Ajinath Dilip Ghuge and Ms. Akshada Waghchaure
Inflammation is a complex physiological response initiated by the immune system following tissue injury, microbial infection, or exposure to harmful stimuli. Although inflammation is essential for tissue repair and host defense, prolonged or uncontrolled inflammatory responses contribute to numerous chronic disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, dermatitis, psoriasis, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. Conventional anti-inflammatory drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids remain the primary therapeutic options; however, their prolonged use is frequently associated with gastrointestinal irritation, renal toxicity, cardiovascular complications, and immunosuppression. These limitations have encouraged researchers to investigate safer and more effective alternatives from medicinal plants. Polyherbal topical gels have emerged as an attractive drug delivery system because they combine the pharmacological benefits of multiple medicinal plants with the advantages of topical administration. Among medicinal plants, Melia azedarach (Chinaberry) and Eucalyptus globulus have received considerable scientific attention owing to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, analgesic, and wound-healing activities. The bioactive constituents present in these plants, including limonoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, phenolic compounds, and eucalyptol, modulate various inflammatory pathways by suppressing cyclooxygenase enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and leukocyte infiltration. Topical gel formulations prepared using these herbal extracts provide localized drug delivery directly to inflamed tissues while avoiding hepatic first-pass metabolism and minimizing systemic adverse effects. Modern pharmaceutical research has demonstrated that optimized polyherbal gels possess excellent spreadability, acceptable viscosity, suitable skin pH, improved patient compliance, prolonged residence time, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy. This review critically summarizes the current scientific literature regarding inflammation, topical drug delivery systems, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, formulation strategies, evaluation methods, and recent advances related to polyherbal anti-inflammatory gels containing Melia azedarach and Eucalyptus globulus. The review also highlights existing research gaps and future opportunities for the development of standardized, evidence-based herbal topical formulations.