Phytochemicals in Pharmacological Pain Management

Phytochemicals: bioactive molecules derived from plants, have a long history in traditional medicine and have already given rise to several modern analgesics. Yet, many plant-based compounds with potential analgesic properties remain poorly characterized, especially in terms of well-defined pharmacology, reproducible dosing, and clinically relevant endpoints. At the same time, there is rising public and clinical interest in “natural” or plant-based pain therapies, often ahead of robust scientific evidence. This creates both an opportunity and a responsibility for the pain research community: to move beyond anecdote and empiricism, and rigorously define how specific phytochemicals influence nociceptive pathways, pain perception, and functional outcomes across diverse pain states.This Research Topic aims to establish a focused forum on phytochemicals as pharmacological tools and candidates in pain management. We seek contributions that dissect how plant-derived compounds act on molecular, cellular, and systems-level mechanisms of pain, spanning acute, inflammatory, neuropathic, cancer-related, and visceral pain. Key goals include clarifying target engagement (e.g., ion channels, GPCRs, cytokine and immune pathways, oxidative stress), characterizing dose–response relationships, and defining therapeutic windows and safety profiles.We encourage submissions that:- Use robust experimental models to link phytochemical exposure to changes in pain-related behaviors and nociceptive processing.- Explore innovative preparations, standardized extracts, or purified constituents, including minor or understudied phytochemicals.- Investigate synergistic or antagonistic interactions between phytochemicals and established analgesics, including potential to reduce reliance on opioids or other high-risk drugs.- Bridge preclinical and clinical evidence, including early-phase human or veterinary studies, that refine indications, formulations, and delivery strategies.By bringing together mechanistic, preclinical, and translational work, this collection aims to identify promising phytochemical-based strategies and clarify where they can meaningfully contribute to safer, more effective pain management.Scope and Information for authors:We invite manuscripts that retain a primary pharmacological focus on phytochemicals in pain, spanning: Original Research, Reviews and Mini-Reviews, Perspectives and Opinions, Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses and Case Reports/Case Series with clear pharmacological insightRelevant themes include, but are not limited to:- Characterization of individual phytochemicals or defined mixtures as analgesic agents- Mechanistic studies on phytochemical modulation of nociceptive pathways and pain circuitry- Experimental and translational models of acute, chronic, inflammatory, neuropathic, cancer, or visceral pain treated with plant-derived compounds- Pharmacokinetics, metabolism, formulations, and delivery systems shaping the analgesic profile of phytochemicals-- Combinatorial regimens pairing phytochemicals with conventional analgesics or adjuvant drugs- Comparative studies of phytochemical-based versus standard pharmacological pain treatments in human or veterinary contextsSubmissions should clearly position phytochemicals as pharmacological interventions in pain management, while combination approaches with non-pharmacological strategies are welcome when pharmacology remains the central focus. Topic editors: Rupesh K Gautam, Elvis Ofori Ameyaw, Felix Amissah Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79614/phytochemicals-in-pharmacological-pain-management