Abstract
Herbal and Medicinal plants are terminologies used for plants around the world as they possess significant therapeutic potential. The objective of this study was to assess the properties and biological activities of these plants as well as their phytochemistry. The results of this study were done descriptively and placed into various tables. Analysis showed that Azadirachta indica possessed eighteen (18) therapeutic properties and sixty-five (65) biologically active compounds, Ocimum tenuiflorum possessed twelve (12) therapeutic properties and eighty-two (82) biologically active compounds were noted and Cymbopogon citratus possessed six (6) therapeutic properties and sixty-four (64) biologically active compounds were reported and analyzed. This study revealed that medicinal and herbal plants have great significance and are greatly overlooked. They can be used to resolve a variety of issues worldwide such as: avoiding microbial and insect resistance in species and even be useful in this time of pandemic against the SARS-CoV-2 (COVD-19 Virus). More studies should be done by health authorities, food authorities, agriculture authorities and other organizations with these plants and other medicinal and herbal plants to maximize their benefits.
Highlights
It can be concluded that medicinal and herbal plants possess a lot of therapeutic properties that can be used to resolve many global issues e.g., certain diseases that are considered chronic and others that are caused by microbial organisms such as: bacteria, fungi and virus that are very prevalent among people of today‟s society
More work scientific works like extensive laboratory testing and biological analysis should be done with these plants to determine the plants full potential e.g., using the Cymbopogon citratus as the key solution against various pathogenic infections and chronic diseases that this plant was not tested against and try to identify more properties that the plant possess instead of the six (6) that was evaluated in this review
These potential properties that these plants possess are because of the wide range of phytochemicals that are present in the plants that have been synthesized over the many years of plant evolution and development in history
Summary
Medicinal and Herbal PlantsHuman beings, since the dawn of time, have been continually dependant on various species of plants for many reasons, with healthcare, being the biggest of concerns. A herb is a plant or a part of a plant that is utilized for its scent, flavours or therapeutic properties and is labeled to be „natural‟. Many developed countries are embarking on vigorous research and experimentations which have led to the development of many derived plants products utilized for many different purposes. Many of these medicinal and herbal plants have been utilized as a source of medicine for humans and livestock‟ alike and as pesticides to protect crops from pests and diseases. Seventy to ninety percent (70-90%) of medicinal and herbal plants can be collected from forests and natural habitats (Principe, 1991)
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More From: International Journal of Scientific Research and Management
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