PHARMACOGNOSY IN THE ERA OF MODERN DRUG DISCOVERY: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF NATURAL PRODUCTS, INNOVATIONS, AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL

Abstract

Pharmacognosy is the branch of pharmaceutical science that deals with the study of medicinal drugs derived from natural sources such as plants, microorganisms, marine organisms, and minerals. In recent decades, pharmacognosy has regained significant importance due to the rising demand for safe, effective, and affordable therapeutics. The global resurgence of interest in herbal medicine, bioactive natural compounds, and plant-based drug discovery is driven by limitations of synthetic drugs, including adverse effects, resistance, and high development costs. Advances in analytical chemistry, biotechnology, metabolomics, and molecular biology have transformed traditional pharmacognosy into a modern interdisciplinary science. This review highlights the evolution of pharmacognosy, classification of natural products, extraction and screening techniques, pharmacological importance of major phytoconstituents, and recent innovations such as nano-pharmacognosy, ethnopharmacology integration, and computational drug discovery. The article also discusses challenges, quality control issues, regulatory aspects, and future perspectives in natural product-based drug development.