Pharmacological Activities of Phytomedicines: A Challenge Horizon for Rational Knowledge

Herbal drugs have been widely used throughout the course of history. Traditional knowledge based on religious beliefs and/or experience has been transmitted orally between generations. First attempts to provide scientific evidence came in the 19th century when potent compounds were first isolated. S...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Challenges (Basel) 2018-06, Vol.9 (1), p.15
Main Authors: Rodríguez Villanueva, Javier, Martín Esteban, Jorge, Rodríguez Villanueva, Laura
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bioassays
Biological activity
Chinese medicine
Clinical trials
Drugs
Gene expression
Herbal medicine
Herbs
Information processing
Medical research
Pharmacology
Phytotherapy
Plant extracts
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Summary:Herbal drugs have been widely used throughout the course of history. Traditional knowledge based on religious beliefs and/or experience has been transmitted orally between generations. First attempts to provide scientific evidence came in the 19th century when potent compounds were first isolated. Since then, modern pharmacology theory has been assumed by phytotherapy. Scientists have tried to elucidate the molecular mechanism of each compound and, for a pharmacological indication, propose an effective and secure dose. Stepwise, clinical trials confirm the benefits of herbal drug use in therapeutics, especially for chronic diseases. However, herbal drugs exert pleiotropic effects, and there is still a need for a complete, rational, and widely accepted theory that can explain phytotherapy efficacy. The “-omics” might help with this matter. Studies of modification in the gene expression profile, the metabolome, and the physiopathological state after the administration of a herbal extract could provide relevant information that verifies herbal therapies.
ISSN:2078-1547
2078-1547
DOI:10.3390/challe9010015