Natural products: call for hard evidence

Given the potential of natural products (NPs) for various aspects of human well-being, it is important to involve a variety of stakeholders and disciplines in the investigation of their health-related properties. For this reason, IUPHAR has initiated a project aimed at establishing a science-based registry of NPs and their pharmacological activities, with a view to providing a better understanding of their potential influences on human health. From a pharmacological perspective, it is important to evaluate the effects of selected NPs on important determinants of health such as, e.g. immune response and inflammation (among others). IUPHAR calls for a concerted effort and asks stakeholders to contribute to this project.