PHYTOMEDICINE - By Dr. Devanshi Goel.pptx

PHYTOMEDICINE
By DR. DEVANSHI GOEL
M.D Naturopathy JR 1

Contents
 Introduction
 Definition
 Ecological factors
 How do Medicinal plants work?
 Quality control
 Buying herbal medicine
 History of herbal medicine – 17th century
19th century
20th century
Indian history
 Herbs and their functions

Introduction
 Phytomedicine, also called Botanical/Plant medicine or Herbal medicine (medicines from plants).
 A phytomedicine may be defined as a medicine derived from plants in their original state and
standardized for use in a dosage regimen.
 The term "herb" is a combination of the Latin word "herba" and the ancient French word "herbe“
which means ‘grassy’
 Herbal medicine is the science that deals with the scientific and systemic study of the plant's
structure, chemical, and biological characteristics along with their history, and method of cultivation.

HERBS: Herbs are crude plant materials that may be entire, fragment, or powdered.
Herbs include aerial parts, leave, flowers, fruits, roots, bark ( stems) of trees, rhizomes, or other plant
parts.
Winslow LC, Kroll DJ. Herbs as medicines. Archives of internal medicine. 1998 Nov 9;158(20):2192-9.
HERBAL MEDICINE: Herbal medicine is the study and use of medicinal plants for the prevention,
treatment, and diagnosis of diseases.
Firenzuoli F, Gori L. Herbal medicine today: clinical and research issues. Evidence-based complementary and alternative
medicine. 2007 Sep 1;4(S1):37-40.
Definitions

Herbal medicines (HMs) have been defined as “preparations manufactured industrially
consisting of active ingredient(s) which is/are purely and naturally original, not chemically
altered plant substance(s), and is/are responsible for the overall therapeutic effect of the
product”
Alostad AH, et al. International comparison of five herbal medicine registration systems to inform regulation development:
United Kingdom, Germany, United States of America, United Arab Emirates, and Kingdom of Bahrain. Pharmaceutical
medicine. 2018 Feb;32:39-49.
HERBAL DRUG PREPARATIONS: Traditional herbal medicines are naturally occurring,
plant-derived substances with minimal or no industrial processing that have been used to
treat illness. They are produced from herbal materials by physical or biological processes.
Tilburt JC, Kaptchuk TJ. Herbal medicine research and global health: an ethical analysis. Bulletin of the World Health
Organization. 2008;86:594-9.

Ecological Factors
 The increased use of medicinal herbs has important environmental implications.
 Growing herbs as an organic crop offers new opportunities for farmers, and sometimes, especially in
developing countries, opportunities for whole communities.
 for example, community-run herb gardens grow medicinal herbs that are sold to local hospitals. Doctors
at the hospital then prescribe these medicines to their patients.
 However, the rise in popularity of herbal medicines also directly threatens the survival of some wild
species.
Chevallier, A. (2000) DK Natural Health: Encyclopedia of herbal medicine. New York: DK Pub.

How do Medicinal plants work??
 Many of the thousands of plant species growing throughout the world have medicinal uses, containing active
constituents that have a direct action on the body.
 They are used both in herbal and conventional medicine and offer benefits that pharmaceutical drugs often lack,
helping to combat illness and support the body’s efforts to regain good health.
 The ability of herbal medicine to affect body systems depends on the chemical constituents that it contains.
 As can be seen, an herb is not a “magic bullet” with a single action, but a complex natural medicine composed of
many active constituents that work on different body systems.
 By combining scientific research into active constituents with clinical observation and traditional knowledge of
the whole plant, we can develop a rounded picture of each herb’s range of medicinal uses.

The Benefits of Herbal Medicine
 Today, herbal remedies are coming back into prominence because the efficacy of conventional medicines
such as antibiotics, which once had near-universal effectiveness against serious infections, is on the
wane.
 Over the years, infectious organisms have developed resistance to synthesized drugs, and no longer
respond to conventional treatment.
 In addition, concern over the side effects of biomedicine is encouraging people to look for more gentle
forms of treatment.
 It is estimated that 10–20% of hospital patients in the West are there due to the side effects of
conventional medical treatment.

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Quality control
 Quality is vital for herbal medicine. Without a guarantee that the correct herb of
the right quality is being used, it is hard to be confident that the medicine will
prove effective.
 The adulteration of herbal products, particularly in Chinese and Indian herbs
sold in the West is, regrettably, not unusual.
 Herb quality may be affected not only by deliberate adulteration but by the use
of wrongly identified or poor-quality material.
 The herb may have been poorly harvested, dried, or stored, or it may be old or
decayed.
 It may even be that the wrong herb was used.

