Herbal diets: Directions for improving health and wellness

Herbal diets, rooted in ancient traditions and practices, are now increasingly recognized for their potential health and medicinal purposes. Beyond their seasoning qualities, the interest in herbs has dramatically resurged over the past few years (Salm et al., 2023). Evidence highlights their richness in bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, tannins, phytochemicals, phenolic diterpenes, and sulfur-containing compounds that are popularly attributed to cure and manage many ailments due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and palliative properties (Charneca et al., 2023). Globally, the rise of metabolic diseases and age-related degenerative disorders is very alarming, and it is closely attributed to increased oxidative stress. In addition to synthetic drugs and targeted therapies, extensive research is in progress to validate the antioxidant capacity of traditional herbal-infused diets parallel to clinical trials to test their efficacy on markers of oxidation (Santos et al., 2023).

Integration of traditional knowledge and modern science

One of the most promising trends in herbal diets is integrating traditional knowledge with the current science. Herbal decoctions are widely consumed in conventional medicine; however, the knowledge of their use is limited. Tomou et al. (2023) investigated the consumption of herbal decoctions in Greece and concluded that the consumption is low among adults, which the study attributed to a generation gap. However, there's an increase in the ongoing research on herbal diets. A recent study testing the Hachimijiogan (HJG), one of the Japanese Kampo medicines on mice, revealed that it could potentially prevent diet-induced obesity and insulin sensitivity modulation (Kagawa et al., 2023). In addition, Ginseng, another traditional ingredient in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean medicine, has been commonly used for its potential benefits, such as its rich antioxidant capacity, B vitamins, trace minerals, volatile oils, and sterols. Studies have shown that Ginseng stimulates the nervous system and helps the body metabolize substances such as lactic acid and pyruvic acid produced under stress. In addition, it helps to improve physical and mental performance in a stressful situation (Potenza et al., 2023).

Targeted therapy and herbal combinations

Recent research has focused on elucidating the health benefits of specific herbs and herbal combinations. Ginger extracted from Zingiber officinale Roscoe is known to treat gastroenteritis dyspepsia, and it is also essential for chemotherapeutic patients (Zhao et al., 2023). A recently conducted systematic review revealed that ginger extract or combination therapy can benefit colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. It works antagonistically against metastasis of CRC cells by regulating cell signaling pathways such as Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), MAPK, PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, p53, and VEGF (Xiang et al., 2024). Similarly, Saeedifar et al. (2023) deduced that ginger shows antiproliferative properties on CRC cells.

Technological developments are also promoting innovation in the development of herbal products. For example, nanotechnology is being employed to improve the effectiveness and bioavailability of herbal extracts (Anand et al., 2023). One challenge is the limited solubility in water, which results in low bioavailability and might attribute herbs to low therapeutic applications. A new delivery system, “nanohydrogels,” is under research to maximize bioavailability, stability, pharmacological activities, and the activity of effective bioactive compounds (Lestari et al., 2023).

Curcumin, a natural bioactive derived from turmeric, exhibits anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. CHA-CUR nanohydrogels ensure sustained drug release under certain physiological conditions (Iranshahy et al., 2023). In addition, pH-responsive drugs deduced from herbs such as Mentha spicata, an antibacterial and anticancer drug, also exhibit better effects when combined with nanocomposite hydrogels (Fathi et al., 2023).

Future implications

Corroborating standardization and herb identification is essential to implementing efficient quality control procedures. Establishing constant and dependable concentrations of active ingredients or indicators in herbal medicine products is the first step toward standardizing and identifying herbs (Wang et al., 2023). This may entail methods like particular chemical assays, spectroscopy (UV-Vis, IR), or chromatography (HPLC, GC) (Chen et al., 2023).

The future of the herbal diet is both promising and challenging. In addition to dosage standardization, one area under consideration for further research is the development of personalized herbal treatments based on individual genetic makeup and health status. Advances in genomics and metabolomics are paving a new way to identify risk markers that can help predict individuals’ responses to herbal diets.