Personalized and Precision Medicine Journal

Abstract ABSTRACT
Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella species, remains endemic in regions such as Iran and presents significant public health challenges. Conventional antibiotic therapies have limitations, including adverse effects and incomplete efficacy, which has led to growing interest in medicinal plants as complementary or alternative treatments. This study reviews Iranian medicinal plants with potential anti-brucellosis activity, examining their mechanisms based on both traditional knowledge and contemporary scientific research. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using keywords including "brucellosis," "Malta fever," "traditional medicine," "medicinal plants," and "treatment" in databases such as Google Scholar, SID, Magiran, and Scopus. Relevant articles were screened, and data were systematically extracted and analyzed to provide an integrative review. The analysis identified several medicinal plants with notable therapeutic potential against brucellosis, including Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Mentha piperita L., Cinnamomum verum J. Presl, Thymus vulgaris L., Salvia officinalis L., Origanum vulgare L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Aloe vera L., Cuminum cyminum L., Alcea rosea L., Achillea millefolium L., Calendula officinalis L., Allium cepa L., Anethum graveolens L., Apium graveolens L., Allium sativum L., Coriandrum sativum L., Cucurbita spp. L., Rosa canina L., Elaeagnus angustifolia L., Scrophularia deserti Eig, Berberis vulgaris L., Ziziphora tenuior L., and Alhagi maurorum Medik. Taxonomic analysis showed that the Lamiaceae family was most represented (24%), followed by Asteraceae and Apiaceae (16% each). Mechanistic analysis indicated that antibacterial activity accounted for 32% of therapeutic effects, followed by anti-inflammatory (24%) and antioxidant (20%) activities. Native Iranian medicinal plants may serve as effective complementary agents in the management of brucellosis. Their use, particularly in endemic regions, could enhance patients' quality of life and mitigate the side effects associated with conventional treatments. Nonetheless, further rigorous clinical studies are required to validate their efficacy and safety.