Synergy research: A new approach to evaluating the efficacy of herbal mono-drug extracts and their combinations

Abstract

Synergy research is a new approach to phytomedicinal research. Three events have promoted this development: 1) The demand of the European drug law that the registration of drug preparations must include an assessment that each component of a herbal drug combination contributes to its overall pharmacological effect and therapeutic efficacy; 2) The availability of new high-tech analytical and molecular-biological methods and 3) A conspicuous change of paradigm in conventional medicine from a monodrug concept of treating diseases to a more multidrug therapy.