Anti-inflammatory Phytochemical Investigations in Medicinal Plants

Medicinal plants have long been recognised as reservoirs of bioactive compounds capable of modulating inflammatory pathways. Contemporary research has focused on isolating and characterising classes of phytochemicals—including phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids and lignans—and assessing their capacity to inhibit key inflammatory mediators. In vitro cell‐based assays commonly measure suppression of nitric oxide release, cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, and down-regulation of inducible enzymes like cyclooxygenase-2 and nitric oxide synthase. Radical‐scavenging assays (DPPH, ABTS) complement cellular models by quantifying antioxidant potential, while in vivo models confirm efficacy in reducing oedema and tissue damage. Mechanistic studies have revealed that many plant‐derived compounds exert effects via blockade of nuclear factor-κB activation and modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades. Advances in chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques have accelerated discovery, enabling the profiling of complex extracts and the identification of minor yet potent constituents. The global significance of this field lies in its contribution to sustainable drug discovery, valorisation of agro-industrial by-products and development of low-cost therapeutics for inflammatory disorders.

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Anti-inflammatory Phytochemical Investigations in Medicinal Plants publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in anti-inflammatory phytochemical investigations in medicinal plants across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Phytochemical: Secondary metabolite produced by plants, often responsible for therapeutic effects.

Flavonoid: A class of polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties.

Nitric oxide (NO) inhibition assay: Cellular test measuring reduction of NO, a mediator of inflammation, by candidate compounds.

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB): A transcription factor that regulates expression of pro-inflammatory genes.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2): An inducible enzyme that catalyses prostaglandin synthesis during inflammatory responses.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs): A family of signalling proteins that mediate cellular responses to stress and inflammation.

References

1. Phytochemical profile and anti-inflammatory activity of the hull of γ-irradiated wheat mutant lines (Triticum aestivum L.). Frontiers in Nutrition (2023).
2. Sedum aizoon L.: a review of its history, traditional uses, nutritional value, botany, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology, and quality control. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2024).
3. Profiling the Phytochemicals of Orostachys margaritifolia: Biological Activities, LC-ESI/MS, and HPLC Analyses. Pharmaceuticals (2024).