Buying herbal medicines
What should you look for buying herbal medicines?
 Herbs should not be stored in clear glass jars or direct sunlight, as this causes
oxidation, which affects their efficacy.
 Good-quality aromatic herbs should have a distinct scent and taste.
 Check for signs of infestation due to poor drying techniques, or adulteration.
 Herbs lose their color as they age. For example, vitamin C serum.

When buying products such as capsules, tablets, essential oils, and
tinctures, always check the label on the jar or packet.
If it does not do the following, do not buy it:
■ Name all constituents of the product
■ State the recommended daily dosage
■ State the weight of each capsule or tablet or volume of the bottle
■ List the weight of each constituent of a capsule, tablet, etc.
■ List the ratio of the herb in the product (for example, 1:3, meaning 1
part herb to 3 parts liquid).

HISTORY
17th century
o The theory of
four humors
19th century 20th century
o Ancient civilization
o Western influences on
ancient medicine
o World War 1st
o World War 2nd
2-7th century
o Ayurveda
origin

Early Origins
 In India and the neighboring regions, Ayurveda was the main system of healing.
 The name Ayurveda derives from two Indian words: “Ayur” meaning “longevity”, and “Veda” meaning
“knowledge” or science.
 Ancient Indian culture developed around 5,000 years ago in northern India with knowledge and wisdom being
transmitted orally from teacher to student over many generations and eventually set down in Sanskrit poetry
known as the Vedas.
 The most important of these texts are the Rig Veda and the Atharva Veda.
 In about 400 BCE, the first Ayurvedic medical school was founded by Punarvasu Atreya. His medical knowledge
influenced Charaka, the scholar who is thought to have written the Charaka Samhita (100 CE) which describes 341
plant medicines as well as medicines of animal and mineral origin.
 The second major work was the Susruta Samhita, dating from around the same time; it displays a detailed
knowledge of surgery, especially plastic surgery.
Indian ancient history
HISTORY

Indian Medicine 500–1500 CE
 In India, the 7th century saw a golden age of medicine.
 Thousands of students studied Ayurveda at university, especially at Nalanda. There, scholars recorded the medical
achievements of the time, with advances such as the development of hospitals, maternity homes, and the planting
of medicinal herb gardens.
The Doshas & Health
 The five elements combine to form three basic forces, known as the tridoshas, which exist in everything in the
universe, and influence all mental and physical processes.
 From ether and air, the air principle vata is created; fire and water yield the fire principle pitta; and earth and water
produce the water principle Kapha.
 According to Ayurveda, we are all born with a particular balance of doshas.
 Our body type, temperament, and susceptibility to illnesses are largely governed by the predominant dosha. In this
way, we inherit our basic constitution, called the Prakruti.
 The first requirement for health in Ayurveda is a proper balance of the doshas.

Attributes of remedies
 Subsequent treatments fall into three main categories:
• medicines from natural sources
• dietary regimens
• behavioral modifications
 Medicines, foods, and lifestyle activities are all classified according to their effect on the three doshas.
 For instance, a health problem associated with an excess of kapha, the water principle, is characterized by
congestion, excess weight, fluid retention, and lethargy. The practitioner would prescribe the consumption of
warm, dry, light foods because the quality of Kapha is cool and damp. Avoidance of cold damp foods (such as
wheat, sugar, and milk products), which increase kapha, would also be advised. Herbal remedies would
include warming spices such as ginger and turmeric.

 Ayurveda also classifies remedies according to six tastes—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent, and astringent.
Sugar (Madhur) Sour (amla) Salt (lavarn) Increases Water (Kapha) decreases air (Vata)
Astringent (kashaya)
Pungent (katu)
Bitter (tikt) Increases air (Vata) decreases Water (Kapha)
Increases fire (pitta)

In the 17th century
 Galen developed the theory of the four humors from the texts of Hippocrates (460–c. 377 BCE) and Aristotle
(384–322 BCE).
 Hippocrates believed that the world was made up of the elements fire, air, earth, and water, and classified herbs
as having hot, dry, cold, and moist properties.
 Aristotle developed and endorsed the theory of the four humors. According to him, four principal fluids—or
humors—exist within the body: blood, choler (yellow bile), melancholy (black bile), and phlegm (cough). The
“ideal” person bore all four in equal proportion. However, in most people, one or more humors predominate,
giving rise to particular temperaments or characters.
 Galen also believed that pneuma (spirit) was taken in with each breath, and processed in the body to form the
“vital spirit.” Vitality and health depended upon the proper balance between the four humors and the four
elements and the correct mix with the pneuma.

