Post on 07-Nov-2014
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Medicinal plants
Medicinal plants are various plants thought by some to have medicinal properties, but few plants or their
phytochemical constituents have been proven by rigorous science or approved by regulatory agencies
such as the United States Food and Drug Administration or European Food Safety Authority to have
medicinal effects.
Use of plants as a source of medicine has been an ancient practice and is an important
component of the health care system in India. In the Indian systems of medicine, most
practitioners formulate and dispense their own recipes, hence this requires proper documentation
and research. In west also the use of herbal medicines is growing with approximately 40 per cent
of population reporting use of herb to treat medical diseases within the past year. General Public,
academic and government interest in traditional medicines is growing rapidly due to the increase
side effects of the adverse drug reactions and cost factor of the modern system of medicine.
There are about 45,000 medicinal plant species in India, with concentrated spots in the region of
Eastern Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman & Nicobar Island. The officially documented
plants with medicinal potential are 3000 but traditional practitioners use more than 6000. India is
the largest producer of medicinal herbs and is called the botanical garden of the world. There are
currently about 250 000 registered medical practitioners of the Ayurvedic system ,as compared
to about 700,000 of the modern medicine system. In rural India, 70 per cent of the population
depends on the traditional type of medicine, the Ayurveda.
In India, many forms of alternative medicines are available for those who do not want
conventional medicine or who cannot be helped by conventional
medicine. Ayurveda and Kabiraji (herbal medicine) are two important forms of alternative
medicine that is widely available in India.
Ayurvedic form of medicine is believed to be existent in India for thousands of years. It employs
various techniques and things to provide healing or relief to the ailing patients. One of the things
that ayurveda uses is medications of plant origin.
With the scripts in the Atharva Veda, we have evidence of a traditional use of medicinal plants
that is more than 3000 years old.
The first set of stamps showing medicinal plants came out in 1997. The set had four stamps
showing four different medicinal plants - Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Haridra (Curcuma longa),
Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentina), and Ghritkumari (Aloe barbadensis).
Continuing with the series that began on 28th October 1997, the Department of Posts now brings
out another set of four stamps on the medicinal plants of India. The stamps featuring in this set
are on Guggulu (Commiphora wightii), Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Aswagandha (Withania
somnifera) and Amla (Emblica officinallis).
Guggulu (Commiphora wightii) is an armed shrub or small tree found in the arid and semi-arid
zones of India, particularly Rajasthan. The oleo gum resin from its stem constitutes an important
therapeutic agent used in the treatment of various categories of ailments like neurological
conditions, leprosy, skin diseases, heart ailments, cerebro vascular diseases and hypertension.
Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) is a herb that spreads on ground, having fleshy stems and leaves. It is found in moist or
wet places in all parts of India. Brahmi is useful for treating the diseases of the brain and to improve memory power.
Brahmi-formulations are prescribed in rheumatism, mental disorders, constipation and bronchitis. It is also a diuretic
Amla (Emblica officinallis) is a medium sized deciduous tree found throughout India. It yields a
globose pale yellow fruit known for its varied medicinal properties. It is regarded as an digestive,
carminative, laxative, anti-pyretic and tonic. It is prescribed in colics, jaundice, hemorrhages,
flatulence and many other disorders.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a small or medium sized shrub found in the drier parts of
India. It is a nervine tonic, anabolic and aphrodisiac. It is used also to treat general weakness and
rheumatism.
some of the medicinal plants that we find in india along with their scientific names....
