Chapter 19 - Medicinal Plants as Remedies for Gastrointestinal Ailments and Diseases: A Review

Abstract

Globally, gastrointestinal ailments that encompass minor ailments such as stomach upset to gastrointestinal cancers are among the most bothersome diseases. They are an important cause of morbidity and the indirect cost attributable to the lost productivity amounts to more than the direct costs. The conventionally used medications, although effective, possess inherent toxic effects, which at times negate the therapeutic benefits. In the context of these observations, there is renewed interest in the discovery of novel compounds that can be used to prevent/treat these diseases. Since antiquity, plants have been used to treat gastrointestinal ailments, and scientific studies have validated the traditional use of these medicinal plants. Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, has recommended the use of various plants either alone or as a polyherbal preparation in treating various gastrointestinal ailments. This chapter addresses the ethnomedicinally and scientifically validated observations related to some commonly used medicinal plants such as Aegle marmelos , Aloe vera or Aloe arborescens , Punica granatum , Trigonella foenum-graecum , Boswellia serrata , Curcuma longa , Garcinia cambogia , Commiphora molmol , Centella asiatica , Picrorhiza kurroa , Tinospora cordifolia , Withania somnifera , and Zingiber officinale in the treatment of gastrointestinal ailments. An attempt is also made to address the lacunas and to emphasize the need for further scientific investigations before these plants can be of use in clinics in the near future.