SMART-HERBALOMICS: An innovative multi-omics approach to studying medicinal plants grown in controlled systems such as phytotrons.

Abstract

Background: Traditional medicine has supported human health for centuries. However, its dependence on wild-sourced medicinal plants now poses serious threats to biodiversity, with over 90 % of these species harvested directly from their natural habitat. Overexploitation and increasing global demand have accelerated the depletion of medicinal plant genetic resources, raising concerns about extinction and long-term sustainability.

Purpose: This review introduces "Smart-Herbalomics (SH)," a novel interdisciplinary approach that merges traditional herbal knowledge with modern scientific methods. This review aims to ensure a sustainable use and conservation of medicinal plants while enhancing their therapeutic efficacy and safety. SH integrates advanced plant identification, propagation in controlled environments (e.g., phytotron and smart farms), and standardization protocols to maintain genetic integrity and bioactive compound consistency. Additionally, this novel approach incorporates cell-based assays for cytotoxicity and mechanistic evaluation, animal models for preclinical safety and efficacy assessment, and clinical trials for human validation. Additionally, multi-omics tools, including genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics, help uncover the molecular basis of herbal actions.

Method: Data were collected through a comprehensive literature review using electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, AMED, and the Cochrane Library. Key search terms included "Herbalomics," "Pharmacology," "Pharmacognosy," "Multi-Omics," "Botany," "Safety and Toxicity," "Herb Formulation," and "Medicinal Plant Species."

Conclusion: This article introduces SH for the first time as an integrative approach that offers a comprehensive and sustainable pathway to develop standardized, safe, and evidence-based herbal therapies. It bridges the fields of ethnopharmacology and pharmaceutical innovation, supporting the future of personalized, eco-conscious healthcare.