Angry man
Emotionless/ uninterested man
Socially active man

Ancient Civilizations
 As civilizations grew from 3000 BCE onward in Egypt, the Middle East, India, and China, the use of
herbs became more sophisticated, and the first written accounts of medicinal plants were made.
 In India, in the Vedas, epic poems were written c. 1500 BCE, also contains rich material on the herbal
lore of that time.
 The Vedas were followed in about 400 BCE by the Charaka Samhita, written by the physician
Charaka.
 This medical treatise includes details of around 350 herbal medicines.
Early origins to the 19th century

Western Influences on Asian Medicine
 During the early 19th century, the influence of Western biomedicine was beginning to affect traditional
practices in both China and India.
 But under British rule, Western medicine eventually became the only alternative in India. Ayurveda
was seen as inferior to biomedicine.

 During the First World War (1914–1918), for example, garlic and sphagnum moss was used by the ton
in the battle trenches to dress wounds and to treat infections.
Garlic is an excellent natural antibiotic and was the most effective antiseptic available at the time, and
sphagnum moss makes a natural aseptic dressing.
 The Second World War (1939– 1945), In the decades following when antibiotics first came into use,
Modern medicine provided highly effective drugs such as steroid anti-inflammatories, and it seemed as if
it was simply a question of time until cures for most illnesses were found.
20th century onwards

Preparations and treatments
 In addition to plant extracts, Herbal medicines include honey and dairy produce, and sometimes minute doses
of minerals such as salt are added.
 Remedies take the form of pills, powders, balms, and infusions, and most contain several different ingredients,
all carefully balanced.
 Treatment might include washes and enemas or the application of poultices as well as massage with warm
herbal oil, burning incense, and the use of precious stones and metals for imbalanced mind and emotions.
Herbal medicine in India today
 In the 19th century, the British dismissed herbal medicine as mere superstition, and in 1833 they closed all
Ayurvedic schools and banned the practice.
 By the time of India’s independence in 1947 it had regained its reputation as a valid medical system.
 Today, herbal medicine flourishes and is actively encouraged by the Indian government as an inexpensive
alternative to Western drugs

Introduction
 The bark of the Arjun tree has been used in Indian herbal medicine for at
least 3,000 years and has always been valued as a remedy for cardiac
ailments.
 The first person credited with prescribing Arjun for heart disease was
Vagbhata, an Indian physician of the 7th century CE.
Habitat & Cultivation
 Arjun is found throughout most of the Indian subcontinent, from Sri Lanka
to the foothills of the Himalayas.
 It thrives in wet, marshy areas and on riverbanks.
Parts used
 Bark – has constituents that lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol
levels.
Dwivedi S, Chopra D. Revisiting Terminalia arjuna–an ancient cardiovascular drug. Journal of
Traditional and complementary medicine. 2014 Oct 1;4(4):224-31.

Traditional and complementary medicine. 2014 Oct 1;4(4):224-31.

Key Constituents
 Tannins
 Triterpenoid saponins (a diverse group of natural products in plants that are
considered defensive compounds against pathogenic microbes).
 Flavonoids
 Phytosterols
Key Actions
 Cardiac Tonic
 Lower Blood pressure
 Reduces cholesterol levels
Key preparations and their uses
 Decoction – improve poor circulation
 Tincture – Cardiac tonic for angina
 Powder – for asthma
traditional and complementary medicine. 2014 Oct 1;4(4):224-31.

Cardioprotective mechanism of action of TA
Abbreviations
1. ET1 and ETA – endothelin receptors (vasoconstrictors)
2. COX 1 & COX 2 – cyclooxygenase causes inflammation and prostaglandins which aid in hyperthermia physiology

Title Journal and year Conclusion
Ramesh P, et al. Terminalia arjuna, A
Cardioprotective Herbal Medicine–
Relevancy in the Modern Era of
Pharmaceuticals and Green
Nanomedicine-A Review.
Pharmaceuticals.
2023 January
Terminalia arjuna is a medicinal plant
that has several medicinal properties,
such as anti-inflammatory,
antioxidant, anti-ischemic, anti-
atherosclerotic, antimicrobial, anti-
cancer, anti-fertility, anti-mutagenic,
etc. These properties are due to the
presence of a variety of
phytochemicals, such as flavonoids,
polyphenols, triterpenoids, tannins,
glycosides, and several others, in the
extracts.
Bharani, A., Efficacy of Terminalia arjuna in chronic stable angina: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study comparing
Terminalia arjuna with isosorbide mononitrate. Indian heart journal
Dosage – 500mg/day

