A comprehensive review of Indian medicinal plants used in the treatment and management of thalassemia and related disorders

Thalassemia, an inherited hemoglobin disorder of red blood cells, leading to ineffective erythropoiesis and associated iron overload, is a major cause of morbidity.Currently, limited conventional treatments, such as blood transfusions and iron chelation, have their downsides (high cost and adverse events).In recent research, plants have been shown to tackle thalassemia, as phytochemistry-based interventions have been identified through Indian medicinal plants to control this hematologic compromise in India.In this review, we discuss the therapeutic potential of several medicinal plants (Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia chebula, Curcuma longa, and Withania somnifera) with antioxidant/anti-inflammatory/ferrous chelating and HbF-inducing properties.Oxidative stress management, alleviation of iron toxicity and induction of normal hemoglobin is performed by flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and polyphenols containing these bioactive compounds.Studies in both preclinical humans and humans suggest that these herbs can regulate hemoglobin synthesis, increase red blood cell survival and ameliorate associated morbidity from anemia.These remedies stand against several challenges, such as standardisation, quality control, safety validation and regulatory acceptance, which hinder their non-controversial use in clinical practice.The future of herbal thalassemia management is not in pharmacological validation but in advanced molecular studies and integrative approaches, including traditional methods, with modern biomedicine.The urgent need for additional studies to develop plant-based therapeutic agents for thalassemia as adjunct or alternative treatments will be highlighted in this review.Indian medicinal plants can transform thalassemia management through a bridge between traditional knowledge and scientific validation.