Medicinal Ethnobotanicals in Mitigating Pollution-Induced Oxidative Damage With Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential

Abstract

Environmental pollution remains a global health issue linked to numerous diseases, primarily through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that induce lipid peroxidation, protein and DNA damage, and cellular dysfunction. This review examines the therapeutic potential of medicinal ethnobotanicals in mitigating pollution-induced oxidative stress, with a focus on their molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potentials. Ethnobotanicals, rich in bioactive phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, and terpenoids, exhibit potent antioxidant and cytoprotective properties. Their protective effects are largely mediated through the enhancement of endogenous antioxidant systems and modulation of redox-sensitive signalling pathways. Evidence from both in vivo and in vitro studies highlights the efficacy of selected ethnobotanicals in reducing oxidative biomarkers and restoring tissue homeostasis, particularly in mammalian systems. This review highlights the potential of ethnobotanicals as promising agents in mitigating the health effects of environmental pollutants.