Natural Products in the Prevention and Treatment of Microbiological, Immunological, and Infectious Diseases: Integrating Wild Edible Plants and Beyond
Traditional herbal remedies and natural products, rooted in centuries of medicinal wisdom, offer valuable insights into the selection, preparation, and application of botanical treatments for various health conditions. These plant-based solutions have demonstrated effectiveness in addressing ailments such as skin disorders, tuberculosis, diabetes, jaundice, hypertension, mental health issues, cancer, AIDS, microbiological, immunological, and infectious diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 60% of the global population uses herbal medicine, with about 80% in developing nations relying on it for primary healthcare needs. Phytochemicals and their derivatives have yielded numerous clinically beneficial drugs for both chronic and acute illnesses. Ongoing research aims to discover new therapeutic agents from medicinal plants. The growing acceptance and popularity of herbal medicine are driven by the perception that natural products are safe, affordable, and widely accessible. However, concerns persist regarding the pharmacology and standardization of herbal treatments compared to conventional drugs.
In recent decades, there has been a significant increase in research efforts worldwide, including in developed and developing countries, focused on scientifically evaluating and validating herbal medicines through rigorous clinical trials. The objective of this Special Issue is to compile original research articles investigating the efficacy of active constituents or extracts from natural products in the Prevention and Treatment of Microbiological, Immunological, and Infectious Diseases. Review articles offering insights into the current state of research are also encouraged. Possible themes include, but are not limited to:
- Evidence-based herbal medicine is used for promoting health and managing metabolic, microbiological, immunological, and infectious diseases.
- Honey and its products are used for the prevention and management of microbiological, immunological, and infectious diseases.
- Pharmaceutical formulations of pharmacologically active metabolites are effective in managing chronic, microbiological, immunological, and infectious diseases.
- Different pharmacologically active metabolites are used in the management of human diseases.
- Recent advances in drug discovery have identified potential microbiological, immunological, and infectious diseases compounds from the Mediterranean diet and medicinal plants.