Ethnopharmacology, Herbal Therapeutics, Green Extraction
Keywords:
Ethnopharmacology, Indigenous knowledge, Therapeutic agents, Herbal medicine, Green extraction, Phytoconstituents.Abstract
Ethnopharmacology is a multidisciplinary scientific field that analyses the traditional use of medicinal plants and natural substances by indigenous cultures for the prevention and treatment of diseases. Traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda, African traditional medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine continue to contribute considerably to modern drug discovery by playing a crucial role in the healthcare industry. Due to their therapeutic potential, lower side effects, and cultural acceptance compared to synthetic drugs, herbal therapeutics are globally recognised as they are derived directly or indirectly from plants. Bioactive phytoconstituents, including alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, glycosides, compounds that exhibit multiple pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic and immunomodulatory effects, are used in Herbal Therapeutics. However, standardisation, safety, regulatory approval, and sustainability are still questioned. The compounds that are obtained directly from nature need to be extracted, and here comes the green extraction process. Green extraction is an eco-friendly and sustainable method to isolate bioactive compounds from natural sources. The main focus of green extraction is to produce high-quality herbal extract safely and efficiently. Advanced methods such as microwave-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and pressurised liquid extraction are now widely accepted in herbal drug development. This review discusses the concepts of ethnopharmacology, principles of green extraction technology, the therapeutic importance of medicinal plants, applications in the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory considerations, current challenges, and future perspectives. It also features the importance of sustainable healthcare practices and incorporating traditional knowledge with modern scientific approaches.
