The Special Issue “The 20th Anniversary of Pharmaceuticals—Multi-Targeted Natural Products as Therapeutics” Editorial—Multi-Targeted Therapeutics from Natural Sources: What Do We Know?

Authors

Elena Y. Enioutina, University of Utah School of Medicine
Katheleen M. Job, University of Utah School of Medicine
Catherine M.T. Sherwin, Wright State University - Main CampusFollow

Document Type

Editorial

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

Herbal and marine products in the form of extracts, infusions, and decoctions have been used for centuries in folk and traditional medicine. Preparations typically contain multiple biologically active compounds. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that about 65% of consumers worldwide use natural remedies containing bioactive molecules to treat various diseases [1]. Most single-molecule drugs of natural origin were developed in the middle of the 20th century through the active screening of natural products for bioactive molecules [2]. Examples include artemisinin, cyclosporine, taxol, doxorubicin, and many others. However, at the beginning of the 21st century, we saw a decline in the number of “natural drugs” introduced to the market. A limiting factor could be explained by the pharmaceutical industry blockbuster model, implying the development of few drugs that make a bulk profit (e.g., USD 1 billion in sales for a drug per year [2]). Another reason for this decline could be the introduction of the high-throughput screening of synthetic libraries. A limitation to the large-scale production of “natural drugs” is the availability of herbal or marine sources for their production. However, the research community has expressed great interest in investigating new therapeutics from natural sources. The Special Issue “The 20th Anniversary of Pharmaceuticals—Multi-Targeted Natural Products as Therapeutics” has had great success, with 25 articles published. These comprise eight review articles and seventeen research articles. This Special Issue aimed to summarize and examine the latest research findings in identifying natural products targeting multiple pathways and body functions that can successfully treat multifactorial diseases. The Guest Editors are thankful for all contributors.

Comments

This work is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Repository Citation

Enioutina, E. Y., Job, K. M., & Sherwin, C. M. (2025). The Special Issue “The 20th Anniversary of Pharmaceuticals—Multi-Targeted Natural Products as Therapeutics” Editorial—Multi-Targeted Therapeutics from Natural Sources: What Do We Know?. Pharmaceuticals, 18 (4), 442.
https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/pediatrics/788

DOI

10.3390/ph18040442

PMCID

PMC12030276