Abstract

Drugs are generally tested on a large population of people via phase studies and the average response is reported in a sort of evidence-based medicine. Screening of genetic variations is necessary in understanding the underlying mechanisms of individual drug responses and to find out more targeted and unique therapeutic strategies focusing on this individual variations. The “-omics” (genomics/proteomics/metabolomics) technology can enable researchers to further understand the causative mechanisms/ biomarkers. Furthermore, they might be used to assess optimized drug efficacy and safety. The most common indications for traditional use of medicinal plants included gastrointestinal, urinary tract and gynecology, cough and cold, wound healing, pain and inflammation, and mental stress and mood disorders. The traditional use of these herbal medicines primarily incorporates a personalized approach and emphasis on prevention rather than a single disease targeted therapy with conventional mono-component drugs since these medicines have more than one component with multiple targets within the body. Therefore, because of the emphasis on individualization and prevention, the use of omics technology for precise or personalized approaches for medicinal plants is even more promising than it is for conventional medicines.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, pharmacogenomics, precision medicine, traditional use, herbal medicines, conventional medicines.

Graphical Abstract