Journal profile · Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Journal of Natural Medicines
ISSN 1340-3443 · eISSN 1861-0293 · Springer Singapore · JAPAN · Quarterly · Founded 2006
Journal of Natural Medicines: CAS Zone 4 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.62; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,590; median 74 days to acceptance (107 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: fairly easy; 110 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Journal of Natural Medicines is published by Springer Singapore and is in Zone 4 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Natural product bioactivities and synthesis, Phytochemistry and Biological Activities and Pharmacological Effects of Natural Compounds, together about 33.8% of its articles. Its main subfields are Molecular Biology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
The Journal of Natural Medicines is an international journal publishing original research in naturally occurring medicines and their related foods and cosmetics. It covers: chemistry of natural productsbiochemistry of medicinal plantspharmacology of natural products and herbs, including Kampo formulas and traditional herbsbotanical anatomycultivation of medicinal plantsregulatory sciences of herbal medicines. The journal accepts Original Papers, Notes, Rapid Communications and Natural Resource Letters. Reviews and Mini-Reviews are generally invited. Of the papers published in each volume of the Journal of Natural Medicines, approximately three will be chosen by members of the Selection Committee as the Journal of Natural Medicines Award.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Editor-in-chief Toshio MorikawaPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 9 in mainland China (about 17%); most named Japan 31, Mainland China 9, United States 3, South Korea 2, Malaysia 2 (54 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Natural product bioactivities and synthesisBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology16.7%
- Phytochemistry and Biological ActivitiesAgricultural and Biological Sciences11.6%
- Pharmacological Effects of Natural CompoundsPharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics5.6%
- Phytochemicals and Antioxidant ActivitiesMedicine4.6%
- Traditional and Medicinal Uses of AnnonaceaeBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.5%
- Phytochemical compounds biological activitiesBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology4.4%
- Traditional Chinese Medicine AnalysisMedicine3.9%
- Ginseng Biological Effects and ApplicationsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology3.9%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Medicinal | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Medicinal | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Medicine Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Medicinal | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
MEDLINEEmbaseCASCAB AbstractsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, AGRICOLA, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 2.62LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 2.6Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 5.2LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.48LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.87LetPub ·
- h-index
- 37LetPub ·
- h-index
- 71OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 1,332OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 2.38OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 3.8%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 17.96%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 105LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 420,300Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 2,093 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 104 | 18 | 27 |
| 2025 | 110 | 32 | 213 |
| 2024 | 99 | 21 | 505 |
| 2023 | 94 | 23 | 732 |
| 2022 | 84 | 25 | 818 |
| 2021 | 120 | 34 | 1,658 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
74 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 56 days – 107 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 32 days (107 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 110 days
- Sample
- 107 articles with submission and acceptance dates (233 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- 6–12 weeksLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- Fairly easyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 5 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,590 / EUR 3,690 / GBP 2,990 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers3, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 200–250 words
- Keywords
- 4–6
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
- Graphical abstract
- Required
Article types accepted7
- editorialBefore preparation of your manuscript, read the 'Instructions for Authors' carefully. We will not accept manuscripts that do not comply with these instructions.…Length not stated
- mini-reviews(v) Mini-Reviews: These provide a short overview of a particular subject.Length not stated
- natural resource letters(vi) Natural Resource Letters: Natural Resource Letters are reports on biological screening data, field observations, market surveys, quality evaluation or quan…Length not stated
- notes(ii) Notes: Notes are brief articles reporting new facts and/or valuable data.Length not stated
- original papers(i) Original Papers: Original Papers are the usual form of publication of this journal describing original experimental results.Length not stated
- rapid communications(iii) Rapid Communications: These are short preliminary reports of novel and significant findings that merit urgent publication.Length not stated
- reviews(iv) Reviews: Reviews cover recent discoveries or topics of current interest.Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Criteria of Authorship
Authorship should be based on the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICJME) recommendations concerning authorship. All authors are required to meet the following 4 criteria: Substantial contribution to the conception or design of the work; or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; ANDDrafting the work or vising it critically for important intellectual c…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Competing Interests
Authors are requested to disclose interests that are directly or indirectly related to the work submitted for publication. Interests within the last 3 years of beginning the work (conducting the research and preparing the work for submission) should be reported. Interests outside the 3-year time frame must be disclosed if they could reasonably be perceived as influencing the submitted work. Disclo…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Plagiarism screening software may be used. Model summary
Important note: the journal may use software to screen for plagiarism.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
Open Choice articles retain copyright with the author under a Creative Commons license. Model summary
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Journal of Natural Medicines, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review
Peer review by at least two referees; Editorial Board decides acceptance. Model summary
Acceptance of papers will be decided by the Editorial Board after examination by at least two referees.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer Singapore
- Country or region
- JAPAN
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Quarterly
- Founded
- 2006
- ISSN
- 1340-3443
- Electronic ISSN
- 1861-0293
- Society / sponsor
- Japanese Society of Pharmacognosy
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 80, Issue 5 (September 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Journal of Natural Medicines
What CAS zone is Journal of Natural Medicines in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Journal of Natural Medicines is in Zone 4 of Medicine, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Chemistry, Medicinal / Pharmacology & Pharmacy. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 4 of Medicine. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Journal of Natural Medicines?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2.62; CiteScore 5.2, h-index 71.
How long does peer review take at Journal of Natural Medicines?
Based on the dates recorded on 107 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 74 days (interquartile range 56–107 days); authors report an average review time of 6–12 weeks; the community-reported acceptance is “Fairly easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Journal of Natural Medicines?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 200–250 words; Keywords: 4–6; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Suggested reviewers: Optional; Graphical abstract: Required. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Journal of Natural Medicines based?
Of the 54 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 9 (about 17%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Japan (31), Mainland China (9) and United States (3). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Journal of Natural Medicines?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Journal of Natural Medicines is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists MEDLINE, Embase, CAS and CAB Abstracts; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Journal of Natural Medicines open access, and what is the APC?
Journal of Natural Medicines is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,590.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .