Osteolytic diseases, such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteosarcoma, and giant cell tumors of bone, are characterized by increased bone resorption and decreased bone formation, leading to significant bone loss or erosion. The bone remodeling compartment, which includes osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and endosteal vessels, is severely affected in these diseases and represents a central target for therapeutic intervention. Despite advances in understanding the pathophysiology of osteolytic diseases, effective treatments capable of halting or reversing bone loss while promoting new bone formation remain a significant clinical challenge. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of medicinal plants and their bioactive metabolites to inhibit osteoclast differentiation and promote osteogenesis. However, the precise mechanisms by which these natural products exert their effects on the bone remodeling compartment are not fully understood, necessitating further investigation into their therapeutic potential and molecular underpinnings.

This research topic aims to explore the effects of medicinal plants and their metabolites on the treatment and management of osteolytic diseases. The main objective is to identify and characterize effective medicinal plants and their well-characterized metabolites or chemical extracts that influence the bone remodeling compartment. Specific questions include understanding the biological and molecular mechanisms of bone-vessel coupling and the role of herbal medicine in these processes. The research will also test hypotheses related to the effectiveness of these natural products in inhibiting osteoclast activity and promoting osteoblast function.

To better understand the therapeutic potential of medicinal plants in osteolytic diseases, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
– Mechanisms underlying osteolytic diseases and associated disorders.
– Innovative strategies for the prevention and treatment of osteolytic diseases.
– Molecular mechanisms of phytotherapy and their well-characterized metabolites or chemical extracts.
– Screening and evaluation of active metabolites in medicinal plants.
– Studies on endothelial cells and endoosseous vessels.

Please note:

1. Please self-assess your MS using the ConPhyMP tool (and follow the standards established in the ConPhyMP statement Front. Pharmacol. 13:953205. All manuscripts must be fully compliant with the Four pillars of best practices in ethnopharmacology (you can download the full version for free here). Above all, ensure that the ethnopharmacological context is clearly described (pillar 3d) and that the material studied is characterized in detail (pillars 2 a and b).

2. Clinical trial articles will only be accepted for review if they are randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. A statistical power analysis or sample size justification is mandatory.

3. In silico studies such as array analyzes or docking studies are generally not accepted unless followed by in vitro or in vivo analysis of the material being studied.