ROLE OF HERBAL MEDICINE IN MODERN HEALTH CARE: EMPHASIS ON CHRONIC DISEASES, ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY, AND IMMUNOMODULATION

Herbal medicine has re-emerged as a significant component of modern health care systems worldwide, driven by increasing chronic disease burden, antimicrobial resistance, immune dysregulation disorders, and the demand for safer, cost-effective therapeutic alternatives. Traditional medical systems such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Unani, Kampo, and African ethnomedicine have contributed substantially to contemporary pharmacotherapy, with nearly 25% of modern drugs derived directly or indirectly from plant sources. Between 2020 and 2025, global interest in phytomedicine expanded significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing awareness of immune health and antiviral botanicals. Herbal medicines demonstrate therapeutic potential through diverse mechanisms including antioxidant activity, modulation of inflammatory signaling pathways, regulation of cytokine expression, antimicrobial membrane disruption, apoptosis induction, and epigenetic modulation in chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders, and metabolic syndrome, plant-derived bioactive compounds have shown clinically relevant benefits. Additionally, antimicrobial phytochemicals such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolics exhibit broad-spectrum antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activities, addressing multidrug resistance concerns. Herbal medicines also play a crucial role in immune modulation by balancing Th1/Th2 responses, enhancing innate immunity, and regulating inflammatory mediators. However, safety concerns including hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, contamination, adulteration, and herb–drug interactions remain significant challenges. Regulatory harmonization across global jurisdictions is evolving, yet variability persists in quality control, standardization, and pharmacovigilance frameworks. This review critically evaluates the global impact, mechanisms of action, clinical applications in chronic diseases, antimicrobial and antiviral activities, immunomodulatory properties, safety profiles, regulatory challenges, and future directions of herbal medicine in modern health care. Emphasis is placed on recent scientific advancements (2020–2025), evidence-based integration strategies, and translational opportunities for phytopharmaceutical development.