Exploring the concept and scope of polyherbal formulations: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Polyherbal formulations (PHFs) are gaining popularity among modern and traditional medicine due to their advantage in combining the therapeutic properties of many plant species, which may often present increased efficacy, diminished toxicity, and reduced adverse effects. These formulations incorporate two or more herbs, where each is chosen for the pharmacological action, it represents that is complementary to those presented by the other formulation constituents. The bioactive compounds in PHFs can interact synergistically and cause increased therapeutic effects than single-herb formulations. This review conceptually, compositionally, and mechanistically discusses the concept of synergy in PHFs with comparison to single-herb formulations in terms of broader therapeutic applications, efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness. PHFs have been promising in wound healing, microbial infection management, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer. This outcome reiterates the importance of polyherbal formulations, being valuable holistic therapy especially in diseases complex and multifactorial in origin.