Medicinal Plants for Treatment of Prevalent Diseases

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Traditional Indian Medicine are the earliest known Medical systems of the world. Both have contributed to the overall wellbeing and have pioneered to newer horizons in providing Holistic Health care. This review paper is a small attempt to document the similarities of herbs which are common to both Traditional systems and also to find out their inevitable roles in managing Non- Communicable Diseases. Both India and China are known as the “Emporium of Medicinal plants” due to availability of thousands of herbs which has got several unique properties. We are using herbal drugs in day to day practice as home remedies, health foods, Over-The –Counter (OTC as self medication) and as prescribed drugs in the Traditional Medicine sector. This strategy supports an integrated approach to herbal remedies for all sorts of diseases including some deadly lifestyle disorders including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, obesity, respiratory disorders, diabetes etc. This review paper is a small attempt to document the similarities of herbs which are common to both Traditional systems and also to find out their inevitable roles in managing Non-Communicable Diseases.

Tropical Medicine and Health

Objective: Many studies on the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) using herbal medicines have been undertaken in recent decades in East Africa. The details, however, are highly fragmented. The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the reported medicinal plants used to manage TB symptoms, and to analyze scientific reports on their effectiveness and safety. Method: A comprehensive literature search was performed in the major electronic databases regarding medicinal plants used in the management of TB in East Africa. A total of 44 reports were retrieved, and data were collected on various aspects of the medicinal plants such as botanical name, family, local names, part(s) used, method of preparation, efficacy, toxicity, and phytochemistry. The data were summarized into percentages and frequencies which were presented as tables and graphs. Results: A total of 195 species of plants belonging to 68 families and 144 genera were identified. Most encountered species were from Fabaceae (42.6%), Lamiaceae (19.1%), Asteraceae (16.2%), and Euphorbiaceae (14.7%) families. Only 36 medicinal plants (18.5%) have been screened for antimycobacterial activity. Out of these, 31 (86.1%) were reported to be bioactive with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 47 to 12,500 μg/ml. Most tested plant extracts were found to have acceptable acute toxicity profiles with cytotoxic concentrations on normal mammalian cells greater than 200 μg/ml. The most commonly reported phytochemicals were flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, and phenols. Only Tetradenia riparia, Warburgia ugandensis, and Zanthoxylum leprieurii have further undergone isolation and characterization of the pure bioactive compounds.

Malaria is a debilitating disease affecting millions of people every year throughout the world. Untreated, the disease can cause mortality. The earlier drugs against malaria like quinine and its synthetic derivative chloroquine have developed vector resistance. The latest drug, artemisinin, already is showing some signs of developing vector resistance. Plant kingdoms can be potentially excellent sources of newer anti-malarial drugs. Instead of indiscriminate searching among the various plant species of the world, a standard approach could be to search among the traditional medicinal practices in various countries of the world, for traditional medicinal practitioners have been treating malaria for centuries. Bangladesh has a rich history of folk medicinal practices, the practitioners being known as Kavirajes. Various Kavirajes in the northern districts of Bangladesh were interviewed to find out about the medicinal plants that they used for treatment of malaria and accompanying symptoms like fever and ache. Two of the most promising plants belonging to two different genera have been reviewed in the present study. Available scientific literature on these two genera of medicinal plants strongly suggests that they may prove to be sources of new anti-malarial drugs.

Herba Polonica

Summary Introduction: Nowadays, many synthetic drugs comes with various degrees of side effects, accumulative toxicity and development of resistance by microorganisms. Medicinal plants used worldwide can be developed into modern drugs with little or no side effects and greater efficacy. Objective: The aim of this paper was to document the alternative therapy used in Dutsin-Ma local community in Katsina state, Nigeria. Methods: Ethnobotanical survey was carried out among 40 traditional herbalists. Out of 106 plants found, screening was conducted to include only plants that are prescribed simultaneously by the entire herbalists. Results: We have found 32 species of medicinal plants from 20 families that are used for management and alternative therapy against common ailments such as malaria, diabetes, sickle cell anaemia, hypertension, ulcer, paralysis, typhoid fever and immune deficiency. Conclusion: Traditional medicinal plants provide the alternative therapy for treatment and manage...

