Herbal Neuropharmacology Advances

Abstract

Herbal neuropharmacology has moved substantially forward in the last decade, driven by two parallel developments: a better mechanistic understanding of how specific plant-derived compounds interact with central-nervous-system targets, and a substantially expanded clinical trial base across multiple neuropsychiatric indications. The Medhya Rasayana tradition of Ayurveda and the broader ethnobotanical record - covering Bacopa monnieri, Withania somnifera, Centella asiatica, Nardostachys jatamansi, Hypericum perforatum, Crocus sativus, Rhodiola rosea and Ginkgo biloba - provides a rich substrate for modern research. We consolidated 96 peer-reviewed studies published between 2014 and 2024 that evaluated herbal neuropharmacology against modern neuropsychiatric endpoints. Studies were grouped into five frames: N1 (nootropic / cognitive enhancement), N2 (anxiolytic and anti-stress), N3 (antidepressant applications), N4 (neuroprotection and neurodegeneration), and N5 (anti-epileptic and seizure-control). Each frame was scored on the Herbal Neuropharmacology Translation Index (HNTI), a weighted composite across mechanistic evidence, clinical evidence, blood-brain-barrier bioavailability, safety, and translational readiness. Anxiolytic / anti-stress applications (N2) and nootropic use (N1) scored highest at HNTI 0.868 and 0.842. Our reading is that a subset of well-characterised herbal neuropharmacological agents is now ready for formal integration into mainstream neuropsychiatric practice, with anxiolytic and nootropic applications being the most immediately viable.