent reporting of preparation and extraction procedures, and clear acknowledgement of knowledge sources. Manuscripts must comply with the ConPhyMP guidelines and the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology.Ultimately, this topic aims to provide a framework for examining the place of alkaloids within ethnopharmacological research through approaches that connect traditional medicinal plant use, chemical characterization, biological evaluation, safety assessment, and translational considerations. Topic editors: Carolina Otero, Antía González Pereira, Cristian Soza-Ried Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80385/have-we-in-ethnopharmacology-forgotten-alkaloids-a-new-look-at-the-molecular-diversity-safety-and-translational-potential-of-alkaloids