During the past years, the process of drug discovery has evolved to frequently include, for example, ‘omics-based research’ as well as high-throughput studies as initial approaches to drug development. The ‘omics profiling’ through genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and glycomics can determine therapeutic targets for future drug research. The applications of computational molecular docking techniques intend to predict compound-receptor interactions, identify substances that modulate diseases, repurpose drugs, develop polypharmacology, and predict adverse reactions. Other computational methods such as molecular dynamics simulations and the analysis and interpretation of biological data through bioinformatics are also at the forefront of new drug discoveries. The initial investigations are followed or accompanied by studies that will ensure efficacy and safety such as pharmacokinetics, toxicology, drug delivery, clinical, and post-clinical research. All the innovative methodological and multi-level strategies have also created new opportunities for exploring the modes of action of herbs and natural compounds and their intervention in molecular mechanisms of diseases.

The goal of this Methods Collection is to feature the current herbal investigations of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), dementia-related disorders, Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), Spinal Muscular Dystrophy (SMD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and others. From herbal-compound discovery to clinical research, we will include original articles in all phases of therapeutic development from an array of methods not limited to those mentioned above. We envision providing a broad selection to represent the recent advancements in the field, and to correlate, contrast and perhaps bridge some knowledge gaps.