TRADITIONAL HERBS IN MODERN HYGIENE: A REVIEW ON PHARMACOGNOSTICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYHERBAL PLANTS

The growing interest in herbal medicine highlights the need to explore traditional plant-based therapeutics through modern pharmacognostic approaches. The review focuses on five well-documented polyherbal agents Ponamia pinnata, Azadirachta indica, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Rubia cordifolia and Eclipta alba valued in both ethnomedicine and pharmaceutical research. These plants are rich in phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins and phenolic compounds, contributing to their broad pharmacological profile. Reported activities include antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory effects, indicating potential roles in disease management and hygiene applications. Pharmacognostic evaluation supports standardization by revealing key anatomical and phytochemical characteristics. By combining traditional knowledge with scientific validation, these botanicals exemplify models for translational research.Due to their efficacy, safety profile and cultural relevance, these plants are widely used in traditional medicine and are increasingly incorporated into pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmetic preparations. Integrating traditional knowledge with scientific validation underscores the potential of these polyherbal agents in developing effective, natural therapeutic strategies.