Air Plant (Kalanchoe pinnata/ Bryophyllum pinnatum)
Aloe Vera (Aloe Vera)
Amaltas (Cassia fistula)
Apple Mangrove (Sonneratia caseolaris)
Arjun Tree (Terminalia arjuna)
Arni (Clerodendrum phlomidis)
Arrow Leaf Pondweed (Monochoria hastata)
Arrowleaf Dock (Rumex hastatus)
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Asian Spider Flower (Cleome viscosa/icosandra)
Banchalita (Leea asiatica)
Bandicoot Berry (Leea indica)
Bara Gokhru (Pedalium murex)
Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)
Barringtonia (Barringtonia acutangula)
Bell Weed (Dipteracanthus prostratus)
Bellyache Bush (Jatropha gossypiifolia)
Bengal Sage (Meriandra benghalensis)
Bhringaraj (Eclipta prostrata/erecta/alba)
Bichchhoo (Meriandra benghalensis)
Bilimbi (Averrhoa bilimbi)
Bird's Head Birthwort (Aristolochia ornithocephala)
Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum)
Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)
Bush Grape (Cayratia trifolia)
Cabbage Palm (Sabal palmetto)
Calabash Tree (Crescentia cujete)
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis)
History, Background and Present Scenario in Indian Context
The earliest known medical document is a 4000-year-old Sumerian clay tablet that recorded
plant remedies for various illnesses. The ancient Egyptian Ebers papyrus from 3500 year ago
lists hundreds of remedies. The Pun-tsao contains thousands of herbal cures attributed to Shen-
nung, China’s legendary emperor who lived 4500 years ago. In India, herbal medicine dates back
several thousand years to the Rig-Veda, the collection of Hindu sacred verses. The Badianus
Manuscript is an illustrated document that reports the traditional medical knowledge of the
Aztecs
Early Greeks and Romans
Western medicine can be traced back to the Greek physician Hippocrates, who believed that
disease had natural causes and used various herbal remedies in his treatments Early Roman
writings also influenced the development of western medicine, especially the works of
Dioscorides, who compiled information on more than 600 species of plants with medicinal value
in De Materia Medica Many of the herbal remedies used by the Greeks and Romans were
effective treatments that have become incorporated into modern medicine (e.g., willow bark tea,
the precursor to aspirin) Dioscorides’ work remained the standard medical reference in most of
Europe for the next 1500 years
Age of herbals
The beginning of the Renaissance saw a revival of herbalism, the identification of medicinally
useful plants This coupled with the invention of the printing press in 1450 ushered in the Age of
Herbals Many of the herbals were richly illustrated; all of them focused on the medicinal uses of
plants, but also included much misinformation and superstition The Doctrine of Signatures, for
example, held that the medicinal use of plants could be ascertained by recognizing features of the
plant that corresponded to human anatomy For example, the red juice of bloodwort suggests that
it should be used for blood disorders; the lobed appearance of liverworts suggests that it should
be used to treat liver complaints; the “humanoid” form of mandrake root suggests that is should
be used to promote male virility and ensure conception.
Modern prescription drugs
Many of the remedies employed by the herbalists provided effective treatments Studies of
foxglove for the treatment of dropsy (congestive heart failure) set the standard for
pharmaceutical chemistry In the 19th century, scientists began purifying the active extracts from
medicinal plants (e.g., the isolation of morphine from the opium poppy) Advances in the field of
pharmacology led to the formulation of the first purely synthetic drugs based on natural products
in the middle of the 19th century In 1839, for example, salicylic acid was identified as the active
ingredient in a number of plants known for their pain-relieving qualities; salicylic acid was
synthesized in 1853, eventually leading to the development of aspirin It is estimated that 25% of
prescriptions written in the U.S. contain plant-derived ingredients (close to 50% if fungal
products are included); an even greater percentage are based on semisynthetic or wholly
synthetic ingredients originally isolated from plants
Herbal medicine today
While Western medicine strayed away from herbalism, 75% to 90% of the rural population of
the rest world still relies on herbal medicine as their only health care In many village
marketplaces, medicinal herbs are sold alongside vegetables and other wares The People’s
Republic of China is the leading country for incorporating traditional herbal medicine into a
modern health care system; the result is a blend of herbal medicine, acupuncture, and Western
medicine Plantations exist in China for the cultivation of medicinal plants, and thousands of
species are thus available for the Chinese herbalist; prescriptions are filled with measured
amounts of specific herbs rather than with pills or ointments. In India, traditional systems have
remained quite separate from Western medicine In addition to Ayurvedic medicine, which has a
Hindu origin, Unani medicine, with its Muslim and Greek roots, is another widely practiced
herbal tradition in India The renewed interest in medicinal plants has focused on herbal cures
among indigenous populations around the world, especially those in the tropical rain forests It is
hoped that these investigations will add new medicinal plants to the world’spharmacopoeia
before they are lost forever In addition to the destruction of the forests, the erosion of tribal
cultures is also a threat to herbal practices.
Indian Scenario:
Some Medicinal plants
Aloe vera
Aloe vera
Aloe vera plant with flower detail inset.
