The Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (CJNM, ISSN 2095-6975), founded in 2003 and sponsored by China Pharmaceutical University, is a peer-reviewed journal published monthly in print by Science Press and online by Elsevier. CJNM is currently indexed in Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), MEDLINE, BIOSIS Previews, BIOSIS Toxicology, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, EMBASE Alert, Global Health, IPA, IPA Toxicology, SCOPUS, SciFinder Scholar, ScienceDirect, Biological Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts, Elsevier Bibliographic Databases, Excerpta Medica, and Index Copernicus, as well as the Chinese Science Citation Database (CSCD).

AIMS AND SCOPE

CJNM encompasses research not only on traditional natural medicines derived from plants, animals, and minerals (such as TCM), but also on bioactive substances of human origin, including active metabolites, cells, cytokines, microbes, and antibodies. The journal publishes work in the following areas:

Resources of Traditional Chinese Medicines: Investigations into the sourcing and authentication of TCM materials.

Interaction and Complexity of Prescriptions: Studies exploring synergistic effects and complex interactions among components in multi-compound formulations.

Natural Products Chemistry: Research on structural modification, semi- and total synthesis, biosynthesis, and biotransformation. Manuscripts must present novel bioactive compounds with fully elucidated absolute configurations and validated biological activities.

Pharmacology of Natural Products and Prescriptions: Submissions must demonstrate significant novelty and incorporate a complete and rigorous validation system using both in vivo and in vitro models. Manuscripts should meet the scientific and methodological standards expected of submissions to international journals with an impact factor of 8 or higher.

Pharmaceutics and Analytical Methods: Development of novel delivery systems and analytical techniques for natural products.

Expanded Natural Medicines: Research on endogenous bioactive substances, including mechanistic and functional studies, as well as investigations in metabolic bionics, bioinformatics, and novel analytical methodologies.

Manuscripts should be submitted via the online system: https://www.editorialmanager.com/cjnm/

TYPES OF ARTICLES

• Original research papers
• Review articles (mini reviews and comprehensive reviews)
• Editorials

BASIC RULES FOR PUBLICATION

Manuscripts will be considered for publication in CJNM only if they meet the following applicable criteria:

Ethical Considerations

Submission to CJNM indicates that the work is original, has not been published, and is not under simultaneous consideration elsewhere. To uphold scientific integrity, studies focusing on a single species must be presented in a single, comprehensive manuscript rather than divided across multiple publications. Manuscripts based on conference proceedings are acceptable.

Focus on Isolation of Bioactive Compounds

CJNM places particular emphasis on the discovery and characterization of bioactive natural products. Manuscripts in this area must report compounds that hold clear scientific relevance. The journal welcomes studies in the following areas:

Structurally Novel Compounds: The identification of new chemical entities is a priority. Complete structural characterization, including absolute configuration, and confirmation of biological function are required.

Mechanistically or Clinically Relevant Compounds: Studies involving known compounds are also welcome, provided they offer significant new insights, such as novel mechanisms of action or relevance to traditional medicines and clinical applications.

Standards for Pharmacological and Clinical Studies

CJNM publishes high-quality biological, pharmacological, and clinical investigations. Submissions must meet the following standards of scientific rigor:

1. Extract Characterization and Material Basis

Chemical Profiling: Spectroscopic (e.g., NMR, MS) and/or chromatographic (e.g., HPLC) profiles analyses, including identification of major peaks.

Quantitative Analysis: Data on the concentrations of bioactive or representative constituents to establish a clear material basis for observed effects.

2. Experimental Design and Methodology:

Rigor and Completeness: Experimental designs must be robust, integrating both in vitro and in vivo models to ensure comprehensive assessment.

Diverse Methodologies: Mechanistic studies must utilize a broad range of validated methods. Techniques such as RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence are considered indispensable for elucidating molecular pathways.

3. Mechanistic Depth and Innovation:

Beyond Phenomenology: Mere descriptions of pharmacological effects are insufficient. The manuscript must elucidate a specific and detailed pharmacological mechanism of action.

Innovation: The proposed mechanism should be novel or contribute substantially to the understanding of the therapeutic potential of the studied material.

Standards for Analytical Studies

CJNM seeks to publish high-impact analytical research that introduces innovative methodologies or offers significant advances to address key challenges in natural product research. Routine analytical studies fall outside the journal’s scope. All submissions must include a complete and reproducible description of the methodology, comprehensive validation data (including reference compound purity, recovery rates, and robust statistical analysis), and a thorough comparison with existing technologies. For metabolomics research, we require that methods be validated, metabolite identification be comprehensive and accurate, and, crucially, that the biological function of key differential metabolites be experimentally verified. Accepted studies should provide a strong foundation and reference for future scientific investigations.

