Research Journal of Pharmacognosy (RJP) Publishes Autumn 2026 Issue

Coinciding with the autumn atmosphere, the Research Journal of Pharmacognosy (RJP) has published its Autumn 2026 issue (Volume 13, Issue 4); a collection of ten articles covering a full spectrum of natural product research, from cytotoxic screening of plants to herbal review articles related to traditional medicine. This issue begins with an editorial that introduces standardization as a link between traditional knowledge and increased precision in achieving modern therapeutic effects.

The editorial, titled "Scientific Standardization of Herbal Medicines: A Prerequisite for Quality, Safety, and Clinical Reliability," argues that standardization is not merely a regulatory obstacle, but a scientific and essential strategy for reproducibility and clinical trust. The editorial reminds us that the variability of plant compounds is an inherent characteristic of medicinal plants and is influenced by species, genotype, habitat, climate, soil composition, and harvest season. The authors call for integration among pharmaceutical technology, pharmacology, pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, and analytical chemistry so that natural products can meet the evidence standards of conventional medicine.

Following the editorial, a short report on the identification of potent cytotoxic plants from Ilam is presented; then original research articles in various therapeutic areas are offered. One study examines bromelain as a natural radiosensitizer in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, evaluating DNA damage, clonogenic survival, and oxidative stress. Another study introduces topical formulations loaded with deferoxamine (polymeric film and hydrogel) from the mucilage of Ficus puntia-indica, a contribution to formulation science that links plant polysaccharides to drug delivery. A systemic pharmacological study and experimental validation describes the hepatoprotective effect of piperonylic acid in ethanol-induced liver injury. The immunomodulatory potential of Vietnamese Ganoderma species is evaluated in a cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression model, adding to the growing knowledge of fungal bioactives. Another research article compares the anti-hypertriglyceridemic and anti-lipid peroxidation activities of the flower and leaf of Celosia argentea var. cristata.

In the review article section, the article "Herbal Modulators of Drug-Induced Gastrointestinal Toxicity: A Pharmacognostic Review of Pre-Clinical Evidence and Potential Co-Administration Approaches" provides a review of preclinical evidence and potential co-administration approaches; a topic timely with the growing attention to herb-drug interactions. The next article, "A Review of Medicinal Plants Used in Iranian Traditional Medicine to Alleviate Otalgia," examines traditional knowledge related to ear pain and links Iranian traditional medicine to contemporary pharmacological validation. This issue concludes with a mechanistic review that introduces topical natural remedies derived from Iranian traditional medicine for common symptoms of atopic dermatitis. The Autumn issue of the RJP journal is available on the journal's website.