Phytopharmaceuticals and herbal drugs: prospects and safety issues in the delivery of natural products

Abstract

Herbal drugs and their derivatives have been used for centuries in various therapeutic systems worldwide, including the Indian medicinal system, Chinese medicinal system, African medicinal system, Sowa-Rigpa, and others. Traditional medicines have been continued to be a strategic alternative in drug research with their importance in primary healthcare. Uniformity and safety are two crucial issues for increasing phytopharmaceutical adoption in the healthcare community. In this book chapter, we have attempted to explore and discuss various issues related to the safety of phytopharmaceuticals, such as preformulation issues, delivery issues, interaction issues, stability issues, storage issues, etc. Apart from that, regulatory aspects related to phytopharmaceuticals to address the toxicological concerns about herbal medications in emerging nations has also been included. Thus, more immediate actions are also required focusing on monitoring phytopharmaceutical adverse reactions. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.