Herbal Medicines: From Bench to Bedside

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Mother nature has provided us with a vast array of plants to be utilized as medical remedies. Since ancient times, natural products have been and continue to be a fertile source for the development of novel medicines and therapeutic leads, and various research data conclude that more than 50% of the drugs in the market are derived from natural resources, highlighting the importance of herbal medicine in today's era. Recent research on medicinal plants has led to the rediscovery of long known effects at the cellular and molecular levels. The absence of standardized procedures in older investigations shows up in situations of biological activity. Furthermore, traditional medicines with plant origins may be used as additional treatment alternatives to treat various illnesses. More research is needed for a solid knowledge of the herbal medicine system combined with current science that may enlist functional leads foundation for deadly disease states at preventative, diagnostic, promotive, and curative levels. Due to the many adverse effects of conventional treatment consisting of synthetic drugs, there is a surge in demand for complementary and alternative therapies, mainly herbal botanicals. With the paucity of empirical evidence on the mechanistic routes of herbal medications used till now, the medical world has had difficulty accepting them. As a result, there has been a surge in interest in deciphering the mechanisms of action of herbal compositions. Our work will highlight the various phytochemicals, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, volatile oils, resins, organic acids, amino acids, tannins, proteins, and trace elements polysaccharides present in various plants that can be employed as a treatment option to cure major diseases.