Medicinal plants

About: Medicinal plants is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3816 publications have been published within this topic receiving 108681 citations. The topic is also known as: medicinal herbs & medicinal plants.

Medicinally Important Phytochemicals: An Untapped Research Avenue

Abstract: The past decade has witnessed a tremendous resurgence in the interest and use of medicinal plants. The beneficial medicinal effects of plant materials typically result from the combinations of secondary products present in them known as phytochemicals. Phytochemicals are biologically active, naturally occurring chemical compounds found in fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, tea and seeds that promote human health and prevent diseases. The therapeutic effects of these medicinal plants can justifiably be attributed to, among others, the phytochemicals in them especially the flavonoids, alkaloids, sterols, terpenoids, phenolic acids, stilbenes, lignans, tannins and saponins. The abundance of scientific evidence indicates that such bioactive compounds have biological properties such as antioxidant activity, antimicrobial effect, modulation of detoxification enzymes, stimulation of the immune system, decrease of platelet aggregation and modulation of hormonemetabolism and anticancer property. This paper avails a review of medicinally important plant-derived compounds that can be used in design of more efficacious therapeutic agents against many communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants in india - a commercial approach

Abstract: India (8-30 N and 68-97.5 E) exhibits a wide range in topography and climate, which has a bearing on its vegetation and floristic composition. This subcontinent is one of the World’s 12 leading Biodiversity Centres, encompassing 16 different agro-climatic zones, 10 vegetation zones, 25 biotic provinces and about 426 habitats of specific species. It has been estimated that about 45,000 plant species (nearly 20% of the global species) occurs in the Indian Sub-continent. About 3,500 species of both higher and lower plant groups are of medicinal values. More than 80 percent of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) are collected from 17 million hectares of Indian forest land. However, many of these, due to over-exploitation have become rare (Rheum emodi, Aconitum deinorrhizum), threatened (Rauvolfia serpentina, Berberis artistata), or endangered ones (Sassurea lappa, Dioscorea deltoidea). Problems arising out of rapid genetic loss of medicinal plants forced the need for international co-operation and co-ordination to undertake programmes for conservation of medicinal plants to ensure that adequate quantities are available for future generations. Cultivation of medicinal and aromatic species gives scope to improve the quality of the drugs. Merits of commercial cultivation of MAP is the outcome of implementation of number of critical factors like locate-selection; good genetically stable planting materials; good agrotechnological practices; nutrient input; harvesting management and implementation of suitable post harvesting techniques to preserve the end product till smart and effective marketing arrangements are made. There is a growing demand today for plant-based medicines, health products, pharmaceuticals, food supplements, cosmetics etc. in the international market. The international market of medicinal plants is over 60 billion US dollar per year, which is growing at the rate of 7 percent per annum. The present export of herbal raw materials and medicines from India is about US dollar 100-114 million approximately per year. India is one of the major exporter of crude drugs mainly to six developed countries viz. USA, Germany, France, Switzerland, U.K. and Japan, who share between them 75-80 per cent of the total export market. CULTIVATION OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS (MAP) IN INDIA Techno-economical Considerations for Cultivation of MAP in India Loss of genetic diversity, particularly related to potential medicinal species has taken place; more so in the Worlds’ tropical rain forests and its conservation aspect has, of late, captured the attention of herbal scientists and experts (Duke, 1985). With emphasis it can be stated that the ultimate solution of medicinal plant conservation is medicinal plant cultivation in a scientific way (Foster, 1993). Botanical producer will desire to optimise yield from production; whereas user or entrepreneur will want to manufacture a product of uniform quality. Environmental factors play dramatic roles on biomass yield and composition, and also on its consistency. Proc. Int. Conf. on MAP Eds. J. Bernath et al. Acta Hort. 576, ISHS 2002 192 The process of selection of geographical site is very important and will have to be tailormade to meet the requirement of a particular botanical or a group of botanicals with ecological homogeneity. Elevation of the region has a profound bearing on successful cultivation of MAP. Indian cultivation of Datura innoxia, Atropa belladona, Catharanthus roseus, Rauvolfia serpentina, Cepecacuanha spp. and Hyoscyamus niger are appropriate examples (Table 1). Slope face is another factor, which determines variations of diurnal light intensity and temperature necessary for better growth and development of MAP. Latitude also have pronounced effect on biomass composition e.g. Atropa belladona. Adequate soil moisture and moderate nutrient status generally meet the requirements for growing MAP in India. However in some cases (e.g. Psyllium, Cassia, Catharanthus, Withania, Rauvolfia, Cymbopogon), the plantation can profitably thrive on low fertility soils of warmer regions. Pyrethrum, Solanum spp., Jasminium and Ocimum spp. can be economically grown over medium fertility soils. In case of Papaver, Dioscorea spp., Mentha spp. and Cymbopogon spp., high fertility soil and liberal irrigation will be necessary for successful growth of plantation. Rained cultivation in India is widely followed in Withania, Cassia, Vetiveria and Eucalyptus citriodora. Medicinal and aromatic crops are generally adapted to a wide range of soil texture and pH. Plantago, Cassia, Cymbopogon growing over light soils become high yielding when grown over loam and clay loam (nearly 80% increase in yield in case of Plantago ovata). Vetiveria is unique for its tolerance to soil alkalinity and periodic flooding and water logging of fields; conditions however producing no adverse effect on total oil yield and its composition. Cinchona, Cephalis and Coptis have preference for acidic soils (5-6 pH); whereas species like Aloe, Pandanus, Urginea, Commiphora are grown in soils of higher pH. Day length have been found to influence growth and development of certain medicinal and aromatic crops in India. Commercial cultivation of Mentha, Glycyrrhiza, Coptis, Humulus prefer more than 14 hours of day length for high crop yield whereas citronella, Pelargonium and Pogostemon are short-day plants and essential oil production can be increased by nearly 25% by satisfying appropriate light requirements to these crops. Senna is a day-neutral plant and cultivation success is independent of prevalent day-light duration. In crops like Solanum, Digitalis, Rauvolfia and Dioscorea, effects of photoperiodic cycles (long days) have also been clearly established (Chatterjee, 1986). Regulatory role of light intensity on improvement of performance of a number of medicinally important crops has been established. In Mentha, ample sunshine is necessary at maturity for higher content of oil and menthol content. Economics of cultivation of this species is very much affected if crops are harvested in rainy or cloudy days due to the fact that higher conversion of menthol into menthone. Amongst other plantation crops, low light intensity favours production like Cephalis; thereby necessitating artificial shading during commercial cultivation. Only 20-25 percent day light intensity is recommended for optimum productivity performance. Berberine content is nearly 10-15 percent higher in roots of Coptis japonica, when on average, 70 percent of incident light is intercepted. Additional light promotes the AP accumulation in Digitalis spp. and Solanum khasianum (Table 2.). Reduced light intensity (nearly 40 %) by growing Cinchona under shade tree increases percentage of quinine and related alkaloids by more than 30 percent; as well as bark yield by 30-40 % (Table 3). Role of atmospheric temperature on success of medicinal and aromatic plant cultivation can also be well exemplified. Pyrethrum growing in southern hills is favoured by lower minimum temperature increasing the yield of dry matter and total pyrethrin contents. In general increasing temperature up to a maximum (prior to physiological damage) favour increased secondary metabolite production in many alkaloid and terpene producing medicinal plants. Composition of secondary metabolite may also be changed. Low temperature favours morphine increase in poppy and decreases the total principle content.

