ETHNOBOTANICAL INVESTIGATION AND PHYTOCHEMICAL VALIDATION OF MEDICINAL HERBS PRESCRIBED BY TRADITIONAL HERBALISTS: A REVIEW

Background: Traditional herbalists (“attarīn”) in Najaf, Iraq, utilize a diverse array of plant‑derived remedies grounded in centuries of Arab‑Islamic medical heritage. Despite widespread use, systematic documentation and phytochemical validation of these prescriptions remain scarce. Objective: (1) make a list of the medicinal herbs that Iraqi herbalists use; (2) look at scientific literature to find active phytochemicals and evidence-based uses; and (3) see how well traditional uses and peer-reviewed research agree with each other. Methods: During semi-structured interviews at five major apothecaries in the Al Najaf Governorate from November to December 2022, researchers found 76 different plant taxa. The scientific and common names of each specimen, the plant family it belongs to, how it is used in that area, and how it is prepared were all written down. Phytochemical profiles and experimental or clinical evidence were obtained through focused literature searches (PubMed, ScienceDirect, and WHO monographs) through June 2023. Concordance was defined as a traditional use matching at least one peer‑reviewed study demonstrating corresponding bioactivity. Results: Of the 76 taxa, 68 (90%) had at least one study substantiating the principal traditional indication. Key bioactive classes included monoterpenes, sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic acids. Notably, Artemisia spp. (antimalarial; artemisinin) and Ginkgo biloba (cognitive support; flavonol glycosides) aligned with WHO‑endorsed uses. The remaining 8 taxa (10%) lacked rigorous pharmacological evaluation. Conclusion: The herbal pharmacopeia of Iraq demonstrates substantial empirical validity, as indicated by a 90% correlation between traditional uses and scientific data. These results advocate for additional phytochemical and pharmacological investigations on insufficiently examined taxa, the standardization of frequently utilized species, and the incorporation of validated remedies into formal healthcare systems.