Rethinking Natural Product Discovery: Advancing Research at the Interface of Drug Discovery and Development, Natural Products, and Ethnopharmacology

Natural products continue to play a central role in drug discovery and development, supported by advances in metabolomics, genomics, and computational approaches. At the same time, there is increasing interest in understanding these compounds within broader biological, ecological, and cultural contexts. Recent perspectives highlight the relevance of complex systems thinking in natural product research. Within this view, natural products may be considered as biocommunicators, mediating interactions across organisms, environments, and human systems. The redefinition of biocommunicators suggests the integration of chemical ecology and pharmacognosy within chemical prospecting, enabling the exploration of natural products across interconnected dimensions. These developments contribute to a broader framework linking biodiversity and cultural knowledge alongside chemical composition, biological activity, and functional roles across biological systems. This perspective also supports a more integrated understanding of chemical diversity and biological function.Ethnopharmacology provides an important contribution to this area by documenting and analysing traditional knowledge related to medicinal plant use. It offers insights into the selection, preparation, and application of natural products within specific cultural contexts, and supports the connection between traditional practices and molecular, biological research approaches.We welcome contributions that explore the interface between ethnopharmacology, natural product research, and drug discovery within an integrated and interdisciplinary framework.Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:• Ethnopharmacological studies of medicinal plants and traditional remedies • Natural products as mediators of biological and ecological interactions • Integration of chemical ecology and pharmacognosy • Approaches to chemical prospecting across computational, experimental, and applied contexts • Studies linking traditional knowledge with modern drug discovery and development • Contributions addressing biodiversity, sustainability, and the One Health perspective • Conceptual and methodological developments in natural product research Submissions may include original research articles, reviews, and perspective papers that contribute to advancing understanding at the intersection of these fields.This Research Topic aims to bring together contributions that explore natural product discovery through an integrated ethnopharmacological and complex systems perspective, connecting traditional knowledge with contemporary approaches in drug discovery and development. It seeks to encourage research that considers natural products as part of interconnected biological, ecological, and cultural systems, and that engages chemical prospecting across in silico, in vitro, and in vivo contexts. Ultimately, this collection aims to support the development of a more comprehensive framework for understanding and applying natural products, fostering approaches that align biodiversity, cultural knowledge, and therapeutic innovation within a unified research landscape. Submissions to this Research Topic are expected to align with established best practice guidelines in the field. Authors are encouraged to consult and apply the following frameworks:The Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology, a framework defining quality standards across four core dimensions of pharmacological, chemical, botanical, and ethnopharmacological research on medicinal plants and natural products.For all submissions, authors are advised to review and adhere to the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology - https://www.frontiersin.org/files/pdf/4_pillars_FULL_TEXT.pdf and the ConPhyMP Statement - https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.953205/ful, provides reporting guidelines for the phytochemical characterisation of medicinal plant extracts. The associated ConPhyMP open-access tool, hosted by the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA), should be completed and submitted as supporting material where applicable. Topic editors: Rodney Lacret, Michael Heinrich, Marinella De Leo Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81970/rethinking-natural-product-discovery-advancing-research-at-the-interface-of-drug-discovery-and-development-natural-products-and-ethnopharmacology