Human activities release toxic metals into the environment. These metals pollute the soil, air, and water, which leads to the contamination of animals and plants. For the general population, food is the main route of exposure, and metals will accumulate in various organs depending on their specificity. There is strong evidence of a link between exposure to metals and the incidence of chronic diseases. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of metal toxicity are far to be understood. Consequently, there is an urgent need for a more profound understanding of the impact of metal pollution on human health. This understanding is essential for alerting public authorities and implementing new strategies to prevent it.

The aim of this Collection is to present an overview of recent data on metal toxicity related to cell dysfunction and disease progression, and to propose new studies or hypothesis. This collection is expected to include a variety of studies on toxic metals to which humans may be exposed in connection with environmental pollution. A particular emphasis will be placed on elucidating the mechanisms by which these metals are transported across the plasma membrane. Additionally, the impact of intracellular accumulation of these metals on the disruption of cell function at the metabolic, genomic, or signaling pathway levels will be examined. These studies may concern cellular or integrated models.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3.

Keywords: metal toxicology, metal poisoning, ion channels, transporters, cell signaling pathway, chronic diseases

Natural medicines, particularly derived from plants, animals, and microbes, have long served as the foundation for traditional medicine systems across the globe. With the resurgence of interest in herbal therapies and natural formulations, there is a growing need to critically assess their safety, efficacy, and toxicological profiles. This Collection invites contributions that bridge ethnopharmacology and modern toxicology, aiming to shed light on the complex interactions between natural compounds and human or ecological health.

The Collection seeks to explore how natural medicines contribute to therapeutic interventions while also posing potential toxic risks when improperly used or combined with conventional drugs. We welcome research, reviews, and case studies that evaluate the toxicokinetic, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and ecotoxicology of traditional and novel bioactive compounds. Manuscripts examining the molecular mechanisms of toxicity, dose-response relationships, and safety thresholds are especially encouraged.

This Collection explores the intersection of ethnopharmacology and toxicology, inviting interdisciplinary research on the safety, efficacy, and toxicological mechanisms of natural medicine in the context of global health and sustainable medicine.

This interdisciplinary Collection will be of interest to toxicologists, pharmacologists, ethnobotanists, environmental scientists, and public health professionals concerned with the safe integration of natural medicines into healthcare systems. Contributions that engage with regulatory aspects, community-based toxicovigilance, or comparative analyses between traditional knowledge and scientific toxicology are particularly welcome.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3.

Keywords: Natural medicine, traditional medicine, toxicology, pharmacology, risk assessment, health effect, safety, dose-response relationship