title: Efficacy behind activity--phytotherapeutics are not different from pharmaceuticals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  When evaluating bioactivity, efficacy, and toxicology of plant products, attention should be paid on pre-clinical versus clinical research.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To emphasize an evidence-based approach in the field of phytotherapy research.
  
  
  METHODS
  The pyramid of scientific evidence was used in order to assess the quality of phytotherapy studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In terms of evidence-based phytotherapy, a step-by-step approach, ascending the "pyramid" of scientific evidence, is essential in order to collect correct information useful to clinicians and physicians, leant on the robust foundations of in vitro/in vivo studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences and.
authors.forename: Elena Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Varoni
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lodi
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iriti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D059451:Biosimilar Pharmaceuticals; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Clinical studies; evidence-based medicine; phytotherapy; pre-clinical studies