2018

Man uses medicinal plants in many ways to meet his basic need that is food, clothing and shelter since ancient times. As per World Health Organization (WHO) 80% of the world population still depend on medicinal plants. Medicinal plants have been utilized for a large number of years to flavour and preserve food, to treat wellbeing issue and to avoid illnesses including epidemics. These plants are rich source of bioactive components like phenols, flavonoids, triterpenoids, tannins etc. These bioactive components are rich source of functional foods. Recently medicinal plant based functional food becoming more popular among consumers due to constant health awareness, lesser side effects, availabiity and economic value. The medicinal plants based food may have antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, cadiotonic activities. Thus this review was undertaken to explain various aspects of different medicinal plants like giloy, curry leaf, amla, aloe vera a...

Since the ancient time, plant species have been used as the source of phytomedicine by the human beings. Plants are the richest source of medicine due to the presence of biochemical, which are useful to cure the various diseases. The present paper provides the information on the phytoremedies practiced by the Hakim, Vaidh and Local people of interior area of Aligarh district, U.P., India. During the floristic survey for collection the ethnomedicinal informations, 61 plant species belonging to 35 Families, 57 Genera were found to be used to cure various common diseases like amoebiosis, bronchitis, cold & cough, diarrhoea, dysentery etc.

2015

The present review summarizes the wide use of various plant extracts and herbal fed additives in a specific dose during the scheduled vaccination regimen may be helpful in obtaining higher protective antibody against different infections including production and development of more effective cell mediate immune response for protection against various bacterial, viral and other diseases. Herbal formulation may be therefore recommended for use as positive immunomodulator in normal and immunocompromized susceptible animals and birds. However, more sufficient researches are in demand to be carried out to establish the medicinal facts of the mentioned indigenous plants and fruits. In infants, use of neem oil is fatal. Some disadvantages of neem includes miscarriages, abortions and infertility. Although, American Cancer Society recommends the centella herb for having anticancerous properties, but research in this regard are in progress. Preliminary experimental animal researches have proved that the papaya seeds have potential contraceptive and abortifacient effect, but is non-teratogenic for the presence of phytochemicals in it. Many herbal plant preparations are prescribed to strengthen host resistance. Many useful plants fall under this category. They exhibit immunomodulatory activities. One such plant, Tinospora cordifolia, commonly called 'Guduchi' has been examined for its immunomodulatory properties. Guduchi means to rejuvenate dead cells. It is widely used in veterinary folk medicine and has also been claimed to be beneficial according to 'Ayurveda' for the cure of jaundice, skin diseases, diabetes, anemia, emaciations and various infections for its anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic and anti-allergic properties. It has also been reported that it improves the phagocytic and bactericidal activities in patients suffering from polymorphism in surgical jaundice.

The present review summarizes the wide use of various plant extracts and herbal fed additives in a specific dose during the scheduled vaccination regimen may be helpful in obtaining higher protective antibody against different infections including production and development of more effective cell mediate immune response for protection against various bacterial, viral and other diseases. Herbal formulation may be therefore recommended for use as positive immunomodulator in normal and immunocompromized susceptible animals and birds. However, more sufficient researches are in demand to be carried out to establish the medicinal facts of the mentioned indigenous plants and fruits. In infants, use of neem oil is fatal. Some disadvantages of neem includes miscarriages, abortions and infertility. Although, American Cancer Society recommends the centella herb for having anticancerous properties, but research in this regard are in progress. Preliminary experimental animal researches have proved that the papaya seeds have potential contraceptive and abortifacient effect, but is non-teratogenic for the presence of phytochemicals in it. Many herbal plant preparations are prescribed to strengthen host resistance. Many useful plants fall under this category. They exhibit immunomodulatory activities. One such plant, Tinospora cordifolia, commonly called 'Guduchi' has been examined for its immunomodulatory properties. Guduchi means to rejuvenate dead cells. It is widely used in veterinary folk medicine and has also been claimed to be beneficial according to 'Ayurveda' for the cure of jaundice, skin diseases, diabetes, anemia, emaciations and various infections for its anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and anti-allergic properties. It has also been reported that it improves the phagocytic and bactericidal activities in patients suffering from polymorphism in surgical jaundice.

