Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part H (2025)

Herbal medicines constitute a large fraction of traditional and complementary healthcare worldwide and are increasingly being adapted into standardized dosage forms for improved safety, efficacy, and patient acceptance. This review focuses on the rationale and practical considerations for developing a polyherbal cough syrup with immunity-boosting properties using 15 medicinal herbs standardized per PCI nomenclature and common pharmaceutical excipients. Key formulation approaches include aqueous and hydroalcoholic extraction, extract standardization (phytochemical fingerprinting), selection of excipients for palatability and stability (sucrose, xanthan gum, sodium benzoate, citric acid), and appropriate suspension/viscosity control. Challenges include variability of phytoconstituents, solubility and bioavailability limitations, microbial contamination, and regulatory compliance. Recent advances such as nano-herbal carriers, phytosome technology, and green extraction methods enhance stability and bioavailability. We present a concise monograph for each herb, a stepwise syrup preparation, quality control parameters, safety notes for pediatric use, and an explanation of why the proposed formulation is non-addictive. The aim is to bridge traditional knowledge with modern pharmaceutics, enabling a safe, palatable, and standardized pediatric herb-based cough remedy and immunity booster.