In the intricate landscape of human health, the microbiota emerges as a pivotal player, particularly within the gastrointestinal tract, orchestrating a delicate equilibrium that underpins our immune system's functionality. Perturbations in this microbial consortia, known as dysbiosis, herald the onset of chronic inflammation, a silent harbinger of a myriad of diseases spanning from inflammatory bowel syndromes to obesity, and extending its shadow even over the domain of mental health. The complex dialogue between microbiota and the immune system, when disrupted, can precipitate an inflammatory cascade, highlighting the critical need for interventions that can restore this delicate balance.

Enter phytotherapy, an ancient yet evolving domain of medical science that harnesses the therapeutic prowess of plant-based compounds. The potential of phytotherapy to modulate the microbiota and mitigate inflammation forms the cornerstone of this special issue. Through the lens of phytotherapy, this issue aims to uncover the molecular dialogues between plant-derived compounds and the microbiota-immune system nexus. Compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and other antioxidants emerge as key players, with their notable anti-inflammatory properties. These phytochemicals can recalibrate the microbiota landscape, fostering the proliferation of beneficial microbes while curtailing the growth of pathogenic counterparts, thereby attenuating inflammation and bolstering the immune response.

This special issue titled ‘Phytotherapy, Microbiota, and Inflammation Mitigation’ is dedicated to unraveling the multifaceted mechanisms through which phytotherapeutic interventions influence microbiota composition and function, and their subsequent effects on inflammatory pathways. It endeavors to forge a comprehensive understanding of the symbiotic relationship between phytotherapy, microbiota modulation, and inflammation mitigation, propelling forward a multidisciplinary dialogue that bridges traditional botanical wisdom with cutting-edge scientific inquiry.

We invite a diverse array of contributions, ranging from original research that sheds light on novel phytotherapeutic mechanisms and their impact on microbiota and inflammation, to extensive reviews that synthesize existing knowledge and identify future research directions. Methodological papers that advance our ability to study these complex interactions, clinical studies that evaluate the efficacy of phytotherapeutic interventions in managing inflammation-related diseases, and brief communications that highlight groundbreaking findings are all welcome.

Through this special issue, we aim to catalyze a scholarly discourse that not only deepens our understanding of phytotherapeutic interventions in the context of microbiota and inflammation but also paves the way for novel therapeutic strategies that harness the power of plants to foster health and combat disease.