Introduction
 Gotu kola is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy that is now used extensively in the West.
 It is a useful tonic and cleansing herb for skin problems and digestive disorders.
 In India, it is used to treat a variety of conditions, including leprosy, but it is valued
chiefly as a revitalizing herb that strengthens nervous function and memory.
 It has a bittersweet, acrid taste.
 Gotu kola is found growing wild throughout India.
 It prefers marshy areas and riverbanks.
 Gotu kola can be cultivated from seed in spring.
 The aerial parts are harvested throughout the year.
Bylka W, et al. Centella asiatica in cosmetology. Advances in Dermatology and Allergology. 2013 Feb

Parts Used
 Aerial parts
Key Constituents
 Triterpenoid saponins (centelloids)
 Alkaloids (hydrocotyline)
 Bitter principles (vellarin)
Sun B, Wu L, et al. Therapeutic potential of Centella Asiatica and its triterpenes: A review.
Frontiers in pharmacology. 2020 Sep

Key Actions
 Wound healer
 Tonic
 Anti-inflammatory
 Sedative
 Peripheral vasodilator
Key Preparations
 Powder – general tonic
 Paste – mixed with water (2 tsp+25ml) for eczema
Caution!
 Can occasionally cause sensitivity to sunlight.
 May cause allergic reactions in rare cases
Sun B, Wu L, et al. Therapeutic potential of Centella Asiatica and its triterpenes: A review.
Frontiers in pharmacology. 2020 Sep

Sun B, Wu L, et al. Therapeutic Potential of Centella Asiatica and Its Triterpenes: A Review. Front Pharmacol. 2020 Sep.
It has-
Asiatic acid
Madecassic acid
Asiaticoside
madecassoside

Park KS.
Pharmacological effects of Centella
asiatica on skin diseases: evidence
and possible mechanisms.
Evidence-Based Complementary and
Alternative Medicine. 2021 Nov 20.
C. asiatica is an herb used in
traditional Chinese medicine. Its main
effective components are asiaticoside,
asiatic acid, madecassoside, and
madecassic acid. As mentioned
earlier, C. asiatica and its triterpenoids
have a wide range of medicinal
values. In vivo and in vitro studies
showed that C. asiatica and its
triterpenoids had therapeutic and
relieving effects on atopic dermatitis,
wound acne, and vitiligo, C. asiatica ,
and its triterpenoids can be used in
many medical situations because they
have anti-inflammatory and anti-
apoptotic effects, relieve oxidant
stress, and improve mitochondrial
function

Introduction
 Large, evergreen, twining plant, climbing up through forest trees,
sometimes to a considerable height.
 Has dull green leaves about 2 in (5 cm) long, and cluster of small yellow
flowers.
 Gymnema is native to forests of central and southern India, It prefers
loamy soil.
Parts used
 Leaves
Key constituents
 Saponins (gymnemic acids)
 Polypeptides
Pothuraju R, et al. A systematic review of Gymnema sylvestre in obesity and diabetes management.
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 2014 Mar.

Key Actions
 Gymnema has real value in treating diabetes, especially in the early
stages of type 2 diabetes, which develops in middle to old age.
 If taken consistently for a year or more, it will help to prevent the
condition from deteriorating.
 Gymnema may help to regenerate cells in the pancreas that secrete
insulin, so it may be possible to control or reverse mild diabetes with diet
and gymnema.
 The plant’s remarkable ability to block sweet tastes means that it can
reduce sugar cravings and contribute to weight-loss programs.
Dosage – 600mg/day
Pothuraju R, et al. A systematic review of Gymnema sylvestre in obesity and diabetes management.
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. 2014 Mar.
Zuñiga, L. Y. Effect of Gymnema Sylvestre Administration on
Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin Sensitivity, and Insulin Secretion.
Journal of medicinal food

Khan F, et al.
Comprehensive review on
phytochemicals, pharmacological
and clinical potentials of Gymnema
sylvestre.
Frontiers in pharmacology. 2019
October
Gymnema Sylvestre constitutes
saponins, flavanol, glycosides,
gymnemanol, gurmarin, etc. which
have anti-diabetic, anti-oxidative, anti-
metastatic, anti-inflammatory, lipid-
lowering, and several other properties.
People are using this plant as a cheap
substitution for their anti-diabetic
medicine without any knowledge of
what part of the plant to be used which
results in the unnecessary destruction
of the whole plant. Thus, this plant is
being wasted without being used up to
its maximum potential. In order to
prevent the waste of this plant, legal
production of medicinal preparation
from the plant should be ensured and
sustainable use of this plant should be
closely monitored.

