Role of Phytoestrogens in Gynecological Disorders from the Lens of Unani System of Medicine-A Review

ABSTRACT: In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in alternative and natural techniques for preventing and treating gynecological disorders. Numerous studies have focused on exploring treatments that have less adverse impact than standard hormonal treatment. Although the etiopathogenetic processes of many gynecological illnesses, such as endometriosis and uterine fibroids, remain unclear, the significance of steroid hormones is undeniable. Endometriosis, uterine leiomyomas, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer all exhibit significant hormonal imbalances. The Unani system of medicine, referred to as Greco-Arabic medicine, is a popular form of traditional medicine widely practiced in many countries. This system utilizes herbs rich in phytoestrogens, which bear structural similarity to 17β-estradiol, and thus have the potential to mimic its estrogenic activity and produce responses. This makes phytoestrogens a suitable substitute for conventional hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) with fewer side effects. Therefore, a comprehensive search for studies on phytoestrogens was conducted using electronic databases such as Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Science Direct, EMBASE, and PubMed. All the relevant literature on gynecological disorders in Unani medicine has been evaluated, assessed, and analyzed based on classical texts. This narrative review summarizes the literature on the physiological role of estrogens and the several potential health benefits of phytoestrogens, with particular attention to the possible role of phytoestrogens in gynecological disorders. KEYWORDS: Phytoestrogens, Gynecological Disorders, Unani Medicine, Hormonal Replacement Therapy, Estrogen, Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator.