Phytoconstituents, mechanisms, and delivery systems in polyherbal formulations for anti-aging skincare: A comprehensive review

Skin aging is a complicated process affected by extrinsic factors such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation and environmental pollutants, in addition to intrinsic factors such as oxidative stress and cellular senescence. These factors initiate inflammation, collagen breakdown, and visible signs of aging. Polyherbal formulation with multiple plant extracts with synergistic bioactive compounds offers a sustainable and scientifically proven way of modulating the interrelated pathways that contribute to skin aging. This comprehensive review features 7 key anti-aging plants, including Curcuma longa, Curcuma aromatica, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Calendula officinalis, Boehavia diffusa, Withania somnifera, and Matricaria chamomilla , and discusses their active phytoconstituents such as curcumin, glabridin, withanolides, and apigenin. These agents improve the hydration of skin, increase collagen synthesis, inhibit matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and modulate oxidative stress. This review emphasizes the opportunity to combine some of the most sophisticated dermal delivery methods (e.g., liposome, ethosome, and emulgel technologies) with traditional ethnobotanical knowledge to increase bioavailability and efficacy of herbal actives. All research indicates that polyherbal formulations offer a multi-targeted, sustainable, and therapeutically viable alternative to synthetic anti-aging pharmaceuticals, bridging traditional knowledge and contemporary cosmeceutical techniques.