Introduction
 Creeping succulent perennial growing to 20 in (50 cm).
 Has spatula-shaped fleshy leaves and pale blue or white flowers on long,
slender stalks
 Water hyssop grows in warmer temperate and tropical climates,
especially in southern Asia.
 It thrives in marshland, developing into dense mats on mudflats and at the
edges of mangrove swamps.
Shalini, V. T. et al., Neuroprotection with Bacopa monnieri-A review of experimental
evidence. Molecular biology reports, 2021

Parts used
 Aerial parts

Key constituents
 Triterpenoid Saponins
 Bacosides
Key Actions
 In India, water hyssop is used principally for disorders of the nervous
system, such as neuralgia, epilepsy, and mental illness,
 but it is also employed for a wide range of other disorders, including
indigestion, ulcers, gas and constipation, asthma and bronchitis, and
infertility.
 In China, it is taken as a yang tonic for impotence, premature ejaculation,
infertility, and rheumatic conditions.
 In Indonesia, the plant is a remedy for filariasis (a tropical disease caused
by worms).

Abbreviations
1. FOXO 3 – genes
2. NRF 2 – (nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor- 2)
3. ATF-4 – activating transcription factor 4
4. CREB2 – intracellular protein
5. eiF2 alpha – eukaryotic initiation factor

Calabrese, C., Effects of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in the elderly: a randomized,
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Alternative and complementary medicine
Dosage- 300mg/day

Banerjee S, et al.
Bacosides from Bacopa
monnieri extract: An overview
of the effects on neurological
disorders.
Phytotherapy Research.
2021 Oct
In this review article, the authors
have tried to collect and
summarize the properties,
applications, and recent reports
on traditional uses of
phytochemistry, pharmacological
properties, toxicity, extracts, and
isolated compounds of bacosides
and bacopa saponins. Increasing
SOD activity, free radical
scavenging, GABA receptors,
and levels of various antioxidant
enzymes (that protect the cells
from ROS) give an insight into
the antioxidative and anti-
inflammatory properties of
bacosides.

Introduction
 Ashwagandha has been called “Indian ginseng” because it is used in
Ayurveda in much the same way that ginseng is used in Chinese
medicine: to improve vitality and to aid recovery after chronic illness.
 It invigorates when fatigued, eases the impact of stress and anxiety, and
aids sleep.
 Ashwagandha is found in India, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.
 It is propagated from seed or cuttings in spring.
 The leaves are harvested in spring and the fruit and root in autumn.
Chevallier, A. (2000) DK Natural Health: Encyclopedia of herbal medicine. New York:
DK Pub.

DK Pub.

Key Constituents
 Alkaloids
 Steroidal lactones (withanolides)
 Iron
Key Actions
 Adaptogenic
 Tonic
 Mild sedative
DK Pub.

rPer1, rPer2, rCry1 (Chronomodulatory effects)

Speers AB, et al.
Effects of Withania somnifera
(ashwagandha) on stress and the
stress-related neuropsychiatric
disorders anxiety, depression,
and insomnia.
Current Neuropharmacology.
2021 Sep
Extracts made from
Ashwagandha root and/or leaf
have shown remarkable anti-
stress and anti-anxiety activity in
numerous animal models and
clinical studies. Fewer studies
have examined the effects of WS
on depression and sleep, but as
before, positive activity was
observed here as well. The ability
of WS to potentially ameliorate
all of these conditions, which
often occur as co-morbidities, is
of significance.

Sengupta, P., et al.
Role of Withania somnifera
(Ashwagandha) in the
management of male infertility.
Reproductive biomedicine online
2018
It can be appraised that Withania
somnifera is beneficial for male
fertility in various aspects.
Lopresti, A. An investigation into the stress-relieving and pharmacological actions of an ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) extract: A
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Dosage- 240mg/day

Introduction
 Neem is one of the most valued herbs in Indian and Ayurvedic medicine.
 Extracts of the leaves are used to treat conditions such as asthma,
eczema, diabetes, and rheumatism, while neem oil has been applied as a
hair lotion, to treat headlice, and to calm angry skin rashes.
 Research indicates that neem may prove useful as an insecticide and a
contraceptive.
 The tree itself is said to purify the air and is widely planted in India.
 Native to Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka, neem is found throughout the
subcontinent in forests and woods.
 It is now naturalized in other tropical regions.
 It is grown from seed.
 Leaves and seeds are harvested throughout the year.

