review · Natural Product Research
Herbal and plant-based medicines have long been utilised for therapeutic purposes, but establishing their pharmacokinetics is critical to maximising their efficacy, maintaining safety and establishing correct dosing. These remedies can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, topical application or injection. Once administered, absorption depends on chemical solubility, formulation choices, and interactions with gut transporters and enzymes. The compounds then circulate through the body depending on blood flow, tissue permeability and plasma protein binding. Liver processing occurs through cytochrome P450 enzymes and conjugation pathways, with metabolic rates further shaped by individual genetic profiles and the gut microbiome. Finally, these substances leave the body through routes including the kidneys, liver, faeces, lungs, sweat and saliva. Reviewing these absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination pathways provides essential clarity on how traditional natural products function inside the human body.
Natural remedies are widely consumed globally, yet their biological behaviour inside the human body is often poorly understood. Analysing how plant-derived compounds are absorbed, processed and cleared helps bridge the gap between traditional use and modern medicine. This knowledge is crucial for preventing toxic build-ups, establishing safe and effective doses, and avoiding dangerous interactions with other treatments.
This work informs early-stage drug development and formulation science for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical developers. By detailing how natural compounds are absorbed, metabolised and cleared, the review assists developers in designing safer delivery systems, establishing precise dosing schedules and predicting drug interactions. As a broad foundational review, the insights are at a conceptual and early research stage rather than linked to a specific commercial product.
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Herbal and plant-based medicines have been used for centuries for their therapeutic properties. However, understanding their pharmacokinetics is essential for optimising their efficacy, ensuring their safety and guiding appropriate dosing regimens. Herbal and plant-based medications can be ingested, inhaled, applied topically or injected. Factors such as solubility, formulation and interactions with gut enzymes and transporters influence their absorption characteristics. Distribution of these compounds involves their movement throughout the body, influenced by factors like blood flow, tissue permeability and plasma protein binding. Herbal and plant-based medications are metabolised in the liver by cytochrome P450 enzymes and conjugation routes. Metabolism can vary by genetics and gut microbiome. These compounds can be excreted by the kidneys, liver, faeces, lungs, sweat and saliva. This review aims to decode the pharmacokinetics of herbal and plant-based medicines by providing a comprehensive overview of their absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination processes.
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DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2025.2513583
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