Green pharmacy: A systematic review of principles, practices, and recent advancements (2020–2026)
Abstract
Green pharmacy, interdisciplinary paradigm integrating sustainability principles into pharmaceutical sciences, has gained substantial momentum in response to the growing global concern over pharmaceutical pollution, resource depletion, and the environmental burden of drug manufacturing. This field encompasses green synthesis, eco-friendly packaging, sustainable drug delivery systems, green analytical chemistry, and eco-pharmacovigilance. This systematic review aims to comprehensively evaluate the principles, current practices, and recent advancements in green pharmacy from 2020 to 2026, with a focus on emerging technologies, regulatory frameworks, and environmental impact. A structured literature search was performed across Pub Med, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using PRISMA guidelines. A total of 5,195 records were identified; after screening and quality assessment, 127 studies were included. Key advancements include AI-assisted green synthesis optimization, plant derived nanocarriers, biodegradable pharmaceutical packaging using polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), photocatalytic degradation of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in wastewater, and adoption of solvent free analytical methods. Regulatory progress has been observed in the European Union and the United States, with mandatory environmental risk assessments for new medicinal products. Green pharmacy represents a transformative evolution of pharmaceutical sciences, with significant potential to reduce…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
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