Traditional Therapies for Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases: Evidence Mapping and Mechanisms

Autoimmune and allergic diseases are complex, multifaceted conditions that continue to challenge clinicians and researchers worldwide. Standard pharmacological therapies have improved management and prognosis; however, concerns regarding incomplete efficacy, long-term safety, and accessibility persist. Traditional and ethnopharmacological therapies—including medicinal plants, herbal formulations, and other natural product–based interventions, as well as selected indigenous practices such as acupuncture where mechanistic evidence is available—have long histories of use in managing immune-mediated and allergic disorders across various cultures. Recent scientific advances have begun to validate many of these practices and uncover their mechanistic underpinnings, yet systematic mapping of the evidence and in-depth mechanistic studies remain limited. Important knowledge gaps remain concerning efficacy, molecular targets, safety, purity, quality control, and integration with conventional medicine, highlighting the need for rigorous ethnopharmacological evaluation in this field.This Research Topic aims to critically map the current body of scientific evidence for traditional and ethnopharmacological therapies used in autoimmune and allergic diseases, with a particular focus on elucidating pharmacological, molecular, and immunological mechanisms. By synthesizing high-quality clinical and preclinical findings and bridging traditional empirical knowledge with contemporary biomedical research, we aim to highlight promising interventions, clarify their mechanisms of action, and support their safe and effective integration into modern healthcare. This initiative also encourages dialogue on standardization, best practices, and the translation of traditional therapies into evidence-based recommendations for patient care.This Research Topic is focused on medicinal plants and natural product–based traditional therapies within an ethnopharmacological framework, applied to the prevention and treatment of autoimmune and allergic conditions, while also considering other ethnomedical practices where supported by mechanistic evidence. We encourage submissions that provide robust pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical evidence and adhere to established ethnopharmacological standards, such as the ConPhyMP guidelines and the Four Pillars of Best Practice. To stimulate comprehensive and multidisciplinary exploration, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:Evidence mapping and systematic reviews of traditional and ethnopharmacological interventions for autoimmune and allergic diseasesExperimental and clinical studies elucidating pharmacological, molecular, and immunological mechanisms of traditional medicines, particularly those integrating phytochemical characterization with biological validationComparative studies on the efficacy and safety of traditional versus conventional therapiesApproaches to standardization, quality control, authentication, and safety assessment of medicinal plants and traditional formulasIntegration of traditional interventions within modern healthcare and combinatorial therapeutic strategiesEthnobotanical surveys, case studies, and real-world data exploring therapeutic diversity and cultural contextMethodological innovations and best practice guidelines in ethnopharmacology research relevant to immune-related diseasesWe welcome original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, perspectives, and methodological reports that provide new insights into traditional therapies for autoimmunity and allergy, with an emphasis on ethnopharmacological rigor and scientific advancement. Submissions should clearly describe plant materials, sources, extraction, processing, and traditional context, adhering to recognized best practice standards in the field.Please note:All studies must adhere to the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology and the ConPhyMP statement (Front. Pharmacol., 13:953205). Manuscripts must include detailed descriptions of biological material, extraction methods, and processing procedures; submissions lacking these details will be desk-rejected. The full best-practice guidance is available at: https://ga-online.org/best-practice. Authors are encouraged to self-assess their manuscripts using the ConPhyMP tool before submission.In silico network(‘pharmacological’) studies of complex mixtures do not result in specific pharmacologically relevant findings and will not be considered.Bibliometric studies do not contribute to a pharmacological evidence mapping and will not be considered Topic editors: REYAZ HASSAN, Krishna Mohan Poluri Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79416/traditional-therapies-for-autoimmune-and-allergic-diseases-evidence-mapping-and-mechanisms