Abstract
Homeopathy has long faced challenges in elucidating its mechanisms of action within
the frameworks of modern biomedical science, primarily due to its high dilution and
individualistic approaches. Recent advances in network pharmacology offer a promising
avenue to bridge this gap by emphasizing the interconnectedness of biological systems
and the multitarget nature of therapeutic agents. This paradigm aligns conceptually
with homeopathy's holistic approach to health and disease. This article explores how
network pharmacology can be applied to homeopathic research, particularly for remedies
derived from plant, mineral, and animal sources. By leveraging bioinformatics databases,
molecular docking tools, and systems biology platforms, potential targets and pathways
modulated by homeopathic remedies can be identified. Integration of phytochemical
profiling, disease–gene associations, and symptomatology data from materia medica
allows the construction of remedy–target–disease networks, providing insights into
the systemic effects of homeopathic medicines. We discuss key methodological strategies,
such as in silico target prediction, multi-omics integration, and network visualization,
as well as the challenges posed by ultra-high dilutions and limited pharmacological
data. Future directions emphasize the need for interdisciplinary research, experimental
validation, and dedicated homeopathy-specific databases to enhance the utility of
network pharmacology in this domain. By aligning the principles of homeopathy with
systems-level scientific tools, network pharmacology has the potential to transform
our understanding of homeopathic therapeutics. This integrative approach may lead
to greater scientific acceptance, improved clinical outcomes, and a renewed role for
homeopathy in contemporary health care.
Keywords
homeopathy - network pharmacology - systems biology - multitarget therapy - integrative
medicine
