Unlocking the Power of Therapeutic Synergy: A Comprehensive Review of Complementary Alliances Between Synthetic Drugs And Natural Compounds

Abstract

Therapeutic synergy refers to the enhanced pharmacological effects that result from combining synthetic drugs with naturally occurring bioactive compounds found in nature. Recently, multidrug-resistant bacterial infections have become increasingly concerning, prompting efforts to eliminate these pathogens that pose a significant threat to human health. In treating other diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues, single synthetic drugs are becoming less effective each day. To address these various challenges in therapeutics, a synergistic drug system stands out as the most significant and conclusive formulation according to current pharmaceuticals.  In modern pharmacotherapy, this combination heralds a new era.  In contemporary medicine, the development of multi-targeted medications, which integrate synthetic compounds and bioactive natural substances, yields improved clinical outcomes with lower doses, fewer adverse effects, and reduced resistance. Therapeutic synergy is proposed to be more effective in treating cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and  infectious diseases.  The pharmacokinetic interactions of the drugs facilitate easier absorption, metabolism, and bioavailability, enabling them to target receptors, enzymes, or ion channels more effectively, as well as modulating resistance pathways, including the inhibition of efflux pumps and disruption of biofilms. This is exemplified by the enhanced bioavailability of piperine and curcumin, as well as the flavonoid-mediated sensitisation of antibiotics. Furthermore, recent advances in omics technology, systems biology, and artificial intelligence have accelerated the identification and mechanistic understanding of such interactions. Therefore, there is a massive opportunity to treat various deadly diseases effectively and sustainably by developing synergistic drugs in future pharmacology and pharmacokinetics. Thus, the present article aims to categorise, analyse, and provide expertise on combination drug therapy to develop medicines for future pharmacology, thereby improving human health and addressing disease conditions.