Natural products have been used by humans throughout history for medicinal purposes, and the current sales and use of natural products has increased dramatically in the past few decades. The general public often has the misperception that these products are "safe" since they are "natural" but may be unaware that natural products are not subject to the same pre-market testing requirements as pharmaceutical agents. Furthermore, generating better information for consumers on the safety and efficacy of natural products has been problematic as researchers and health care providers have lacked the resources and collaborations necessary to synthesize the results across scientific disciplines.

The October issue of Drug Metabolism and Disposition addresses this educational need with articles on the state-of-the-art of natural product research and initiatives for improving human health. The guest editor for the special section, Dr. Mary Paine, has assembled 16 excellent articles, reviews, and commentaries that address natural product research ranging in scope from fundamental pharmacology and drug metabolism to clinical impact.  Both Dr. Paine and the journal editor extend their thanks to the contributing authors and hope the ASPET community finds the October issue to be a valuable resource.

All of the articles in the special section are freely accessible through December 31, 2020.