Review: Ethnopharmacology: Bridging Traditional Knowledge and Modern Science
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55544/jrasb.4.3.16Keywords:
Ethnopharmacology, Traditional Knowledge, Modern Science, Therapeutic properties, Future PathsAbstract
Ethnopharmacology, derived from the Greek words "ethno" (people, nation, tribe) and "pharmacology" (study of drugs), examines how human societies utilize natural resources such as plants, fungi, animals, and minerals for medicinal purposes. This field bridges traditional herbal knowledge with modern pharmacological science, aiming to integrate ancient wisdom with contemporary research methods. Ethnopharmacology seeks to document conventional medicine practices, understand cultural uses of natural remedies, and identify potential pharmaceuticals from these sources. It emphasizes ethical use, fair rewards for communities, and integration with modern healthcare. With historical roots in Central and Eastern Europe and influences from Greek and Roman cultures, ethnopharmacology continues to explore the potential for improving global healthcare by linking traditional wisdom with modern science. This review offers a snapshot of the field's achievements and future directions.
Downloads
References
Gopale, O.*, Jethawa, S., & Shelke, S. (2022). Lozenges formulation and evaluation: A review. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, 10(2), 129-134. DOI: [10.22270/ajprd.v10i2.1055](https://doi.org/10.22270/ajprd.v10i2.1055)
Pothu, R., & Yamsani, M.R. (2023). Lozenges formulation and evaluation: A review. International Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Review, DOI: [10.48047/ecb/2023.12.si10.00253](https://doi.org/10.48047/ecb/2023.12.si10.00253)
Lam, R. (2016). Epidemiology and outcomes of traumatic dental injuries: A review of the literature. The Australian Dental Journal, 61(Suppl 1), 4-20. D OI:[10.1111/adj.12395](https://doi.org/10.1111/adj.12395)
Fedorowicz, Z., van Zuuren, E.J., Farman, A.G., Agnihotry, A., & Al-Langawi, J.H. (2013). Antibiotic use for irreversible pulpitis. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 12(12),CD004969.DOI:[10.1002/14651858.CD004969.pub3](https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004 969.pub3)
Renton, T. (2011). Dental (Odontogenic) Pain. Journal of Clinical Dentistry, 5(1), 2–7. DOI: [10.1177/204946371100500102](https://doi.org/10.1177/204946371100500102)
Cortés-Rojas, D.F., de Souza, C.R., & Oliveira, W.P. (2014). Clove (Syzygium aromaticum): A precious spice. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, 4, 90–96. DOI: [10.1016/S2221- 1691(14)60215-X](https://doi.org/10.1016/S2221-1691(14)60215-X)
Shan, B., Cai, Y.Z., Sun, M., & Corke, H. (2005). Antioxidant capacity of 26 spice extracts and characterization of their phenolic constituents. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 53, 7749–7759. DOI: [10.1021/jf051513y](https://doi.org/10.1021/jf051513y)
Neveu, V., Perez-Jiménez, J., Vos, F., Crespy, V., Mennen, L., Knox, C., et al. (2010). Phenol- Explorer: An online comprehensive database on polyphenol contents in foods. Database, 2010. DOI: [10.1093/database/bap024](https://doi.org/10.1093/database/bap024)
Jirovetz, L., Buchbauer, G., Stoilova, I., Stoyanova, A., Krastanov, A., & Schmidt, E. (2006). Chemical composition and antioxidant properties of clove leaf essential oil. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 54, 6303–6307. DOI: [10.1021/jf060608c](https://doi.org/10.1021/jf060608c)
Hastuti, L.T., Saepudin, E., Cahyana, A.H., Rahayu, D.U.C., Murni, V.W., & Haib, J. (2017). The influence of sun drying process and prolonged storage on composition of essential oil from clove buds (Syzygium aromaticum). AIP Conference Proceedings, 1862, 030092. DOI: [10.1063/1.4991196](https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4991196)
Leong-Škornickova, J., Šida, O., Wijesundara, S., & Marhold, K. (2008). On the identity of turmeric: The typification of Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae). Botanical Journal of the 7 Linnean Society, 157(1), 37–46. DOI: [10.1111/j.1095- 8339.2008.00788.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2008.00788.x)
McClatchey, W. (1993). Traditional use of Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae) in Rotuma. Economic Botany, 47(3), 291–296. DOI: [10.1007/bf02862297](https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02862297)
Hu, Y., Kong, W., Yang, X., et al. (2014). GC-MS combined with chemometric techniques for the quality control and original discrimination of Curcumae longae rhizome: Analysis of essential oils. Journal of Separation Science, 37(4), 404–411. DOI: [10.1002/jssc.201301102](https://doi.org/10.1002/jssc.201301102)
Eccles, R. (1994). Menthol and related cooling compounds. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 46(8), 618–630. DOI: [10.1111/j.2042-
7158.1994.tb03871.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-7158.1994.tb03871.x)
Galeotti, N., Mannelli, L.D., Mazzanti, G., Bartolini, A., Ghelardini, C., & Di Cesare, M. (2002). Menthol: A natural analgesic compound. Neuroscience Letters, 322(3), 145–148. DOI: [10.1016/S0304-3940(01)02527-7](https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(01)02527-7)
Patwardhan, B. (2009). Drug discovery and development: Traditional medicine and ethnopharmacology perspectives. SciTopics.
