Medicinal Plant Research 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 85-96 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 85 Research Report Open Access Clinical Applications and Safety of Aromatic Medicinal Plants: Efficacy Evaluation and Standard Formulation ChunyuLi 1, Jingqiang Wang2 1 Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China 2 Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang Colloge of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: jingqiang.wang@jicat.org Medicinal Plant Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.2 doi: 10.5376/mpr.2024.14.0007 Received: 13 Feb., 2024 Accepted: 18 Mar., 2024 Published: 30 Mar., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Li and Wang, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Li C.Y. and Wang J.Q., 2024, Clinical applications and safety of aromatic medicinal plants: efficacy evaluation and standard formulation, Medicinal Plant Research, 14(2): 85-96 (doi: 10.5376/mpr.2024.14.0007) Abstract Aromatic medicinal plants are widely used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and the food industry due to their various therapeutic properties, with essential oils demonstrating notable antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities. This study explores the clinical applications and efficacy of aromatic medicinal plants, aiming to standardize formulations to ensure consistency and safety in their use. The results show that the volatile organic compounds in aromatic plants exhibit significant potential in treating various diseases, though their safety requires further in-depth evaluation. By compiling data from multiple sources, including the AromaDb database, the study provides a valuable reference for the therapeutic potential of aromatic medicinal plants. While the clinical applications of these plants hold great promise, their practical use depends on further scientific validation and the improvement of standardization processes. This study offers a theoretical basis for the safe and effective application of aromatic medicinal plants in both medicine and industry. Keywords Aromatic medicinal plants; Essential oils; Clinical applications; Anti-inflammatory effects; Standardization; Safety 1 Introduction Aromatic medicinal plants have been utilized for centuries across various cultures for their therapeutic properties. These plants produce essential oils, which are complex mixtures of volatile compounds synthesized as secondary metabolites. Essential oils are known for their diverse applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food industries, and agriculture due to their antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic, insecticidal, anticancer, neuroprotective, psychophysiological, and anti-aging activities (Kumar et al., 2018). The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in these plants are responsible for their distinctive aromas and have significant pharmacological and therapeutic potentials (Zouaoui et al., 2020). Historically, aromatic medicinal plants have played a crucial role in traditional medicine systems worldwide. For instance, plants like frankincense, myrrh, ginger, and turmeric have been used for their health-promoting properties, including protection from and alleviation of various ailments (Kieliszek et al., 2020). In North African drylands, local populations have long utilized aromatic and medicinal plants in traditional medicine and culinary practices (Zouaoui et al., 2020). The use of these plants in traditional medicine underscores their importance and the need for scientific validation of their therapeutic benefits. Understanding the clinical applications and safety of aromatic medicinal plants is vital for several reasons. These plants are a rich source of bioactive compounds that can be harnessed for developing novel therapeutic agents. For example, antioxidants in certain aromatic plants have shown radioprotective efficacy by scavenging free radicals produced due to radiation exposure (Samarth et al., 2017). However, the safety profile of these plants needs thorough evaluation to ensure their safe use in various formulations. The complex nature of essential oils and their interaction with human genes affecting cell signaling pathways necessitates a comprehensive understanding of their pharmacokinetics, toxicological, and ecological properties (Kumar et al., 2018).
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