Development, Pharmacognostic Standardization, Phytochemical Fingerprinting, and Experimental Pharmacological Validation of a Novel Polyherbal Formulation for the Attenuation of Oxidative Stress, Chronic Inflammation, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Apoptosis: An Integrated In Vitro, In Vivo, Biochemical, Histopathological, and Molecular Investigation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The present study was undertaken to develop, standardize, and experimentally evaluate a novel polyherbal formulation containing Curcuma longa, Withania somnifera, Ocimum sanctum, and Tinospora cordifolia for its potential protective effects against oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. The selected plant materials were subjected to pharmacognostic evaluation, physicochemical analysis, preliminary phytochemical screening, and chromatographic fingerprinting to establish the quality and phytochemical profile of the formulation. The standardized formulation was subsequently evaluated using invitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective assays, followed by in-vivo pharmacological validation. Biochemical parameters including superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, and malondialdehyde were assessed to determine oxidative stress status, while inflammatory mediators and apoptosis-related markers were evaluated to investigate the underlying protective mechanisms. Histopathological examination was performed to assess tissue-level changes, and molecular analysis was used to investigate oxidative stress-, inflammatory-, mitochondrial-, and apoptosis-associated pathways. The formulation demonstrated concentration-dependent antioxidant activity and improved cellular protection. In vivo, treatment was associated with restoration of antioxidant defenses, reduction of lipid peroxidation and inflammatory mediators, preservation of mitochondrial function, and favorable regulation of Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 expression. Histopathological findings further supported the protective effects of treatment. Overall, the findings suggest that the polyherbal formulation possesses promising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, mitochondrial-protective, and anti-apoptotic properties and may serve as a potential candidate for further investigation in oxidative-stress- and inflammation-associated disorders. Further studies involving detailed mechanistic validation, toxicity assessment, pharmacokinetic evaluation, and clinical investigation are warranted. Development, Pharmacognostic Standardization, Phytochemical Fingerprinting, and Experimental Pharmacological Validation of a Novel Polyherbal Formulation for the Attenuation of Oxidative Stress, Chronic Inflammation, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Apoptosis: An Integrated In Vitro, In Vivo, Biochemical, Histopathological, and Molecular Investigation
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7225175350