Recent Developments in Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Herbal Extracts: A Review
Rashmi Mohapatra
Department of Botany, School of Comparative Indic Studies and Tribal Science, Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha – 751024, India.
P. Jabeena Begum
Department of Botany, Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women (SIET College) (Autonomous), Teynampet, Chennai-600018, Tamil Nadu, India.
D. A. Shahira Banu *
Department of Botany, Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women (SIET College) (Autonomous), Teynampet, Chennai-600018, Tamil Nadu, India.
V. Sampath
Department of Biochemistry, Sri Sankara Arts and Science College (Autonomous) Enathur, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, 631 561, India.
Jaiminee Jhankar
Department of Botany, School of Comparative Indic Studies and Tribal Science, Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha-751024, India.
Damayanti Giri
Department of Zoology, School of Comparative Indic Studies and Tribal Science, Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha-751024, India.
S. Alagendran
Department of Biochemistry, Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Agriculture College, (Affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-3) Perambalur -621212, Tamil Nadu, India.
Gabriela Fernández Saavedra
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, University City, C.P. 04510, Coyoacán, México.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Herbal extracts provide a rich reservoir of bioactive molecules with notable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, driven by phytochemicals such as polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, alkaloids, saponins, and polysaccharides that influence oxidative and inflammatory cascades through ROS neutralization, cytokine reduction, and modulation of NF-κB, COX, LOX, and MAPKs. Modern green extraction approaches ultrasound-assisted, microwave-assisted, and supercritical CO₂ techniques have enhanced recovery, purity, and stability of functional constituents. Analytical platforms including HPLC, LC-MS/MS, FTIR, and NMR now support reliable phytochemical profiling and standardization. Experimental evidence shows consistent declines in lipid peroxidation, inflammatory mediators, and oxidative injury across multiple in vitro and in vivo models, while nanoformulations such as nanoemulsions, nanoparticles, liposomes, and phytosomes markedly boost bioavailability and therapeutic impact. Clinical findings reveal improved antioxidant enzyme levels and balanced cytokine responses, though uncertainties remain regarding optimal dosing, duration, and herb–drug interactions. Integration of metabolomics, multi-omics tools, and AI-driven phytochemical screening is accelerating the discovery of novel compounds and advancing personalized herbal therapeutics. Rising nutraceutical demand underscores both the commercial and biomedical value of these extracts, positioning them as promising multifunctional agents for mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation and encouraging deeper scientific and clinical evaluation.
Keywords: Herbal extracts, phytochemicals, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory pathways, nanoformulations, clinical efficacy, metabolomics