Mitochondria are crucial intracellular organelles responsible for energy metabolism and related physiological processes. A large number of studies in recent years have shown that mitochondrial dysfunction is closely related to a variety of central nervous system (CNS) disorders and related diseases. Energy metabolism disorder and excessive release of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by mitochondrial abnormalities play a critical role in the early stage of CNS disorders. Therefore, mitochondrial dysfunction is a valuable and potential therapeutic target for early intervention to halt the progression of the disease or modify the disease trajectory. Herbal medicines and bioactive metabolites, coming from a natural source and biodegradable, have potential and multiple roles in protecting mitochondrial function and regulating their activity. Therefore, the in-depth study of the mechanisms of herbal medicines and bioactive metabolites on mitochondrial dysfunction provides a novel insight into developing a mitochondria-targeted intervention for CNS disorders and related diseases.
Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hot and emerging topic of current research on CNS abnormalities. Mitochondrial disorders include abnormal mitochondrial structure, functional damage, fusion-fission imbalance, mitochondrial autophagy disorder, related oxygen free radical release, endoplasmic reticulum dysfunction, calcium ion imbalance, etc. Many CNS incapacitations, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, exhibit mitochondrial dysfunction in the very early stages of disease onset. We hope to prepare a unique collection of articles that elucidates how herbal medicines and bioactive metabolites exert therapeutic effects on CNS abnormalities and related diseases by protecting the mitochondrial structure and regulating mitochondrial function. We prefer original research that explores the molecular targets of herbal medicines and bioactive metabolites targeting mitochondria for therapeutic effects and elucidates the underlying mechanism. Research of herbal medicines and bioactive metabolites targeting mitochondria to treat the diseases described above based on clinical observations is also encouraged.
This Research Topic encourages high-quality studies about herbal medicines and bioactive metabolites to treat CNS abnormalities by targeting mitochondrial dysfunction. We welcome original research papers, reviews, and perspectives focusing on medicinal plants / herbal medicines including especially the following subtopics:
• Research on the underlying mechanisms of natural compounds in managing central nervous system impairments and related diseases by targeting mitochondria.
• Research on the relationship between mitochondria dysfunction and CNS impairment and its corresponding mechanisms of action.
• The neuroprotective mechanisms of herbal medicines and bioactive metabolites by omic technologies include lipidomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, genomics, proteomics, etc.
• The experimental model for evaluating the effects of herbal medicines and bioactive metabolites on mitochondria and the high-throughput method for screening active compounds.
• Clinical studies assessing the effectiveness of herbal medicines and bioactive metabolites in managing the above conditions.
• Reviews research progress and underlying mechanisms of herbal medicines and bioactive metabolites in treating the above conditions.
For manuscripts dealing with extracts obtained from a medicinal plant or a polyherbal formulation, a detailed phytochemical characterization needs to be included defining possible marker compounds or active metabolites (using analytical methods such as HPLC, LC-MS, GC-MS, etc.).
All the manuscripts submitted to the collection will need to fully comply with the
Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology (you can freely download the full version
here).