Scope of PhytoPharm

The International Journal of Phytomedicine and Pharmacology, PhytoPharm, is an open-access peer-reviewed journal dedicated to advancing the multidisciplinary field of medicinal plant research. The journal offers an online platform for high-quality, innovative studies that span the entire value chain of medicinal plants, from cultivation to commercialisation. We welcome original research articles, short communications, reviews, perspectives, and case studies that contribute to the scientific understanding, sustainable development, and practical application of medicinal plants in healthcare and industry.

PhytoPharm covers all aspects of medicinal plant research, including but not limited to:

Agricultural Production and Sustainability: Studies on the cultivation, breeding, and sustainable agricultural practices for medicinal plants, including optimisation of growth conditions, agroecological approaches, and conservation of genetic resources.

Drug Discovery and Development: Investigations into the identification and development of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants, including high-throughput screening, ethnobotanical studies, and preclinical evaluations.

Phytochemistry and Analytical Methods: Research on the isolation, chemical characterisation, and analysis of plant-derived compounds.

Pharmacology and Clinical Trials: Studies exploring the pharmacological properties, safety, efficacy, and clinical applications of medicinal plant-derived drugs, including randomised controlled trials of phytomedicines.

Commercialisation and Industry Applications: Insights into the development, standardisation, and commercialisation of medicinal plant products, including regulatory frameworks, quality control, and market strategies.

Ethnopharmacology and Traditional Knowledge: Documentation and scientific investigation of traditional and indigenous uses of medicinal plants, bridging cultural heritage with modern science.

Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering: Applications of biotechnology, such as genetic modification, tissue culture, and metabolic engineering, to enhance the production of bioactive compounds in medicinal plants.

Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts: Research on the ecological, economic, and social dimensions of medicinal plant cultivation and use, including biodiversity conservation, sustainable harvesting, and community-based initiatives.

The journal encourages interdisciplinary approaches and submissions that address global challenges in medicinal plant research, particularly those relevant to sustainable healthcare solutions.

Aims

PhytoPharm aims to foster a global dialogue among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers by publishing cutting-edge research that advances the scientific, therapeutic, and commercial potential of medicinal plants. The journal is committed to open access principles, ensuring that all published content is freely accessible to a worldwide audience, promoting equitable knowledge dissemination.

PhytoPharm: Criteria for Immediate Rejection (Desk Rejection)

To maintain scientific rigor and focus on the "Pyramid of Knowledge," manuscripts that meet any of the following criteria will be returned to authors without peer review:

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1. Lack of Botanical Authenticity

• The "Voucher" Rule: Failure to cite a voucher specimen number and the name of the herbarium (or repository) where it is deposited.

• Identification: Use of only common names without the full Latin binomial (Genus, species, and authority).

2. Insufficient Phytochemical Characterization

• The "Extract Only" Rule: Studies on a "crude extract" with no attempt to characterize the major constituents via HPLC, GC-MS, or LC-MS. We do not publish papers where the chemical "fingerprint" of the study material is unknown.

• Concentration Reality: Studies using concentrations/doses that are physiologically impossible in humans (e.g., extremely high mg/mL concentrations in vitro) will be rejected unless a specific mechanistic justification is provided.

3. Lack of Pharmacological Depth

• The "Screening" Rule: Simple "antioxidant screening" (e.g., DPPH assays only) or "antibacterial zone of inhibition" tests without a defined mechanism of action or in vivo validation.

• Positive Controls: Failure to use a standard, clinically relevant drug as a positive control in pharmacological assays.

4. Ethical & Literature Failures

• The "Ethical Statement" Rule: Any animal or human study lacking a specific ethical approval number from a named Institutional Review Board (IRB).

• The "Cherry-Picking" Rule: For review articles, if the literature search excludes major contradictory findings or fails to discuss the "negative results" mentioned in PhytoPharm's core mission.

5. Redundancy

The "No Innovation" Rule: Studies that simply repeat a well-known effect on a common plant in a different geographical location without showing a difference in chemical profile or biological activity.

6. Use of Non-Scientific or Metaphysical Terminology

PhytoPharm respects the historical and cultural origins of traditional medicines (e.g., TCM, Ayurveda, Unani, African Traditional Medicine). However, as a scientific journal, we require that the investigation and reporting be conducted using the universal language of modern science.

• • The "Mechanism" Rule: Manuscripts that use metaphysical, non-biological, or non-verifiable terms (e.g., Qi, Chakras, Vital Force, Humors, Prana) as "explanatory" factors for pharmacological effects will be rejected.

  • Scientific Translation: Authors must investigate these traditional claims through modern scientific frameworks—such as molecular biology, biochemistry, systems biology, or validated clinical endpoints.

  • Neutral Investigation: Research must not be "promotional." We reject studies designed specifically to "prove" a traditional belief. The study must be an objective investigation of biological activity, allowing for the possibility that the traditional claim is not supported by the data.