Herbal therapeutics in pathogenic conditions affecting women: A focused review on polycystic ovary syndrome and sexually transmitted infection’s

Pathogenic conditions affecting women’s reproductive health, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), pose major challenges to global healthcare due to their chronic nature and rising prevalence. Conventional pharmacological therapies often provide symptomatic relief but are limited by drug resistance, adverse effects, and recurrence. Consequently, herbal therapeutics have gained attention as promising, safer alternatives. This review integrates findings from recent experimental, clinical, and ethnobotanical studies exploring the use of medicinal plants in the management of PCOS and STIs. Herbs such as Vitex agnus castus, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Curcuma longa, and Trigonella foenum -graecum have demonstrated hormonal regulation, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties beneficial for PCOS, while Azadirachta indica, Aloe vera, and Berberis aristata exhibit potent antimicrobial and immune- modulating effects against sexually transmitted pathogens. Advances in nanotechnology, phytochemical standardization, and bioinformatics-based screening have further enhanced the therapeutic potential and precision of herbal formulations. The collective evidence underscores the need for well-designed clinical trials, molecular validation, and formulation optimization to establish herbal medicines as scientifically credible modalities in women’s healthcare. This review highlights the dual therapeutic promise of herbal pharmacology in addressing hormonal and infectious pathogenic conditions that significantly impact women’s reproductive wellbeing.