Anti-Inflammatory Pharmacological Applications of Herbal Compounds

Herbal compounds have emerged as a rich source of anti-inflammatory agents, offering diverse chemical scaffolds such as flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids and terpenoids. These phytochemicals modulate key pathways of the innate immune response, including inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), down-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines and suppression of transcription factors such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate that extracts and isolated constituents can attenuate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage activation, reduce oedema in models of acute inflammation and ameliorate symptoms in chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Advances in formulation technology—such as nano-encapsulation and fermentation—have further enhanced bioavailability and targeted delivery. The global burden of inflammatory disorders and increasing interest in botanical therapeutics have driven interdisciplinary research, linking ethnobotanical knowledge to molecular pharmacology. Practical applications span nutraceuticals, topical preparations for dermatological use and adjunctive treatments in autoimmune diseases, underscoring the potential for safe, cost-effective interventions rooted in traditional medicine yet validated by modern science.

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Anti-Inflammatory Pharmacological Applications of Herbal Compounds publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in anti-inflammatory pharmacological applications of herbal compounds across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signalling pathway: A central transcriptional regulator of genes encoding proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules.

c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK): A stress-activated protein kinase in the MAPK family that mediates inflammatory gene expression and apoptosis.

Macrophages: Innate immune cells that detect pathogens and release inflammatory mediators during an immune response.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS): An enzyme expressed in activated immune cells that generates nitric oxide, a reactive mediator of inflammation.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2): An inducible enzyme that converts arachidonic acid into proinflammatory prostaglandins such as PGE₂.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS): A component of Gram-negative bacterial cell walls commonly used to elicit robust inflammatory responses in experimental models.

References

1. Fermented Sprouts of Codonopsis lanceolata Suppress LPS-Induced Inflammatory Responses by Inhibiting NF-κB Signaling Pathway in RAW 264.7 Macrophages and CD1 Mice. Pharmaceutics (2023).
2. Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Six Flavonoids from Smilax glabra Roxb. Molecules (2020).
3. Astilbin from Smilax glabra Roxb. Attenuates Inflammatory Responses in Complete Freund’s Adjuvant‐Induced Arthritis Rats. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2017).