Aloe vera, also known as the true or medicinal aloe, is a species of succulent plant that probably
originated in the southern half of the Arabian peninsula, Northern Africa, the Canary islands and Cape
Verde. Aloe vera grows in arid climates and is widely distributed in Africa, India and other arid areas.
The species is frequently cited as being used in herbal medicine. Many scientific studies of the use of aloe
vera have been undertaken, some of them conflicting.[1][2][3][4] Despite these limitations, there is some
preliminary evidence that Aloe vera extracts may be useful in the treatment of wound and burn healing,
minor skin infections, Sebaceous cyst, diabetes and elevated blood lipids in humans.[3] These positive
effects are thought to be due to the presence of compounds such as polysaccharides, mannans,
anthraquinones and lectins.[3][5][6]
Aloe vera is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant growing to 60–100 cm (24–39 in) tall,
spreading by offsets. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with some varieties showing
white flecks on the upper and lower stem surfaces.[7] The margin of the leaf is serrated and has small
white teeth. The flowers are produced in summer on a spike up to 90 cm (35 in) tall, each flower
pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) long.[7][8] Like other Aloe species, Aloe vera
forms arbuscular mycorrhiza, a symbiosis that allows the plant better access to mineral nutrients in soil.[9]
Azadirachta indica Aka NEEM
Neem
Azadirachta indica (Neem) is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the
genus Azadirachta, and is native to India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Pakistan,
growing in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Other vernacular names include Neem (Hindi, Urdu and
Bengali), Nimm (Punjabi), Arya Veppu (Malayalam), Azad Dirakht (Persian), Nimba (Sanskrit and
Marathi), DogonYaro (in some Nigerian languages), Margosa, Neeb (Arabic), Nimtree, Vepu, Vempu,
Vepa (Telugu), Bevu (Kannada), Kohomba (Sinhala), Vembu (Tamil), Tamar (Burmese), sầu đâu, xoan
Ấn Độ (Vietnamese), Paraiso (Spanish), and Indian Lilac (English). In East Africa it is also known as
Muarubaini (Swahili), which means the tree of the 40, as it is said to treat 40 different diseases.
Neem is a fast-growing tree that can reach a height of 15–20 m (about 50–65 feet), rarely to 35–40 m
(115–131 feet). It is evergreen, but in severe drought it may shed most or nearly all of its leaves. The
branches are wide spread. The fairly dense crown is roundish or oval and may reach the diameter of 15–
20 m in old, free-standing specimens.
Ocimum tenuiflorumAka TULSI
Tulsi
Ocimum tenuiflorum (also tulsi, tulasī, or Holy Basil) is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae
which is native throughout the Old World tropics and widespread as a cultivated plant and an escaped
weed.[1] It is an erect, much branched subshrub 30-60 cm tall with hairy stems and simple opposite green
leaves that are strongly scented. Leaves have petioles, and are ovate, up to 5 cm long, usually slightly
toothed. Flowers are purplish in elongate racemes in close whorls.[2] There are two main morphotypes
cultivated in India—green-leaved (Sri or Lakshmi tulsi) and purple-leaved (Krishna tulsi).[3]
Tulsi is cultivated for religious and medicinal purposes, and for its essential oil. It is widely known across
South Asia as a medicinal plant and an herbal tea, commonly used in Ayurveda, and has an important role
within the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism, in which devotees perform worship involving Tulsi plants
or leaves.
There is also a variety of Ocimum tenuiflorum which is used in Thai cuisine, and is referred to as Thai
holy basil, or kraphao (กะเพรา)[4]—not be confused with "Thai Basil", which is a variety of Ocimum
basilicum.
Turmeric
Turmeric
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family,
Zingiberaceae.[2] It is native to tropical South Asia and needs temperatures between 20 °C and 30 °C, and
a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive.[3] Plants are gathered annually for their rhizomes, and
re-seeded from some of those rhizomes in the following season.
The rhizomes are boiled for several hours and then dried in hot ovens, after which they are ground into a
deep orange-yellow powder commonly used as a spice in curries and other South Asian and Middle
Eastern cuisine, for dyeing, and to impart color to mustard condiments. Its active ingredient is curcumin
and it has a distinctly earthy, slightly bitter, slightly hot peppery flavor and a mustardy smell.
