Uncovering the Therapeutic Promise of South-east Asia’s Medicinal Plants: Phytochemical Diversity and Pharmacological Potential

Southeast Asia is globally recognized for its extraordinary biodiversity and profound wealth of traditional medicinal knowledge. Generations have relied on an immense variety of local plants to manage ailments ranging from infections and inflammation to metabolic and neurological disorders. However, despite this rich ethnomedicinal backdrop, many plant species and their bioactive compounds from this region remain insufficiently characterised by modern scientific standards. In the context of this Research Topic, it is also essential to consider the broader biocultural and geopolitical landscape of South and South-east Asia as an interconnected region connecting countries such as, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. This overlap reflects not only academic representation but also the shared ethnopharmacological knowledge systems, biodiversity, and public health challenges across these regions. Moreover, both subregions have established or emerging national frameworks and policies for traditional medicine. Recognising these similarities and complementarities enables a more holistic and inclusive approach to drug discovery from plant-based resources.

This Research Topic aims to integrate ethnopharmacological knowledge with comprehensive scientific assessment, focusing on the phytochemical and pharmacological exploration of medicinal plants from Southeast Asia and the broader South and Southeast Asian regions. We welcome studies that rigorously investigate both plant extracts and isolated metabolites, employing a spectrum of experimental and computational methodologies. We particularly encourage research that couples advanced phytochemical analysis including extraction, fractionation, and characterisation with robust in vitro assays. In addition, in silico studies such as molecular docking, ADMET prediction, and network pharmacology are highly valued for providing mechanistic insights and supporting the translational potential of these findings.
The primary goal of this Research Topic is to advance the discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents from Southeast Asia’s medicinal plants, while also embracing relevant contributions from South Asian countries that share similar ethnomedical traditions and botanical diversity, by integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific approaches. To achieve this, we aim to:
• Advance our knowledge of the chemical diversity and pharmacological potential inherent in Southeast Asia’s and South Asia’s medicinal plants.
• Rigorously validate and build upon traditional medicinal knowledge using modern scientific methods, highlighting the vital contribution of ethnomedicine to drug discovery.
• Facilitate the discovery and characterization of novel phytochemicals with promising therapeutic properties, which may serve as lead compounds for future pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals.
• Support context-specific research that addresses the healthcare needs, scientific capacities, and regulatory environments of both Southeast and South Asian countries.

We encourage submissions that cover, but are not limited to, the following areas:

• Comprehensive phytochemical profiling and bioassay-guided isolation of novel or known compounds from medicinal plants, with ethnobotanical context where relevant.
• Evaluation of biological activities of crude extracts, fractions, and isolated constituents using robust experimental models.
• Studies that integrate traditional knowledge systems with modern pharmacological research, supporting the discovery of new therapeutic agents while honouring cultural knowledge and biodiversity.
We particularly welcome research that contributes to filling critical knowledge gaps, enhances the scientific assessment of traditional remedies, and explores the translational potential of natural products in addressing global health challenges.
All submissions must comply with best practice guidelines for pharmacological studies on natural products, including the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology and the ConPhyMP (Consensus on Standards for Phytomedicine) guidelines as published in Frontiers in Pharmacology (13:953205). A detailed and transparent description of the botanical material, its authentication, extraction, and processing methods is essential. Manuscripts that do not meet these standards will not be considered. Authors are encouraged to use the ConPhyMP self-assessment tool before submission: https://ga-online.org/best-practice/.

This topic supports progress toward evidence-based integration of traditional and modern medicine, contributing to global efforts in sustainable drug discovery, health innovation, and the preservation of medicinal plant knowledge.

Article types and fees

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

• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... 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:

• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: ethnopharmacology; phytochemical profiling; bioassay-guided isolation; pharmacological evaluation; computational pharmacology; Southeast Asian flora

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.