Therapeutic potential of natural products and their structural analogues in neuropsychiatry

The exploration of natural products and their structural analogues in neuropsychiatry has historically been a fertile area of research, driven by the urgency to find safer and more effective treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders. Recent inquiries have increasingly highlighted the potential of plant secondary metabolites, most notably in the context of anxiety, depression, epilepsy, and Parkinson's disease. These conditions, which affect a significant portion of the global population, often have limited treatment options that can be costly and induce severe side effects. Emerging studies using animal models have begun to uncover the broad pharmacological effects of natural compounds, suggesting their capability to modulate biochemical pathways involved in neuropsychiatric conditions. Despite promising results, the reliable transition from traditional use to clinically approved treatments remains challenging.
This Research Topic aims to advance the understanding of natural products and their structural analogues’ pharmacological profiles, safety, and efficacy in treating neuropsychiatric disorders.
By focusing on the latest scientific investigations, it seeks to clarify the mechanisms through which these compounds exert their effects, evaluate their therapeutic potential, and identify the limitations and challenges inherent in their use. The initiative will scrutinize how natural remedies can be integrated into current treatment paradigms to enhance patient outcomes and reduce adverse effects.
To effectively explore this complex and multidisciplinary field, this Research Topic focuses on rigorous studies that assess pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and the therapeutic potential of natural products and their structural analogues for neuropsychiatric applications. We encourage submissions from a variety of experimental settings, including but not limited to preclinical, clinical, and translational research.
We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

o Biochemical pathways affected by plant secondary metabolites in neuropsychiatric disorders.
o Comparative studies on the efficacy and safety of natural product-based drugs versus conventional neuropsychiatric medications.
o Impact of natural products and their structural analogues on stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
o Longitudinal studies tracking the therapeutic outcomes of natural products-based treatments in neuropsychiatric conditions.
o Challenges in translating preclinical findings into clinical practice.

This Research Topic will provide valuable insights into the practical challenges and therapeutic potentials of natural products and their structural analogues, steering future research directions in neuropsychiatry.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Toxicology, Pharmacological effect, neuropsychiatric disorders, anxiety, depression, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, animal models, stress, plants secondary metabolites.

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.