White, A., & Ernst, E. (1997). Complementary medicine: Use and attitudes among general practitioners. Family Practice, 14, 302–306.
Dias, D.A., Urban, S., & Roessner, U. (2012). A historical overview of natural products in drug discovery. Metabolites,2, 303–36.DOI: [10.3390/metabo2020303] (https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo2020303)
Sarker, S.D., Latif, Z., & Gray, A.I. (2006). Methods in Biotechnology, Natural Products Isolation. New Jersey, USA: Humana Press Inc.
Matos, F.J. (1997). Introduction to Experimental Phytochemistry. São Paulo, Brazil: UFC Editorial.
Fedorowicz, Z., et al. (2013). Antibiotic use for irreversible pulpitis. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews,12, CD004969.DOI: [10.1002/14651858.CD004969.pub3] (https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004969.pub3)
Neveu, V., et al. (2010). Phenol-Explorer: An online comprehensive database on polyphenol contents in foods. Database, 2010. DOI: [10.1093/database/bap024] (https://doi.org/10.1093/database/bap024) 8
Shan, B., Cai, Y.Z., Sun, M., & Corke, H. (2005). Antioxidant capacity of 26 spice extracts and characterization of their phenolic constituents. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 53, 7749–7759. DOI: [10.1021/jf051513y] (https://doi.org/10.1021/jf051513y)
Jirovetz, L., Buchbauer, G., Stoilova, I., et al. (2006). Chemical composition and antioxidant properties of clove leaf essential oil. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 54, 6303– 6307. DOI: [10.1021/jf060608c] (https://doi.org/10.1021/jf060608c)
Hastuti, L.T., et al. (2017). The influence of sun drying process and prolonged storage on composition of essential oil from clove buds (Syzygium aromaticum). AIP Conference Proceedings, 1862, 030092. DOI: [10.1063/1.4991196] (https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4991196)
Lam, R. (1994). Self-medication among Hong Kong Chinese. Social Science & Medicine, 39, 1641-322.
Marshall, R., Gee, R., Israel, M., Neave, D., Edwards, F., & Dumble, J. (1990). The use of alternative therapies by Auckland general practitioners. New Zealand Journal of Medicine, 103, 213-215.
McCabe, P. (2001). Complementary and alternative medicine in Australia: A contemporary view. BMJ.
Jonas, W., Kaptchuk, T., & Linde, K. (2003). A critical overview of homeopathy. Annals of Internal Medicine, 138, 393-399.
Khaar, H.B., Hussain, T., & Umar, M. (2003). Complementary alternative medicine (CAM) in chronic liver failure. Pakistan Journal of Gastroenterology, 17, 37-39.
Nash, K., & Tyreman, S. (2005). An account of the development of the conceptual basis of the osteopathy course at the British School of Osteopathy. International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 8, 29-37.
Miller, L.G., Hume, A., Harris, I.M., et al. (2000). White paper on herbal products. Pharmacotherapy, 20, 877-91.
Patwardhan, B. (2009). Drug discovery and development: Traditional medicine and ethnopharmacology perspectives. SciTopics.
Eccles, R. (1994). Menthol and related cooling compounds. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 46(8), 618–630. DOI: [10.1111/j.2042-
7158.1994.tb03871.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-7158.1994.tb03871.x)
Galeotti, N., Mannelli, L.D., Mazzanti, G., Bartolini, A., Ghelardini, C., & Di Cesare, M. (2002). Menthol: A natural analgesic compound. Neuroscience Letters, 322(3), 145–148. DOI: [10.1016/S0304-3940(01)02527-7](https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(01)02527-7) 9
Patwardhan, B. (2009). Drug discovery and development: Traditional medicine and ethnopharmacology perspectives. SciTopics.
White, A., & Ernst, E. (1997). Complementary medicine: Use and attitudes among general practitioners. Family Practice, 14, 302–306.
Dias, D.A., Urban, S., & Roessner, U. (2012). A historical overview of natural products in drug discovery. Metabolites, 2, 303–336. DOI: [10.3390/metabo2020303](https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo2020303)
Sarker, S.D., Latif, Z., & Gray, A.I. (2006). Methods in Biotechnology, Natural Products Isolation. New Jersey, USA: Humana Press Inc.
Matos, F.J. (1997). Introduction to Experimental Phytochemistry. São Paulo, Brazil: UFC Editorial.
Galeotti, N., Mannelli, L.D., Mazzanti, G., Bartolini, A., Ghelardini, C., & Di Cesare, M. (2002). Menthol: A natural analgesic compound. Neuroscience Letters, 322(3), 145–148. DOI: [10.1016/S0304-3940(01)02527-7](https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(01)02527-7)
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Jaya Agnihotri, Nitesh Gupta, Anurup Mondal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
10.55544/jrasb
editor@jrasb.com or mailtojrasb@gmail.com | 
+91-8874396939
This work is licensed under a 