COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ETHNOMEDICINE TO PRECISION PHYTOTHERAPY: EVOLUTION, SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENTS, FUTURE PROSPECTS OF PLANT-BASED THERAPEUTICS

Abstract Ethnomedicine represents one of humanity’s oldest and most enduring healthcare systems, deeply rooted in indigenous knowledge, cultural beliefs, and the therapeutic use of natural resources, particularly medicinal plants. Across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, traditional healing practices have served as vital sources of primary healthcare for centuries, offering accessible and culturally accepted remedies for a wide range of illnesses. These systems, developed through generations of observation and practical experience, continue to play significant roles in many communities worldwide. With increasing concerns over antimicrobial resistance, the rising burden of chronic diseases, escalating healthcare costs, and limited access to conventional medicines, there has been renewed global interest in plant-based therapeutics. Researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers are increasingly recognizing the value of medicinal plants as potential alternatives or complements to synthetic drugs. This renewed attention has contributed to the emergence of phytotherapy, defined as the evidence-based use of plant-derived preparations for the prevention, management, and treatment of diseases. Phytotherapy bridges traditional herbal knowledge with modern scientific validation, emphasizing safety, efficacy, and standardization. More recently, rapid advances in biotechnology, genomics, metabolomics, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence have ushered in a new era known as precision phytotherapy. In this approach, plant-based medicines can be tailored to individual genetic makeup, metabolic characteristics, and specific disease profiles, thereby improving therapeutic outcomes while reducing adverse effects. Precision phytotherapy reflects the convergence of traditional medicine and personalized healthcare. This review explores the historical evolution of ethnomedicine, its scientific transformation into modern phytotherapy, recent technological innovations driving progress, and the future prospects of plant-based therapeutics in contemporary healthcare systems worldwide.