Guidelines for Authors

Manuscript Preparation Guidelines

Submitted manuscripts to the International Journal of Natural Products and Alternative Medicine (IJNPAM) should adhere to basic standards for readability and clarity to ensure proper interpretation by the Editorial team. Manuscripts failing to meet these criteria will be returned to the authors.

Article Types & Format

Original/Research Articles

These articles present unpublished data, offering detailed explanations of methods, methodologies, and investigation results supported by evidence.

Sections typically include:

Introduction: Identifies the research aim and rationale for the study.

Methods: Describes applied methods, study design, and participant selection details.

Results: Presents research findings.

Conclusions: Addresses implications for clinical practice, alternative treatments, or health policy.

Review Articles

Comprehensive literature reviews of published data, discussing significant research topics, advances, and progress over time in natural products and alternative medicine.

Case Reports

Descriptions of clinical condition symptoms, signs, diagnosis, and treatment methods, often featuring novel cases, and including relevant literature reviews.

Editorials

Short articles, often written by editors or editorial staff, providing insight into important topics or recent developments in the fields of natural products and alternative medicine.

Commentaries

Discussions of research topics, addressing challenges or proposing solutions related to natural products and alternative medicine.

Corrigendum

Rectifications or adjustments due to author errors after publication.

Expert Opinion

Articles written by field experts offering perspectives on the advancement of knowledge, research, and practice in natural products and alternative medicine.

Letters to the Editor

Addressed to the Editor-in-Chief, these letters may express agreement, disagreement, criticism, or praise for previously published articles, or provide corrections for perceived errors.

Perspective Articles

Authors' personal viewpoints on issues related to the journal’s scope, particularly on current trends, challenges, or advancements in natural products and alternative medicine.

Manuscript Structure

Cover Letter, Title Page, Abstract and Keywords, Manuscript Text, Figures and Tables, Acknowledgments, References.

Cover Letter

A letter addressed to the Editor-in-Chief or Special Issue editor, including:

  • Article title.
  • Reasons for choosing International Journal of Natural Products and Alternative Medicine (IJNPAM for publication.
  • A statement of submission agreement (e.g., no multiple or duplicate submissions).
  • Conference presentation details (if applicable).
  • Article type and relevance to the journal's scope.

Title Page

The title page should include:

  • Full article title (maximum 130 characters).
  • Running title (maximum 75 characters).
  • List of authors' names and institutional affiliations.
  • Corresponding author’s contact information.
  • Clinical trial registry or grant details (if applicable).
  • Manuscript word count.

Abstract and Keywords

A concise abstract (maximum 300 words) outlining:

  • Rationale and objectives.
  • Key findings and conclusions.
  • 3-5 keywords listed alphabetically.

Abbreviations

Use standard abbreviations and define nonstandard ones upon first use in the abstract and main text. Avoid abbreviations in the title. Definitions for abbreviations used in tables/figures should be included in the corresponding figure legends.

Manuscript Text

Organized based on article type and study requirements. References should be indicated by superscript numbers at the end of the relevant statements.

Figures and Tables

  • Figures and tables must be numbered according to their citation order in the text.
  • Tables should be placed after the references section.
  • Figures should be submitted as separate files in high resolution (.jpg or .png format).
  • Figure legends must provide clear explanations of figure parts and reference numbers.

Conflicts of Interest

A statement regarding any potential conflicts of interest to avoid post-publication discrepancies.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments should include individuals/groups who did not meet authorship criteria but contributed to the research. This section should also include medical writing experts, funding sources, and conference details (if applicable). Written consent is required for those included.

References

  • Authors should ensure accuracy and completeness of all references.
  • References should be listed on a separate page, double-spaced, and numbered consecutively.
  • References in the text, tables, and legends should be indicated with Arabic numerals in parentheses.
  • Journal names should be abbreviated according to Index Medicus/Medline.
  • Unpublished studies should be marked as "in press," with the publication status noted.

Tables

Prepared using Word Table tools; no duplicate data from the text. Tables should be numbered in order of citation and should follow the main reference list order for any references within them.

Figure Legends

Figure legends should be included at the end of the manuscript, providing clear explanations for each figure and ensuring that references within the legends are numbered according to the figure citation order in the main text.

Figures and Illustrations

  • Figures should be numbered according to their citation order in the text.
  • Figures should be submitted as separate high-resolution files in .jpg or .png format.
  • Clinical photographs should have patient identification masked or include signed consent for publication.

Supplementary Materials

Supporting online content or supplementary material should be provided for applicable sections.

Submission Process

  • Authors should first ensure their article aligns with the scope and theme of IJNPAM. For quicker review, submitting an abstract prior to full manuscript submission is encouraged.
  • Submissions can be made via the online submission system or by email in .docx or .pdf format.
  • Submissions should include:
  • Cover letter.
  • Full manuscript.
  • Figures and tables (as separate files).
  • Supplementary materials, if applicable.
  • All manuscripts must be exclusively submitted to IJNPAM and should not be under consideration elsewhere.
  • Authors may suggest external reviewers during submission.
  • Manuscripts will undergo an initial quality check for duplicate submissions or plagiarism. Accepted articles will then be sent for peer review (approximately 4-6 weeks).

By following these guidelines, authors ensure a smooth submission process and improve the likelihood of their work being accepted for publication in IJNPAM.