Key Constituents
 Meliacins
 Liminoids
 Triterpenoid bitters
 Sterols
 Tannins
 Flavonoids
Key Actions
 Lowers fever
 Antimicrobial
 Promotes wound healing
 Antiparasitic
 Antimalarial
Subapriya R, et al. Medicinal properties of neem leaves a review. Current Medicinal
Chemistry-Anti-Cancer Agents. 2005 Mar

Parts used
Subapriya R, et al. Medicinal properties of neem leaves a review. Current Medicinal
Chemistry-Anti-Cancer Agents. 2005 Mar

Key preparations and uses
 Tinctures for fever
 Infusion
 Decoction
 Topical applications for skin and scalp
Dosage- 500mg twice/day
Nesari, T. M., Neem (Azadirachta Indica A. Juss) Capsules for Prophylaxis of COVID-19
Infection: A Pilot, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial. Alternative therapies in health
and medicine

Islas JF, et al.
An overview of Neem
(Azadirachta indica) and its
potential impact on health.
Journal of Functional Foods.
2020 Nov
Neem’s most attractive benefits, its
anti-cancerous and anti-diabetic
activities, result from the anti-
inflammatory properties of the
compounds found within. Stopping
ROS (anti-oxidant activity) is a
measure of prevention and mediation
of the potential exacerbation of
metabolic diseases. In addition,
inflammation is a state reduced by
compounds found in neem-like
limonoid. Limonoid, an example of
compounds which not only reduce
inflammation but also work as a pain-
relief agent, due to the activation of
the opioid pathway.

Introduction
 Slender perennial fern growing to 23 ft (7 m) in height.
 Shatavari has fronds of needle-like leaves, tiny white flowers, and purple-black
berries.
 Native to the Himalayas and the Indian subcontinent.
 Shatavari grows wild in gravelly soils.
Parts Used
 Root
Pandey AK, et al. Impact of stress on female reproductive health disorders: Possible
beneficial effects of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus). Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy.
2018 Jul

Chemical Constituents
 Steroidal saponins
 Alkaloids
 Mucilage
Key Actions
 Shatavari is known as the “Queen of herbs” in Ayurvedic medicine.
 Its name literally means “100 spouses,” signifying the herb’s ability to
act as a sexual tonic and promote fertility.
2018 Jul

Key Uses
 A key Ayurvedic remedy, Shatavari is first and foremost a women’s
herb, aiding fertility and promoting conception, and acting as a general
reproductive and sexual tonic.
 Shatavari can prove particularly helpful in easing menopausal
symptoms, such as hot flashes and poor stamina.
 It appears to improve fertility in both men and women and may also be
taken to treat impotence.
 A tonic, strengthening herb, Shatavari supports immune function and has
a place in the treatment of immunosuppressed conditions.
2018 Jul

Pandey AK, et al.
Impact of stress on female
reproductive health disorders:
Possible beneficial effects of
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus).
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy.
2018 Jul
Girls and women are more frequently
exposed to psychological, physical,
and physiological stressors during
their reproductive life. This study
proposes that Shatavari is frequently
used by Ayurvedic practitioners to
treat reproductive health disorders.
We propose that Shatavari possibly
nourishes the ovary by increasing
estradiol-17 β level, reducing OS
level, and increasing antioxidant
ability to correct the reproductive
health disorders
Dosage- 400mg twice/day
Rangnekar, H. Safety and efficacy of herbal extracts to restore respiratory health and improve innate immunity in COVID-19 positive patients
with mild to moderate severity: A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction
 Familiar as a spice and flavoring, ginger is also one of the world’s best
medicines. It has been revered in Asia since the earliest times.
 Ginger’s warming and anti-inflammatory properties can bring relief to problems
as varied as headache and migraine, joint pain, indigestion, motion sickness, and
morning sickness.
 Native to Asia, ginger is grown throughout the tropics.
 It is propagated by dividing the rootstock.
 Ginger flourishes in fertile soil and needs plenty of rain.
 The rhizome is unearthed when the plant is 10 months old.
 It is washed, soaked, and sometimes boiled and peeled.
Haniadka R, et al. A review of the gastroprotective effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale
Roscoe). Food & function. 2013.

