Psychobiotics and Food-Derived Neuroactives: Pharmacological Pathways to Mental Well-being

The interplay between diet, the gut microbiome, and brain function has emerged as a promising frontier in neuropharmacology. Increasing evidence indicates that food-derived bioactive compounds and psychobiotics (beneficial microorganisms strains capable of synthesizing and delivering neuroactive compounds that act through the gut–brain axis) can influence neurotransmission, neuroinflammation, neuroplasticity, and the gut–brain axis. These findings highlight the potential of nutritional and microbial interventions as complementary or alternative approaches to support mood regulation, cognitive function, and emotional well-being. Unlike traditional pharmacological treatments, which often carry side effects or limited long-term efficacy, food-based and microbiome-targeted strategies may provide safe, accessible, and sustainable avenues for mental health promotion. This multidisciplinary field, at the intersection of neuroscience, microbiology, and nutritional pharmacology, is expanding rapidly and requires a focused platform to bring together mechanistic insights and translational strategies.This Research Topic aims to explore the pharmacological potential of food-derived neuroactives and psychobiotics as innovative strategies for mental health support. The goal is to advance understanding of how functional foods, dietary phytochemicals, peptides, lipids, and microbiome-targeted interventions modulate neurobiological pathways that regulate mood and cognition. By integrating experimental, clinical, and translational research, this collection will highlight the mechanisms through which diet and psychobiotics can be used as therapeutic or preventive approaches for cognitive performance and mental health, including conditions such as depression, anxiety, stress resilience, and neurocognitive outcomes linked to the gut–brain axis. Ultimately, the topic will bridge food science, neuropharmacology, and microbiome research, positioning food-derived compounds as promising candidates in the development of novel, safe, and effective neuropharmacological interventions.We welcome contributions that investigate the neuropharmacological mechanisms and therapeutic potential of food-derived neuroactives and psychobiotics in mental health and cognition. Both preclinical and clinical studies are encouraged, as well as reviews, systematic reviews, and case reports that address:- Psychobiotics and their role in modulating neurotransmitter systems and emotional well-being- Food-derived peptides, flavonoids, and lipids with neuroactive properties relevant to mood and cognition- Gut–brain axis pharmacology: microbial influencing mental health- Molecular and cellular mechanisms linking diet, microbiota, and neuroplasticity- Functional foods and cognitive enhancement: from experimental models to human studies- Nutritional modulation of stress response, resilience, and anxiety- Translational frameworks for integrating food-derived agents into neuropharmacological strategies- Safety, efficacy, and regulatory considerations for psychobiotics and neuroactive functional ingredientsStudies need to comply with the best practice guidelines of the section if plant or fungal extracts or other complex mixtures are investigated including the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology. A detailed description of the material studied, its extraction, and processing is essential. You can freely download the full version here. Please self-assess your MS using the ConPhyMP tool, and follow the standards established in the ConPhyMP statement Front. Pharmacol. 13:953205. Please note the traditional context including the primary background and modern uses with supporting references must be included in the manuscript introduction. Purely in silico approaches using complex mixtures (extracts) are generally not considered. Topic editors: Bhagavathi Sundaram Sivamaruthi, Liz Girardi Müller Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80558/psychobiotics-and-food-derived-neuroactives-pharmacological-pathways-to-mental-well-being