2014

Aim of the study: The objective of the study was to identify and document medicinal plants traditionally used by people of Tana River County, Kenya for the management of various ailments. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in March 2012. Information was gathered from 80 traditional practitioners who lived and practiced in Garsen, Itsowe and Ngao Subdivisions of Tana River using semi-structured questionnaires and focused group discussion. Voucher specimen of cited plants were collected and deposited at the university of Nairobi herbarium. Results: A total of 31 plants distributed in 25 families were identified. The most popular plant species were eleven and were used for the management of pneumonia, arthritis, kidney problems, fibroids, typhoid, breast cancer, tooth ache, malaria, diabetis, convulsions, stomach ache, constipation, poisoning, cholera, diarrhea, mastitis, migraine, tonsilitis, ulcers, asthma, high blood pressure, urinary incontinence, body warts, milk letdo...

2020

Background Systematic documentation and promotion of indigenous knowledge associated with medicinal plants are limited. The aim of this study was to undertake ethnobotanical investigation on medicinal plants used for the treatment of human and livestock ailments and document indigenous knowledge of local communities on the preparation and administration of herbal remedies in the study area. Methods The study involved 153 informants from nine kebeles, comprising traditional healers, knowledgeable elders and local user communities. Various ethnobotanical techniques were used to collect and analyze data: semi-structured interview, guided field walk, group discussion, preference ranking, and fidelity level index. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis. Results Local communities had rich and diverse indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants, types of ailments, methods of remedy preparations and routes of applications. There were differences in this indigenous knowledge across age and sex. A total of 83 medicinal plants were documented during this study. Fifty two (62.65%) plants were used for treating human ailments, 20 species (24.10%) for treating health problems of livestock and the remaining 11 (13.25%) for treating both human and livestock ailments. The highest informant consensus was documented for the plants Allium sativum , Asparagus africanus and Azadirachta indica. Leaves were the most commonly used parts of medicinal plants accounting for 51.81% of the total followed by roots (20.48%) and barks (2.41%). Oral administration of the herbal medicine was the dominant route 66.3%, followed by dermal (22.7%) which included washing, holding on, rubbing and brushing. Smoking (8.5%) was also important. It was documented that 27 species (32.5%) were used in fresh, 13 species (15.7%) dried and 43 species (51.8%) either in dry or fresh state. Conclusion Owing to their access, curing ability, manageable charges, existence of deep indigenous knowledge and other associated cultural values, medicinal plants continued to play a significant role in meeting healthcare needs of the community in the study area. Conservation and sustainable use of the diverse medicinal plants need to be promoted. Systemic documentation and protection of the rich knowledge of local communities and further research on selected potential species was recommended

Background: Medicinal plants including Achyranthes aspera, Brucea antidysentrica and Croton macrostachyus in the Zegie and Lake Tana area are among the main herbal agents traditionally used to treat various illnesses. However, scientific investigations including their phytochemical screening have not been conducted. Objective: To survey the use of these selected medicinal plants by traditional healers and/or herbal medicine users in the Zegie and Lake Tana areas, and conduct phytochemical screening of such commonly used herbal agents. Methodology: Detailed interviews about the therapeutic uses of Achyranthes aspera, Brucea antidysentrica and Croton macrostachyus were conducted among the traditional healers and users in the study area. The plants were collected and separately extracted using water and ethanol and the crude extracts screened for phytochemical components by using standard procedures. Results: The interview results from the traditional healers and users in the study area on the selected medicinal plants pointed to the therapeutic usage of these herbal agents for a variety of disease conditions, including infectious and non-communicable diseases. Plant extracts from Achyranthes aspera and Brucea antidysentrica showed the presence of flavonoids, carbohydrates and vitamin C but the absence of saponins and proteins (peptides). Croton macrostachyus was found to have most of the screened phytochemical constituents (including saponins, flavonoids, carbohydrates, free amino acids and vitamin C) except proteins. Discussion: The herbal agents were found to have a variety of therapeutic uses for various illnesses in the area. The presence of the above mentioned phytoconstituents detected may be responsible for the therapeutic activities of these herbal agents. Key words: Traditional medicines, phytochemicals, Achyranthes aspera, Brucea antidysentrica, Croton macrostachyus