In medieval Europe, turmeric became known as Indian Saffron, since it was widely used as an
alternative to the far more expensive saffron spice.[4]
Erode, a city in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is the world's largest producer and most important
trading center of turmeric in Asia. For these reasons, Erode in history is also known as "Yellow City" [citation
needed] or "Turmeric City".[citation needed] Sangli, a town in the southern part of the Indian western state of
Maharashtra, is the second largest and most important trading center for turmeric in Asia.
Arjun Tree
The common name is Arjun .Its botaical name is Terminalia arjuna.It belongs to a family called
Combretaceae (rangoon creeper family)In Indian mythology, Arjun is supposed to be Sita's favourite
tree.. Arjuna is a large, evergreen tree, with a spreading crown and drooping branches. Grows up to 25 m
height, and the bark is grey and smooth. Leaves are sub-opposite, 5-14 × 2-4.5 cm in size, oblong or
elliptic oblong. Flowers small, white, and occur on long hanging recemes. Fruit is 2.3-3.5 cm long,
fibrous woody, glabrous and has five hard wings, striated with numerous curved veins. Flowering time of
the tree is April-July, in Indian conditions
Some of its medicinal uses are:
Every part of the tree has useful medicinal properties. Arjun holds a reputed
position in both Ayurvedic and Yunani Systems of medicine. According to
Ayurveda it is alexiteric, styptic, tonic, anthelmintic, and useful in fractures, uclers,
heart diseases, biliousness, urinary discharges, asthma, tumours, leucoderma,
anaemia, excessive prespiration etc. According to Yunani system of medicine, it is
used both externally and internally in gleet and urinary discharges.
Amaltas
The common name of this medicinal plant is Amaltas, Golden shower tree, Indian
Laburnum .Its botanical name is Cassia fistula.It belongs to family called
Caesalpiniaceae (Gulmohar family)This native of India,, is one of the most
beautiful of all tropical trees when it sheds its leaves and bursts into a mass of long,
grape-bunches like yellow gold flowers. A tropical ornamental tree with a trunck
consisting of hard reddish wood, growing up to 40 feet tall. The wood is hard and
heavy; it is used for cabinet, inlay work, etc. It has showy racemes, up to 2" long,
with bright, yellow, fragrant flowers. These flowers are attractive to bees and
butterflies. The fruits are dark-brown cylindrical pods, also 2' long, which also hold
the flattish, brown seeds (up to 100 in one pod) These seeds are in cells, each
containing a single seed. A postal stamp was issued by the Indian Postal
Department to commemorate this tree.
Its medicinal uses are: The sweet blackish pulp of the seedpod is used as a mild laxative
Asian Spider Flower
The common name of this medicinal plant is Asian spider flower, Yellow spider
flower, Cleome, Tickweed, Bagra (Hindi).Its botanical name is Cleome
viscosa/icosandra It belongs to family called Capparaceae (caper family) .It is
usually tall annual herb, up to a meter in height, more or less hairy with glandular
and eglandular hairs. Leaves 3-5-foliolate, petiolate; leaflets obovate, elliptic-
oblong, very variable in size, often 2-4 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm broad, middle one
largest; petiole up to 5 cm long. Racemes elongated, up to 30 cm long, with
corym¬bose flowers at the top and elongated mature fruits below, bracteate.
Flowers 10-15 mm across, whitish or yellowish; pedicels 6-20 mm long; bracts
foliaceous. Sepals oblong-lanceolate, 3-4 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, glandular-
pubescent. Petals 8-15 mm long, 2-4 mm broad, oblong-obovate. Stamens 10-12
(rarely more, up to 20), not exceeding the petals; gynophore absent. Fruit 30-75
mm long, 3-5 mm broad, linear-oblong, erect, obliquely striated, tapering at both
ends, glandular-pubescent, slender; style 2-5 mm long; seeds many, 1-1.4 mm in
diam., glabrous with longitudinal striations and transverse ridges, dark brown.
Some of its medicinal uses are:
The leaves are diaphoretic, rubefacient and vesicant. They are used as an external
application to wounds and ulcers. The juice of the leaves has been used to relieve
earache. The seeds are anthelmintic, carminative, rubefacient and vesicant. The
seed contains 0.1% viscosic acid and 0.04% viscosin.