Posted by admin on Apr 1, 2014 in |
The Siddha System of Medicine (Traditional Tamil System of medicine), which has been most prevalent in the ancient Tamil land, is the foremost of all other medical systems in the world. Since, ancient times, several diseases have been treated by administration of plant extracts based on traditional medicine. Plants are the only economic source of some well established and important drugs. Indian Materia Medica includes about 2000 drugs of natural origin. The National Siddha Formulary of India lists more than 10000 well practiced Siddha formulations described in Gunavagadam (Siddha pharmacology). Cyperus rotundus Linn. belongs to the family Cyperaceae. It is the world worst weed native to India. It has a wide range of medicinal and pharmacological applications. According to the Siddha, C. rotundus rhizomes are considered astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, analgesic, antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, anti-tussive, emmenagogue, litholytic, sedative, stimulant, stomachic, vermifuge, tonic and antibacterial. This paper provides a review of medicinal uses and various updated pharmacological properties of C. rotundus rhizome. The update is essential for developing the traditional...
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Posted by admin on Apr 1, 2014 in |
Moringa oleifera can grow well in the humid tropics or hot, dry lands, can survive destitute soils, and is little affected by drought. It tolerates a wide range of rainfall with minimum annual rainfall requirements estimated at 250 mm and maximum at over 3000 mm and a pH of 5.0-9.0. Moringa leaves have been reported to be a rich source of β-carotene, protein, vitamin C, calcium and potassium and act as a good source of natural antioxidants; and thus enhance the shelf-life of fat-containing foods due to the presence of various types of antioxidant compounds such as ascorbic acid, flavonoids, phenolics and carotenoids. In the Philippines, it is known as ‘mother’s best friend’ because of its utilization to increase woman’s milk production and is sometimes prescribed for anemia. Moringa oleifera has both nutritional and multi medicinal activity. Some of the medicinal effects include antimicrobial, antifungal, antihypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-hyperglycemic, antipyretic, wound healing, antitumor, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and for purification of water. Since, Moringa oleifera can survive drought condition and its diet...
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Posted by admin on Mar 1, 2014 in |
Inflammation is a body defence reaction to prevent the spread of injurious agent and to remove the necrosed cells and tissues. Inflammatory abnormalities are a large group of disorders which underlie a vast variety of human diseases. During treatment of inflammatory diseases, many conventional therapies (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) used to relief pain and inflammation. Continuous use of the intended drugs is frequently associated with serious side effects, whereas plants still hold their unique place, by way of having no side effects. Therefore, a systematic approach should be made to find out the efficacy of plants against inflammation to exploit them as herbal anti-inflammatory agents with a better safety profile. Luffa acutangula Linn. (Cucurbitaceae) has many therapeutic uses mentioned in Ayurveda and therefore we aimed to study its anti-inflammatory...
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Posted by admin on Mar 1, 2014 in |
Plants have been used for health and medical purposes for several thousands of years. The clinical experience built over many centuries provides a substantial basis for the safe and effective use of herbal medicines, not just as a main form of therapy, but as a complement to the mainstream of western medical treatment in certain diseases. Till today, few plant species that provide medicinal herbs have been scientifically evaluated for their possible medical application and safety. Assurance of the safety, quality, and efficacy of medicinal plants and herbal products has now become a key issue in industrialized and in developing countries. Leaf of Adhatoda vasica Nees, classically known as a Vasapatra, is one of the important medicinal herbs as it was mentioned for the treatment of many diseases like Kasa (a cough), Swasa (dyspnoea), Ksaya (phthisis), Raktapitta (hemorrhagic diseases), Kamala (jaundice) and Kustha (skin disease). Many research studies have been conducted to evaluate its clinical efficacy. Keeping this view, a critical review of Adhatoda vasica Nees, an Ayurvedic medicinal...
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Posted by admin on Mar 1, 2014 in |
In resource-limited localities of developing countries, potentially manageable, if not useful, resources may present actual health and agricultural cost due to poor management and lack of awareness of health risk consequences. Senna occidentalis L. (Fabaceae) is a pan-tropical weed with a wide range of medicinal uses, and in some parts used as famine food. Despite possible use as alternative food or medicinal ingredient of this plant, many reports blame its seed as the cause of hidden intoxication to humans and various domestic animals, leading to considerable economic consequences. As has been described by experimentally reproduced natural cases of many animal studies and few human cases, intoxication by seeds of this plant presented varied and non-specific disease manifestations. Induction of mitochondrial damage has been suggested as the mechanism of toxicity, yet the exactly responsible toxin has not been identified. Thus, it seems that Senna occidentalis seed is presenting potentially manageable health risks to animal and human health, especially in resource limited localities of developing countries. In this review, the possible...
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