Controlled and Targeted Release of Natural Drugs

In medicine more effective methods using less toxic drugs and novel therapeutic strategies are necessary. Natural compounds can be promising sources for drug discovery. Numerous plant constituents are clinically used in the modern medicines, while many phytochemicals possess the potential to become novel therapeutics. Secondary metabolites of plants, such as steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, are biologically active agents. Most beneficial properties of these substances are anti‑inflammatory, anti‑oxidative, anti‑diabetic, anti‑thrombotic, anti-arthritic, anti-amyloid, anti-ischemic or neuroprotective effects.

Some of the bio-originated compounds are specifically toxic on cancer cells compared to the normal cells, e.g., some essential oils have been proved to be able to modify apoptosis and cell cycle progression. Polyphenols and vitamin D also showed promising results in alternative chemotherapy. The antitumor effects of these compounds can be the result of DNA topoisomerase inhibition, anti-protease or antioxidant activity, and so on. The immune system stimulation, decrease of side effects of traditional drugs, overcoming resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy, synergistic drug interactions combined with other therapeutics can also be the beneficial effects of natural compounds.

Natural drugs can be more efficient if applied in controlled or targeted drug delivery systems. This special issue welcomes both review and original research articles that study chemical and physical methods for sustaining the release or presenting targeting strategies of bio-originated therapeutics.

Guest Editor Tivadar Feczkó Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Hungarian Academy of Sciences