Lancet, 2011

As many as 229 medicinal plants have been currently used in the Bhutanese Traditional Medicine (BTM) as a chief ingredient of polyherbal formulations and these plants have been individually indicated for treating various types of infections including malaria, tumor, and microbial. We have focused our study only on seven species of these plants.We aim to evaluate the antiplasmodial, antimicrobial, anti-Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and cytotoxicity activities of the seven medicinal plants of Bhutan selected using an ethno-directed bio-rational approach. This study creates a scientific basis for their use in the BTM and gives foundation for further phytochemical and biological evaluations which can result in the discovery of new drug lead compounds.A three stage process was conducted which consisted of: (1) an assessment of a pharmacopoeia and a formulary book of the BTM for their mode of plant uses; (2) selecting 25 anti-infective medicinal plants based on the five established criteria, collecting them, and screening for their major classes of phytochemicals using appropriate test protocols; and (3) finally analyzing the crude extracts of the seven medicinal plants, using the standard test protocols, for their antiplasmodial, antimicrobial, anti-Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and cytotoxicity activities as directed by the ethnopharmacological uses of each plant.Out of 25 medicinal plants screened for their major classes of phytochemicals, the majority contained tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids. Out of the seven plant species investigated for their biological activities, all seven of them exhibited mild antimicrobial properties, five plants gave significant in vitro antiplasmodial activities, two plants gave moderate anti-Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense activity, and one plant showed mild cytotoxicity. Meconopsis simplicifolia showed the highest antiplasmodial activity with IC50 values of 0.40 μg/ml against TM4/8.2 strain (a wild type chloroquine and antifolate sensitive strain) and 6.39 μg/ml against K1CB1 (multidrug resistant strain) strain. Significantly the extracts from this plant did not show any cytotoxicity.These findings provide the scientific basis for the use of seven medicinal plants in the BTM for the treatment of malaria, microbial infections, infectious fevers, and the Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense infection. The results also form a good preliminary basis for the prioritization of candidate plant species for further in-depth phytochemical and pharmacological investigations toward our quest to unearth lead antiparasitic, anticancer and antimicrobial compounds.

BMC Research Notes, 2017

Background: One of the services that plants provide for human beings is their wider medicinal application. Although it is not fully assessed, the practice and wider use of traditional medicine is frequent in Ethiopia. Studies conducted previously are confined to the perceptions of modern and traditional health practitioners about traditional medicine. A total of 45 informants were selected purposefully from the study area. For collecting the data, semi-structured interviewees, observation and field walks were employed from August 10 to September 30/2014. To summarize the information, descriptive statistical methods were applied. Results: Sixty species of medicinal plants distributed in 42 families were collected and identified applied locally for the treatment of 55 human disorders. The most commonly treated ones were evil eye, malaria, wound, peptic ulcer disease and rabies. According to this study, leaves were the commonly used plant parts (36.5%) and 39% of the preparations were decoctions. Oral route, 43 (44%) was the commonly used route of application whereas most (54.8%) remedies were administered only once. Fourteen percent of preparations caused vomiting in addition most (40.4%) of the formulations was contraindicated for pregnant patients. Only seventeen percent of the formulations possessed drug food interactions. Most preparations were stored within clothes, 31 (29.8%). There exists a high (ICF = 0.8) evenness of plant use among healers for treating respiratory problems. Alliumsativum (FI = 0.75) for evil eye, Phytolacca dodecandra (FI = 0.8) for rabies and Croton macrostachyus (FI = 0.78) for treating malaria were medicinal plants with highest fidelity levels showing consistency of knowledge on species best treating power. This study also documented that drought, overgrazing and firewood collection are major threats. Conclusion: Dega Damot district is loaded in its medicinal plant diversity and indigenous knowledge though plants are highly affected by drought, overgrazing and firewood collection. Therefore awareness activities must be created among the district's population by concerned governmental and nongovernmental organizations about the value of medicinal plants and conservation of these plants. The healing potential and associated adverse issues of the claimed medicinal plants should be assessed before proposing for a broader utilization.

2020

The investigation of this article approach toward pharmaceutical properties of some Indian traditional medicinal plants. From past years emphasis has been made to study biological activity and therapeutic potential of these plants. Medicinal plant as they are easily available source in the field of healthcare purpose in rural, urban and tribal areas. All these plant are extensively studied for there ailment in diseases by advanced scientific techniques. Pharmacological studies reviewed many vital medicinal usage of the different parts of these plant as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer activities and had been reported to be effective against a variety of diseases. The present review is an attempt to compile pharmacological properties of these plant and their potential use.