Background: Jawarish-e-Falafali is a classical Unani compound formulation historically employed for digestive, hepatic, and neuro-metabolic disorders. Despite extensive use across South Asian traditional medicine, the formulation lacks a consolidated scientific evaluation. This study aims to systematically review the phytochemistry, pharmacological mechanisms, and translational potential of Jawarish-e-Falafali, integrating traditional knowledge with modern biomedical insights. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included if they involved either the full formulation or its individual constituents Piper nigrum, Zingiber officinale, Valeriana wallichii, etc. and reported pharmacological, toxicological, or mechanistic outcomes. Traditional Unani sources e.g., Qarabadeen Majeedi, Khazainul Advia were also reviewed. Quantitative meta-analysis was performed where comparable in vivo data e.g., lipid profile, inflammatory markers were available. Results: Out of 794 initial records, 156 studies met inclusion criteria. The review identified bioactive phytoconstituents such as piperine, gingerol, cinnamaldehyde, and valerenic acid. These demonstrated multi-target mechanisms including CYP3A4 inhibition, NF-κB suppression, GABAergic modulation, and AMPK activation. Meta-analytic pooling of rodent models showed significant p < 0.01 reductions in total cholesterol −24.6 mg/dL and triglycerides −31.2 mg/dL by select constituents. However, formulation-level clinical trials are currently lacking. Conclusion: Jawarish-e-Falafali exhibits strong ethnopharmacological relevance and promising preclinical efficacy. Integrative efforts including pharmacokinetic profiling, clinical validation, and standardization frameworks are essential for its advancement as a scientifically substantiated polyherbal therapy.
S. Nizamudeen (Mon,) studied this question.