A systematic review on the use of phytotherapy in managing clinical depression

Abstract

Introduction: The use of medicinal plants in the management of depression, also known as phytotherapy or herbal medicine for depression, is an area of growing interest in the field of mental health and complementary medicine. Methods: This study used a systematic assessment of pertinent literature to assess the effectiveness of medicinal herbs in treating mild to severe depression. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that reported data on the intervention, control group, adverse events, outcome measurements, and main findings. A summary and analysis were done on the included research data. Results: We included 23 RCTs investigating the efficacy of herbal medicines, including Crocus sativus, Lavandula angustifolia, Melissa officinalis, and Echium amoenum, in treating depression. In general, saffron showed encouraging outcomes when used to treat mild to severe depression. With no discernible variations in the reported adverse effects, it proved to be equally efficacious as well-known antidepressants like imipramine and fluoxetine. However, it is noteworthy that not all trials yielded favorable results. Conclusion: More investigation is required to fully understand the mechanisms of action, ideal dosage schedules, long-term effects, and relative efficacy of medicinal plants in depressive treatment.