TABLE 1.

Examples of articles on natural products published in the BJP

Article type	Example in the BJP	Reference
Papers promoting a phytochemical for possible clinical investigation	Betulic acid, via FXR activation, attenuated markers of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in an animal model of hepatic steatosis.	Gu et al., 2019
	The authors conclude that ‘Our data suggest that the effects of Betullic acid may be used to develop a novel therapy for the management of NAFLD’.
Papers promoting a phytochemical for immediate use in humans as a dietary supplement	β‐Caryophyllene protects against experimental alcoholic steatohepatitis.	Varga et al., 2018
	The authors conclude that ‘Our data suggest that the effects of Betullic acid may be used to develop a novel therapy for the management of NAFLD’
Papers investigating the effect of a phytochemical in the context of a diet	Resveratrol exists in high quantities in certain foods such as muscadine grape and red wine (Durazzo et al., 2019). A BJP paper found that resveratrol, incorporated into the diet, at a dose able to achieve relevant circulating resveratrol levels, protected against bone loss.	Zhao et al., 2018
Paper providing the pharmacological basis able to justify the use of a dietary supplement in humans	Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a food supplement marketed to alleviate inflammatory bowel disease, even in the absence of clinical trials substantiating this claim. A BJP paper found that oral administration of PEA is therapeutic in a murine model of colitis. The authors believe that the results could justify the use of PEA for IBD in humans.	Borrelli et al., 2015
	This example is reminiscent of the ethnopharmacological approach, i.e., the study of natural medicines that have been traditionally used by ethnic groups. Ethnopharmacology uses the ‘reverse pharmacology approach’, which was applied in India to develop medicines from Ayurvedic medicines (Patwardhan & Mashelkar, 2009).
Papers depicting the mode of action of a commercially available dietary supplements	PEA is a food supplement with a well‐stablished analgesic activity in animals. A BJP paper unveiled the molecular mechanism involved in PEA‐induced analgesic effects by showing its ability to activate and desensitize TRPV1 in sensory neurons.	Ambrosino, Soldovieri, Russo, & Taglialatela, 2013
Papers depicting the mode of action of a major ingredient contained in a commercially available dietary supplement	Extract from Petasites hybridus (butterbur) are used for migraine prevention. A BJP paper showed that a isopetasin, a major ingredient of butterbur, activated TRPA1 channels, resulting in excitation of neuropeptide‐containing nociceptors, followed by marked heterologous neuronal desensitization.	Benemei et al., 2017
	The authors conclude that ‘such attenuation in pain and neurogenic inflammation [by isopetasin] may account for the anti‐migraine action of butterbur’.
Papers repositioning old natural drugs	Digoxin inhibited endothelial focal adhesion kinase and angiogenesis induced by different growth factors.	Trenti et al., 2017
	The authors conclude that ‘These novel findings suggest a potential repositioning of digitoxin as a broad‐spectrum anti‐angiogenic drug for diseases where pathological angiogenesis is involved’.
Papers related to naturally occurring drugs of abuse	A BJP paper investigated the involvement of the CRF2 receptor in social dysfunction and stress vulnerability induced by repeated administration of cocaine and withdrawal from cocaine.	Morisot, Monier, Le Moine, Millan, & Contarino, 2018
	The authors conclude that ‘These findings demonstrate a central role for the CRF2 receptor in social behaviour deficits and biomarkers of vulnerability induced by cocaine withdrawal’.
Papers promoting a phytochemical as lead compound for the development of new medicines	Novel tetracyclic triterpenoid compounds, isolated from the mushroom Poria cocos, were demonstrated to be effective against experimental renal fibrosis.	Wang et al., 2018
	The authors conclude that ‘Our results provide several potential leads for the development of novel compounds for effective treatment of chronic kidney disease’.
Papers in which a natural compound is used as a chemical probe to block or activate a specific target	Acid‐sensing ion channels (ASICs) are voltage‐insensitive cation widely expressed in central and peripheral nerves. Peptide toxins from animal venoms, such as mambalgins, target different ASIC subtypes.	Verkest et al., 2018
	In a BJP paper, mambalgin‐1, a specific inhibitor of ASIC1a‐ and ASIC1b‐containing channels, was used as a chemical probe to reveal the role of such channels in mechanical allodynia in a rodent model of migraine.
Papers comparing the effect of a natural compound with a related semi‐synthetic compound	Dihydrodiosgenin, the parent aglycone of diosgenyl saponin, protected against pancreatic acinar cell against three clinically relevant models of experimental acute pancreatitis.	Shen et al., 2018
Papers reporting the effect of a naturally occurring molecule on specific targets (e.g., receptors and enzymes)	The diterpene ester tonantzitlolone displayed nanomolar potency as an activator of transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) 1/4/5 channels.	Rubaiy et al., 2018
Papers providing pharmacokinetic data	Ginkgo biloba extracts are widely promoted for conditions related to microcirculatory and memory deficits. A BJP paper delineated the pharmacokinetics of flavonols and terpene lactones (i.e., the main active ginkgo ingredients) after dosing standardized G. biloba leaf extracts to rats.	Chen et al., 2013
Papers promoting a natural compound for cosmetic use	Kazinol U is a prenylated flavan isolated from the Chinese and Japanese plant Broussonetia kazinoki. A BJP paper showed that kazinol U reduced melanogenesis.	Lim et al. (2019)
	The authors conclude that ‘These findings indicate that kazinol U might be therapeutically and cosmetically applied for several hyperpigmentation skin disorders and skin whitening’.
Papers describing novel formulations for dietary supplement delivery	Curcumin is a widespread dietary supplement whose clinical use is limited by the poor oral bioavailability. A BJP paper provided evidence that biodegradable nanosystem encapsulation have the potential to better translate to humans.	Ganugula et al., 2017