Medicinal Plants in Cosmeceuticals: Bridging Ethnopharmacology and Modern Dermatology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31674/ijbb.2025.v02i03.005Abstract
Medicinal plants have historically played an integral role in traditional beauty and dermatologic care systems such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Unani, and Indigenous healing practices. Contemporary research confirms that their therapeutic effects arise from diverse bioactive phytochemicals—polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, and saponins—offering multifunctional benefits including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-aging, and moisturizing properties. This review explores the ethnopharmacological heritage, phytochemical basis, and modern cosmeceutical applications of selected medicinal plants such as Aloe vera, Centella asiatica, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Curcuma longa, Butyrospermum parkii, and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Advances in formulation technologies—particularly nanoemulsions, liposomes, phytosomes, and solid lipid nanoparticles—have enhanced the stability, delivery, and skin bioavailability of botanical actives. Despite their potential, challenges remain regarding standardization, variability in phytochemical content, and safety concerns related to allergenicity or contamination. Regulatory frameworks, including the U.S. MoCRA, EU Regulation No. 1223/2009, and ASEAN Cosmetic Directive, emphasize safety, labeling, and post-market surveillance for botanical cosmeceuticals. Overall, integrating traditional botanical knowledge with modern extraction and nanotechnology-based delivery systems offers a sustainable and scientifically grounded approach to future skincare innovation.
Keywords:
Medicinal Plants, Cosmeceuticals, Phytochemicals, Nanotechnology, Herbal Cosmetics, Skin Care, RegulationReferences
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