This document discusses several herbal plants used in Ayurvedic medicine, including ashwagandha and aloe vera. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a plant in the Solanaceae family cultivated in India and Nepal that is used for its roots in Ayurvedic medicine. Its main chemical constituents are alkaloids and steroidal lactones. Traditionally, its roots and leaves are used to treat various symptoms and conditions. Aloe vera is a succulent plant originating in Africa that is widely used in cosmetics and alternative medicine, though evidence of its effectiveness is limited. It is used externally for its soothing properties and internally as a laxative, though high

3. ?
 herbal plants are plants that grow herbs. the herbs
mostly help in seasoning food and in medicine .
In our world there are different types of herbal plants are
found.
Medicinal plants refer to using a plant’s seeds, berries,
roots, leaves, bark or flowers for medicinal purposes.
Example:
i. Tulsi
ii. Alove-vera
iii.Turmeric

4. • Medicinal plants are plants that have a recognized
medical use.
• Their use ranges the production of mainstream
pharmaceutical products to herbal medicine preparations.
• Herbal medicine is one of the oldest forms of medical
treatment in human history and could be considered one
of the forerunners of the modern pharmaceutical trade.

6. ASHWAGANDHA
KINGDOM: Plantae
ORDER: Solanales
FAMILY: Solanaceae
GENUS: Withania
SPECIES: W.somnifera
BINOMIAL NAME: Withania somnifera

7. Withania somnifera, also known as
ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, poison
gooseberry, or winter cherry, is a plant in the
Solanaceae or nightshade family. Several
other species in the genus Withania are
morphologically similar. It is used as a herb
in Ayurvedic medicine

9. Ashwagandha in Sanskrit means "horse's smell"
(ashwa- horse, gandha- smell), probably originating
from the odour of its root which resembles that of a
sweaty horse. [citation needed]
The species name somnifera means "sleep-inducing"
in Latin.

10. Withania somnifera is cultivated in many of
the drier regions of India, such as Mandsau
District of Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Sindh,
Gujarat, and Rajasthan. It is also found in
Nepal.

12. Withania somnifera is prone to several pests and
diseases. Leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria
alternata is the most prevalent disease, which is most
severe in the plains of Punjab, Haryana, and
Himachal Pradesh. Biodeterioration of its
pharmaceutically active components during leaf spot
disease has been reported. The Choanephora
cucurbitarum causes a stem and leaf rot of Withania
somnifera.

14. The main chemical constituents are alkaloids and steroidal
lactones. These include tropine and cuscohygrine. The leaves
contain the steroidal lactones, withanolides, notably
withaferin A, which was the first withanolide to be isolated
from W. somnifera

15. TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USES
In Ayurveda, the berries and leaves of W. somnifera
are locally applied to tumors, tubercular glands,
carbuncles, and ulcers. The roots of W. somnifera are
used to prepare the herbal remedy ashwagandha,
which has been traditionally used to treat various
symptoms and conditions .

16. SIDE EFFECTS
In two published clinical trials of W.
somnifera , the side effects were not
significantly different from those
experienced by placebo-treated individuals

17. ALOE
VERA

18. Aloe vera is a succulent plant species that probably originated in
northern Africa. The species does not have any naturally occurring
populations, although closely related aloes do occur in northern
Africa. The species is frequently cited as being used in herbal
medicine since the beginning of the first century AD. Extracts from A.
vera are widely used in the cosmetics and alternative medicine
industries, being marketed as variously having rejuvenating, healing
or soothing properties. There is, however, little scientific evidence of
the effectiveness or safety of A. vera extracts for either cosmetic or
medicinal purposes, and what positive evidence is available is
frequently contradicted by other studies

19. USES
Preparations made from the plant Aloe vera are often referred
to as "aloe vera". Scientific evidence for the cosmetic and
therapeutic effectiveness of aloe vera is limited and when
present is frequently contradictory. Despite this, the cosmetic
and alternative medicine industries regularly make claims
regarding the soothing, moisturizing, and healing properties of
aloe vera. Aloe vera gel is used as an ingredient in
commercially available lotions, yogurt, beverages, and some
desserts, although at certain doses, it has toxic properties when
used either for ingested or topical applications.

20. Early records of Aloe vera use appear in the Ebers Papyrus from
16th century BC, in both Dioscorides' De Materia Medica and
Pliny the Elder's Natural History written in the mid-first century
AD along with the Juliana Anicia Codex produced in 512 AD. The
species is used widely in the traditional herbal medicine of many
countries. Aloe vera, called kathalai in Ayurvedic medicine, is
used as a multipurpose skin treatment. This may be partly due to
the presence of saponin, a chemical compound that acts as an
anti-microbial agent.

21. DIETARY SUPPLEMENT
Aloin, a compound found in the exudate of some Aloe species,
was the common ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) laxative
products in the United States prior to 2003, when the Food and
Drug Administration ruled that aloin was a class III ingredient,
thereby banning its use. Aloe vera has potential toxicity, with
side-effects occurring at some dose levels both when ingested
or applied topically. Although toxicity may be less when aloin is
removed by processing, aloe vera that contains aloin in excess
amounts may induce side-effects

22. A 2-year National Toxicology Program (NTP) study on oral consumption
of non-decolorized whole leaf extract of Aloe vera found evidence of
carcinogenic activity in male and female rats. The NTP says more
information is needed to determine the potential risks to humans.
Aloe vera juice is marketed to support the health of the
digestive system, but there is neither scientific evidence nor regulatory
approval to support this claim. The extracts and quantities typically
used for such purposes appear to be dose-dependent for toxic effects.

23. Benefits
• They cost less – the rising cost of prescription drugs have led the people to
look for alternatives. While medicinal herbs may not be as strong or as fast
acting as conventional medicine, there is a growing body of scientific
evidence that shows their efficacy and in what doses.
• They may have fewer side effects: while the side effects of any herbal
medication depend on the drug in question, many have fewer side effects
than conventional medicine. For example, St. John’s Wort, which is used for
mild to moderate depression, has fewer side effects than most other
prescriptive antidepressants.
• There is a choice on how to use them – medicinal herbs can be used in a
variety of ways, depending on the kind of herb that is to be used. Some
herbs can be mixed with food. Some can be made into tea, and there are
some that are available in capsule or tablet form.
• They are good for more than one condition – most prescriptive drugs are
designed for one specific health problem. By contrast, many herbal medicine
act on several parts of the body at once. For example Ginko (Ginko biloba) is
good for circulatory disorders, but it also helps enhance memory.

24. Conclusion
• Medicinal herbs can be a good alternative for many diseases
and conditions. They are low cost, and tend to have fewer
side effects. Moreover, they can be bought in health food
shops, pharmacies and on-line without the need for a
prescription. However, herbal medicines can still have
unwanted health effects, especially when used in
combination with other drugs. If you are using more than one
herbal medicine, or using them for a serious condition, it’s
best to consult with a naturopath or established herbalist.
It’s also important to tell your physician that you are using
an alternative medicine to prevent drug interaction.

25. SAMEER NANDAN