Parts Used
 Rhizome

Key Constituents
 Volatile oil (1–3%) —zingiberene (20–30%)
 Oleoresin (4–7.5%) —gingerol, shogaols
Key actions
 Circulatory stimulant
 Antiemetic
 Antiviral
 Digestive stimulant
 Colds, flu, & fevers
Key Preparations
 Infusion for nausea, drink 3/4 cup (150 ml) 3 times a day.
 Essential oil For arthritic aches and pains, dilute 5 drops in 20 drops of carrier oil
and apply.

Unuofin JO, et al.
Ginger from farmyard to town:
Nutritional and pharmacological
applications.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
2021 Nov.
The presence of superabundant pungent
constituents (>400), for instance, gingerols,
shogaols, zingerone, and many others
provide therapeutic benefits of this plant.
The pharmacological activities of ginger and
its chemical compounds are promising in the
mitigation, treatment, prevention of diabetes,
male infertility, obesity, nausea, emesis, as
well as inflammation. Presently, the
potential inhibition activity of ginger
phytochemicals against SARS-Cov-2 and to
assess its binding affinities to block SARS-
Cov-2 have been reported.
Dosage – 450mg twice/day
Sharifzadeh, F. A comparison between the effects of ginger, pyridoxine (vitamin B6), and placebo for the treatment of first-trimester nausea
and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP). The Journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine: the official journal of the European Association of
Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians

Introduction
 Holy basil, like sweet (culinary) basil, comes from India, where it
is revered as the herb sacred to the goddess Lakshmi, wife of
Vishnu, the god who preserves life.
 Tulsi means “matchless,” and the herb has very important
medicinal properties, notably reducing blood sugar levels.
 In Indian herbal medicine, holy basil has a wide range of uses,
including relieving fevers, bronchitis, asthma, stress, and mouth
ulcers.
 Holy basil is native to India and other tropical regions of Asia.
 Holy basil can be grown from seed and is often cultivated as a
potted plant.
 The aerial parts are picked before the flowers open, in early
summer

Key Constituents
 Volatile oil (1%) including eugenol (70–80%)
 Flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin)
 Triterpene (ursolic acid)
 Polyphenols
 Saponins
Key Actions
 Antispasmodic
 Analgesic
 Lowers blood sugar levels
 Reduces fever
 Adaptogenic

Parts Used

Key Preparations and their uses
 Juice for skin infections, apply 1/2 tbsp to the affected part twice a day.
 Decoction is used for fevers and as a tonic. Take (150 ml) daily as a general
tonic.
 Powder For mouth ulcers, rub powder gently into sore areas several times a
day.
 Holy basil is valuable for respiratory infections, especially colds, coughs,
bronchitis, and pleurisy.

Cohen M. M. (2014).
Tulsi - Ocimum sanctum: A herb
for all reasons. Journal of
Ayurveda and integrative medicine
Journal of Ayurveda and
integrative medicine
2014
Modern-day scientific research into Tulsi
demonstrates the many psychological and
physiological benefits of consuming Tulsi
and provides a testament to the wisdom
inherent in Hinduism and Ayurveda, which
celebrates Tulsi as a plant that can be
worshipped, ingested, made into tea, and
used for medicinal and spiritual purposes
within daily life.
Devpura, G. Randomized placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial on the efficacy of ayurvedic treatment regime on COVID-19 positive
patients. Phytomedicine: international journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology
Dosage – 1g/day

Introduction
 Spiny shrub or tree, growing to (2 m), with oval, serrated leaves, brownish-
red flowers, and red fruits.
 Guggul, the gum resin obtained from the bark, forms pale yellow to brown
“tears” on the stems.
 Guggul thrives in dry, semi-arid, and desert environments across much of the
Indian sub-continent and the Middle East.
Parts Used
 Gum resin
Ahmad MA, et al. Guggulipid: a promising multi-purpose herbal medicinal agent. Drug Research.
2020 Apr