LANGUAGE AND MANUSCRIPT CONTENTS

1. Language

All manuscripts must be written in English. Manuscripts with poor language quality will be returned to authors without peer review.

2. Manuscript contents

Manuscripts must be prepared in Microsoft Word format to facilitate formatting and editing. Depending on the study type, they should include the following sections: Title, Authors and Affiliations, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Acknowledgements, Conflict of Interest, and References.

The first /Title page must include the manuscript title, full names and institutional affiliations of all authors, and the contact information of the corresponding author, including postal address, telephone and FAX numbers, and e-mail address.

1) Title: The title should clearly and precisely reflect the main content of the study. Non-informative expressions, such as “a study of”, “investigations of”, and “observations on,” as well as non-standard abbreviations, should be avoided. Authors are encouraged to use searchable scientific terms in the title that enhance visibility and discoverability.

2) Authors: Full names of all contributing authors must be listed. Only individuals who have made an intellectual contribution to the work should be included in the author list. All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript. The corresponding author should be indicated with an asterisk. Only one contact corresponding author should be identified for communication with the editorial office of the journal.

3) Abstract: The abstract must NOT reference figures, tables, equations, or citations from the main text. It should be less than 250 words and provide a concise summary of the background and objective, methods, key results, and conclusion of the presented study, without subheadings. Authors are advised to use relevant scientific terms that facilitate retrieval through search engines.

4) Keywords: A total of 5−8 keywords should be provided. The careful selection of keywords enhances the visibility of the article.

5) Introduction: The Introduction section should be concise yet comprehensive, clearly stating the background, rationale, hypothesis, and the novelty and significance of the study. Listing of experimental results in this section should be avoided.

6) Materials and Methods: This section should provide sufficient details to permit replication by experienced researchers. Plant materials must be authenticated by a qualified botanist. Information regarding solvents and chemical reagents should include the manufacturer, grade and batch number. For animal studies, the species, strains, source, and housing conditions should be specified. Vendor information should be provided for all instruments, materials, and supplies. Experimental methods should be described thoroughly and properly cited.

7) Results: The Results section should be presented in a concise and logically structured manner, supported by high-resolution figures (minimum 600 dpi) and well-organized tables. Data reliability should be substantiated by methodological validation and coherent interpretation of the new findings. Statistical results must be presented within figures and tables. Figure and table legends should be sufficiently informative to allow interpretation without reference to the main text.

8) Discussion: This section should interpret and contextualize the findings in relation to existing literature, highlighting their significance in the relevant scientific domain. Any proposed hypotheses or speculations must be directly supported by the study’s data. The Discussion section should remain focused and concise, with all key claims appropriately referenced.

9) Acknowledgements: This section includes funding sources and acknowledges individuals or institutions that contributed to the research but do not meet authorship criteria, such as those providing technical assistance or editorial support.

10) Conflict of Interest: This section discloses any potential financial or personal conflicts of interest. Full disclosure is required.

11) References: References must be formatted according to the journal’s style guidelines. Citations of unpublished data or personal communications should be avoided.

REFERENCE EXAMPLES

Reference style: CJNM adheres to the American Medical Association (AMA) reference style. Citations must be indicated in the text using superscript Arabic numerals in the order of appearance. For detailed formatting rules, please consult the AMA Manual of Style, 11th Edition.

Examples:

1. Van der Geer J, Handgraaf T, Lupton RA. The art of writing a scientific article. J Sci Commun. 2020;163:51-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sc.2020.00372

2. Van der Geer J, Handgraaf T, Lupton RA. The art of writing a scientific article. Heliyon. 2022;19:e00205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e00205

3. Strunk W Jr, White EB. The Elements of Style. 4th ed. New York, NY: Longman; 2000.

PEER REVIEW AND REVISION OF MANUSCRIPTS

All submissions undergo peer review by CJNM editors and at least two anonymous reviewers with expertise in the relevant field. If revisions are requested, the manuscript, along with reviewer comments, will be returned to the authors. Revised manuscripts should be resubmitted within two months. The editorial office reserves the right to make editorial amendments to improve clarity, style, or formatting.

PUBLICATION CHARGES

Authors are responsible for publication costs

◆ Page charges: ￥800 per printed page for accepted manuscripts.

◆ Payment information:

Recipient: China Pharmaceutical University

　　　   Account number: 4301011019001029831

　　　   SWIFT BIC(s): ICBKCNBJNJG

◆ Timely payment is required. Failure to remit fees may result in delays in publication.

COPYRIGHT

The copyright of all published articles in CJNM is held by China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China. Authors must complete and submit a copyright transfer agreement to the Editorial Office of CJNM before publication.