Medicinal plants and healthy aging: an urgent call for robust clinical evidence

Abstract

Medicinal plants are widely used across cultures for centuries offer promising adjuncts for promoting healthy aging. This commentary highlights current evidence from human clinical trials (2015–2025) that investigated the effects of widely used botanicals such as Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng, Curcuma longa (curcumin), Allium sativum (garlic), Crataegus spp. (hawthorn), Withania somnifera (ashwagandha), Bacopa monnieri, Crocus sativus (saffron), Mentha piperita (peppermint), and Echinacea purpurea. These plants have demonstrated benefits across key domains of geriatric health-cognition, cardiovascular function, joint mobility, immune resilience, and gastrointestinal comfort often with fewer side effects than conventional drugs for elderly people.

Although current findings are promising, the evidence remains limited, fragmented, and heterogeneous, with few in vivo human studies specifically involving older adults highlighting a clear research gap. Greater methodological rigor and inclusion of elderly participants are needed to confirm efficacy, clarify mechanisms, and assess herb–drug interactions. Bridging traditional knowledge with modern clinical science could transform several botanicals from complementary remedies into evidence-based tools for preventive geriatric medicine, enhancing quality of life and extending health span in aging populations.

Keywords: Aging, medicinal plants, older patients, botanical therapeutics, integrative care