A Review on Herbal Pain Relief Gels: Formulation and Therapeutic Potential of Nirgundi, Boswellia, and Ashwagandha

The application of herbal therapeutics in managing pain has been declared to attain more and more attention because of the multi-target effects and good safety profiles of herbal therapeutics. Three notable medicinal plants are used in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain and inflammation and they include Nirgundi (Vitex negundo), Boswellia (Boswellia serrata) and Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Each of them has its own phytochemicals but when combined they act synergistically. The phytoconstituents, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic evidence are summarized and recent improvements in topical gel formulations to promote skin permeation and local analgesic effects are discussed. Nirgundi has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects by regulating the production of prostaglandins and free radicals; Boswellia has a significant effect of inhibiting the production of 5-lipoxygenase and leukotrienes; Ashwagandha has an adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory, and neuromodulatory effect via withanolides. Recent studies of formulation show that with the use of appropriate gelling agents, permeation enhancers and stabilizers, optimised gels and emulgels can greatly enhance drug release, spreadability, and patient acceptability. In general, the Nirgundi, Boswellia and Ashwagandha gel system offers a plausible natural intervention to treat musculoskeletal pain and additional standardized clinical studies and refinement of the formulations need to be conducted to better define the therapeutic potential of the mentioned combinations