Current Methods in Ethnopharmacology to Assess Potential Therapeutic Effects of Plant-Based Compounds

TOPICAL COLLECTIONS

Guest Editor

Hugues Petitjean

Benephyt Laboratory, Strasbourg, France

Dr. Petitjean obtained his PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Strasbourg (France) in 2011, where he focused on spinal neuronal circuitry involved in pain processing messages. He received his postdoctoral training with Dr. Trese Leinders-Zufall at the University of Saarland (Germany) from 2011 to 2013 where he worked on the neuronal code of hypothalamic neurons. Then he joined the laboratory of Pr.Reza Sharif-Naeini at McGill University (Canada) where he focused on chronic pain mechanisms. Since 2011 he is leading an ethnopharmacology scientific program that involved interdisciplinary approaches to develop new treatments based on phytocompound characterization from traditional herbals to alleviate chronic pain. His major contributions include. 1) Investigation of the microcircuitry underlying mechanical pain hypersensitivities 2) Identification of several neuronal populations involved in persistent pain mechanism 3) Identification of molecular mechanisms responsible for long-term changes to pain processing 4) Isolated phytocompounds that alleviate chronic pain hypersensitivity Since 2021, he is the head of the scientific department of the Benephyt laboratory, a research company focusing on the development of innovative treatments for chronic pain-related diseases.

Collection Overview

Ethnopharmacology is a branch of science that aims to identify and use phytocompounds isolated from plants and herbs described in the traditional pharmacopeia; it explores the potential therapeutic and side effects of phytocompounds to promote the safe use of plant-based treatments. Humans have a long-standing tradition of alleviating and treating different ailments and diseases using plants. However, unapproved use of plant-based compounds for treatments can lead to detrimental effects including intoxication and other health problems. Plant-based compounds can regulate various functions including neuronal activity thereby modulating emotions and behaviors. The goal of this Methods Collection is to form a comprehensive library of scientific techniques and protocols involved in the characterization of plant-based compounds and its applications and effects on therapeutics, drug discovery, neuronal activity etc., through the different steps of ethnopharmacology investigations. Innovative techniques ranging from plant description and extraction protocols to in vitro and in vivo assays for drug characterization of phytocompounds, as well as in silico simulation approaches, are welcome.