Key constituents
 fat-soluble steroids (guggulipids)
 guggulsterone
Key uses
 Guggul has anti-inflammatory, blood-thinning, and cholesterol-lowering activity,
and—true to the ancient understanding of the herb—can be helpful in treating
obesity.
 In Ayurveda, guggul is principally used to treat arthritic problems, such as
osteoarthritis, though it is also considered to have tonic and rejuvenating properties.
 It reduces the stickiness of platelets and thins the blood, and may have a protective
activity on the heart.
 The normal dose of guggulipid extract is 1–1.5 g a day (equivalent to 50–75 mg of
guggulsterone)
Caution!
 Avoid pregnancy and breastfeeding
Ahmad MA, et al. Guggulipid: a promising multi-
purpose herbal medicinal agent. Drug Research.
2020 Apr

Stansbury J, et al.
Promoting healthy thyroid function
with iodine, bladderwrack, guggul
and iris.
Journal of Restorative
Medicine. 2012 Sep 1
Optimal thyroid function requires sufficient
amounts of bioavailable iodine. Humans depend
on dietary sources for iodine including animal
products, seaweed, and iodized salt. Iodine
deficiency can cause a number of negative health
consequences, especially during infancy. Fucus
vesiculosuspromotes thyroid function as an
excellent source of iodine. Commiphora
mukul increases the uptake of iodine in the
thyroid. Iris versicolor is less well studied than the
other herbs but has historically been utilized in the
treatment of goiter.
Singh, R. B. Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of Commiphora mukul as an adjunct to dietary therapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
Cardiovascular drugs and therapy
Dosage – 50mg twice/day

Introduction
 With a constituent—glycyrrhizic acid—that is 50 times sweeter than sugar
 it is not surprising that licorice is mainly thought of as candy.
 Yet it is also one of the most valuable of all herbal medicines, a powerful anti-
inflammatory that is effective in conditions as varied as arthritis.
 Licorice grows wild in southwestern Asia and is extensively cultivated.
 It is propagated by dividing the roots in autumn or spring.
 The root of 3–4-year-old plants is unearthed in late autumn

Key Constituents
 Triterpene saponins (glycyrrhizin, up to 6%)
 Isoflavones (liquiritin, isoliquiritin, formononetin)
 Polysaccharides
 Phytosterols
Key Actions
 Expectorant
 Demulcent (relieve inflammation)
 Mild laxative
Key preparation
 Tincture for gastritis, add (100 ml) of water and take twice a day.
 Decoction for constipation.

Wahab, S.,
Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice): A
Comprehensive Review of Its
Phytochemistry, Biological
Activities, Clinical Evidence, and
Toxicology.
Plants
2021
To sum up the current review, licorice extracts
and licorice flavonoids have been exploited for
the activities such as hepatoprotective,
anticancer, antibacterial, respiratory tract
infections, and cardiovascular diseases.
Rangnekar. Safety and efficacy of herbal extracts to restore respiratory health and improve innate immunity in COVID-19 positive
patients with mild to moderate severity: A structured summary of a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Dosage – 450-500mg/day

Introduction
 Triphala is a well-known and highly regarded polyherbal remedy made out of the
dried fruits of the three plant species (tri = three, Phala = fruits in Sanskrit).
 Terminalia bellerica (Bibhitaki), Emblica officinalis (Amalaki), and Terminalia
chebula (Haritaki)
 In Ayurvedic medicine, it is categorized as a tridoshic rasayana because it encourages
longevity and regeneration in patients of various constitutions and ages.
 According to the teachings of the renowned physician Charak in the Charaka Samhita,
Sushruta Samhita, a fundamental document of Ayurveda, three herbs, normally in
equal amounts, have been utilized in traditional medicine in India for over 1000 years.
 According to Charak, consuming the Triphala Rasayana (Triphala with honey and
ghee) every day can cause someone to live for 100 years without experiencing old age
or illness.
 Triphala is a tridoshic rasayana, which means that its energetics are suitable for all
patients, whether they be Vata, Pitta, or Kapha.

Key constituents
 Tannins
 Gallic acid
 Ellagic acid
 Chebulinic acid
Parts used
 Amlaki (Indian gooseberry)
 Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica)
 Haritaki (Chebulic myrobalan)
Key actions
 Enteroprotective
 Antidiabetic
 Cardioprotective
 Ant inflammatory

Peterson CT, et al.
Therapeutic uses of Triphala in
ayurvedic medicine.
The Journal of Alternative
and Complementary
Medicine.
2017 Aug
Triphala is a powerful polyherbal formula with
myriad efficacious therapeutic uses for
maintaining homeostasis as well as the
prevention and treatment of disease. Many
scientific studies have reported evidence-based
validation of various traditional uses of Triphala.
It provides therapeutic value for multiple
pathologies
Dosage – 1-3g/day with ghee

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