the role of indigenous iranian medicinal plants in supporting pregnancy health: a traditional medicine-based therapeutic approach and their mechanisms of action

Objective: pregnancy is a critical period requiring special attention to both maternal and fetal health. the selection of effective and safe treatments for addressing pregnancy-related complications is of paramount importance. in this regard, medicinal plants, as a natural and complementary option within traditional medicine, have garnered increasing interest due to their potential in promoting pregnancy health and fetal development.methodology: this review investigates the indigenous medicinal plants of iran traditionally used to support and strengthen pregnancy. the data collection involved comprehensive searches of reputable scientific databases including web of science, pubmed, scopus, and google scholar, as well as classical texts of persian traditional medicine and credible online sources. non-relevant studies were excluded, and only those aligned with the subject matter were critically analyzed. results: according to the historical records and doctrines of iranian traditional medicine, numerous herbal remedies are recommended for promoting maternal health during pregnancy. these include elettaria cardamomum (cardamom), zingiber officinale (ginger), melissa officinalis (lemon balm), taraxacum officinale (dandelion), lavandula angustifolia (lavender), matricaria chamomilla (chamomile), thymus vulgaris (thyme), foeniculum vulgare (fennel), glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice), salix aegyptiaca (willow), mentha piperita (peppermint), trigonella foenum graecum (fenugreek), alhagi maurorum (camelthorn), cuminum cyminum (green cumin), tribulus terrestris, urtica dioica (nettle), rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), rosa damascena (damask rose), lippia citriodora (lemon verbena), cinnamomum verum (cinnamon), and ziziphus jujuba (jujube). the beneficial properties of these herbs such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and calming effects contribute significantly to maternal well-being. conclusion: evidence indicates that medicinal plants can play a vital role in supporting maternal health during pregnancy. their therapeutic actions—ranging from reducing inflammation to enhancing systemic function underscore their relevance in natural prenatal care. nonetheless, to avoid adverse outcomes and herb-drug interactions, their use must be supervised by qualified healthcare professionals or traditional medicine specialists.