Journal profile · Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Phytomedicine
ISSN 0944-7113 · eISSN 1618-095X · Urban und Fischer Verlag Jena · GERMANY · Bimonthly · Founded 1994
Phytomedicine: CAS Zone 1 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 11.24; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,630; median 135 days to acceptance (164 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: about 25%; 1,379 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Phytomedicine is published by Urban und Fischer Verlag Jena and is in Zone 1 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Traditional Chinese Medicine Analysis, Natural product bioactivities and synthesis and Pharmacological Effects of Natural Compounds, together about 22.5% of its articles. Its main subfields are Molecular Biology. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
International Journal of Phytotherapy and PhytopharmacologyPublished in affiliation with the European Scientific Cooperative On Phytotherapy (ESCOP) Phytomedicine is primarily a therapy-oriented Journal. Phytomedicine publishes innovative studies on efficacy, safety, quality and mechanisms of action of specified plant extracts, phytopharmaceuticals and their isolated constituents. This includes clinical, pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological studies of specified herbal medicinal products, herbal preparations and purified compounds which have a defined and consistent quality assuring reproducible pharmacological activity.Phytomedicine was founded in 1994 to focus and stimulate research in this particular field and to set internationally accepted scientific standards for pharmacological studies, proof of clinical efficacy and safety of phytomedicines.The main aims of Phytomedicine are associated with the integration of phytopreparations into conventional/official medicine.The journal covers the following sections:Clinical pharmacology and toxicology (randomized, placebo controlled, double blind, and observational open label studies)Behavioural, mental, affective, and stress-associated disordersAge-associated disordersNeuropharmacologyEndocrine pharmacologyMetabolic syndrome and obesityCancerImmunopharmacology, inflammationInfectious diseasesPulmonary, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and urogenital diseasesSystems biologySafety assessment, pre-clinical toxicology, interaction with drugs and adverse events of herbal preparationsPharmacokinetic of natural compoundsStandardization of herbal preparationsLegislation of botanicalsInvited reviewsThe directions of Phytomedicine are known to provide profound scientific background in Herbal Medicinal Products, their reproducible Quality and evidence based therapeutic efficacy. Since then quality criteria and standardization methods were defined and the European Medical Agency has elaborated numerous guidelines for the conduction of clinical studies and preparation of Herbal Medicinal Products. In total 107 ESCOP monographs have been produced and submitted to EMA. Many new analytical methods and instruments were implemented both for analysis and standardization of herbal Substances, herbal preparations and their bioassays and tremendous work has been carried out to remain aligned with these intentions during the last 18 years.Nowadays important topics remain to be approached, such as harmonization of the regulatory frameworks in Europe, America, Asia and Australia or the legislation of various "botanicals", where strict differentiation of requirements for health claims of herbal medicinal product, dietary supplements and nutraceuticals are required.Phytomedicine is the companion title to the open access journal Phytomedicine Plus.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Editor-in-chief Thomas EfferthPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 30 in mainland China (about 22%); most named Mainland China 30, United States 26, Germany 16, Hong Kong, China 9, India 9 (135 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Traditional Chinese Medicine AnalysisMedicine10.8%
- Natural product bioactivities and synthesisBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology6.4%
- Pharmacological Effects of Natural CompoundsPharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics5.3%
- Ginseng Biological Effects and ApplicationsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5.3%
- Phytochemistry and Biological ActivitiesAgricultural and Biological Sciences5.1%
- Gut microbiota and healthBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology5%
- Berberine and alkaloids researchMedicine4.6%
- Ferroptosis and cancer prognosisMedicine4.5%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Medicinal | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Integrative & Complementary Medicine | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Plant Sciences | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Plant Sciences | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Medicinal | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Integrative & Complementary Medicine | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Medicine Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Chemistry, Medicinal | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Integrative & Complementary Medicine | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Pharmacology & Pharmacy | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Plant Sciences | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
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
- 11.24LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 11.3Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 13.2LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 13.2Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 2.09LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.86LetPub ·
- h-index
- 105LetPub ·
- h-index
- 179OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 6,700OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 9.24OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 7.1%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 18.47%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 1,328LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 10,037 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,057 | 190 | 788 |
| 2025 | 1,379 | 297 | 10,420 |
| 2024 | 1,005 | 230 | 20,595 |
| 2023 | 674 | 179 | 22,083 |
| 2022 | 709 | 131 | 22,826 |
| 2021 | 483 | 73 | 19,146 |
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 PubMed · to
135 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 101 days – 186 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 2 days (164 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 137 days
- Sample
- 164 articles with submission and acceptance dates (2,837 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)
- about 3 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 25%LetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 16 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 43 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 125 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single 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 3,630 / EUR 3,400 / GBP 2,910 / JPY 450,230 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 4,040 | — | — |
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 papers2, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare7 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 5,000 words
- Reference style
- Harvard
- Highlights
- Optional
- Graphical abstract
- Required
- Cover letter
- Required
Article types accepted3, with length limits
- original paperurnal Phytomedicine Plus. Article types Original papers Articles should not exceed 12-15 typewritten pages or up to 5,000 words, including references, tables an…main text ≤ 5,000 words
- reviewOriginal papersArticles should not exceed 12-15 typewritten pages or up to 5,000 words, including references, tables and figures. Previously reported methods sh…Length not stated
- review articleOriginal papersArticles should not exceed 12-15 typewritten pages or up to 5,000 words, including references, tables and figures. Previously reported methods sh…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Follow Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Single anonymized review process Model summary
This journal follows a single anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of one reviewer for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Rea…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing allowed, does not count as prior publication Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
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
- Urban und Fischer Verlag Jena
- Country or region
- GERMANY
- Language
- German
- Frequency
- Bimonthly
- Founded
- 1994
- ISSN
- 0944-7113
- Electronic ISSN
- 1618-095X
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Phytomedicine
What CAS zone is Phytomedicine in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Phytomedicine is in Zone 1 of Medicine, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Chemistry, Medicinal / Integrative & Complementary Medicine / Pharmacology & Pharmacy / Plant Sciences; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of Medicine. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Phytomedicine?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 11.24; CiteScore 13.2, h-index 179.
How long does peer review take at Phytomedicine?
Based on the dates recorded on 164 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 135 days (interquartile range 101–186 days); authors report an average review time of about 3 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 25%”. 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 Phytomedicine?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Manuscript length: ≤ 5,000 words; Reference style: Harvard; Highlights: Optional; Graphical abstract: Required; Cover letter: 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 Phytomedicine based?
Of the 135 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 30 (about 22%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (30), United States (26) and Germany (16). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Phytomedicine?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Phytomedicine is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Phytomedicine open access, and what is the APC?
Phytomedicine is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,630.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; 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: .