Traditional and indigenous uses of medicinal plants by local residents in Himachal Pradesh, North Western Himalaya, India

Abstract: In the hilly areas of Indian Himalaya, the inhabitants largely depend on plants for curing various diseases. The indigenous knowledge and traditional practices of medicinal plants are vanishing fast. Therefore, we aimed to document indigenous uses of some important medicinal plants of Kullu district; analyze distribution pattern, nativity and endemism of these medicinal plants; and suggest conservation strategies. We recorded information on 75 species of medicinal plants. The recorded species represent trees (12 spp.), shrubs (15), herbs (47), and fungi (1). Of these, 29 medicinal plants were native, 1 endemic, 11 near-endemic, and 46 non-native. Of all species, various plant parts such as leaves (32 spp.), roots (29), tubers (2), seeds (8), fruits (10), flowers (8), fruiting body (1), bark (8), stem (3), and wood (2) were used in curing various diseases. We recommend further studies on habitat ecology of the species, mass multiplication of commercially viable species through conventional and in vitro met...

In vitro antibacterial activity of fronds (leaves) of some important pteridophytes

Abstract: The main objective of this research work is to screen various unexploited plants for their antimicrobial activity as these unexploited or pteridophytic plants are being used ethanomedicinally but, very little work has been done on their antimicrobial aspects. So, to explore the efficacy of these plants, the following research has been carried out. Bacterial strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Escherichia coli, Salmonella arizonae, Salmonella typhiand Staphylococcus aureus were procured from the Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh and the aqueous and alcoholic leaves extract of twelve important pteridophytic plants were prepared and tested for their antimicrobial activity against the bacteria selected by Disc diffusion method as suggested by Bauer et al. (1966). It has been observed that, nearly all the leaves extracts have shown inhibitory effect against the bacterial strains selected and some of the extracts were more competent than the selected antibiotic. Our findings provide the novel insights with regards to antimicrobial agents and these could be further enhanced through in vivo studies and isolation and characterization of active constituents for human health. In the present scenario, the use of herbs and herbal medicine is at its peak and majority of researchers are screening higher plants for the same but, very few researchers are considering the lower plants for their antimicrobial potential. Since, these pteridophytic plants are considered to be the disease free plants and are being used ethanobotanically by various tribal communities. These plants are further screened for their in vivo potential as well as for their drug properties. Key words: Antimicrobial activity, pteridophytic plants, leaves extracts, bacteria.