Harnessing the Phytochemical, Pharmacological and Anti-Microbial Potentials of Andrographis Alata (Vahl) Nees

This chapter examines the therapeutic powers of herbal medicinal plants in treating long-term respiratory diseases like bronchitis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Millions worldwide suffer from chronic respiratory disorders, which are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Medicinal interventions are often used in conventional therapies to reduce symptoms and manage the condition. However, herbal medicinal plants offer an alternative method by utilizing their bioactive ingredients and traditional knowledge. The chapter reviews the literature and research on the effectiveness and mechanisms of the action of several herbal medicinal plants in treating respiratory diseases, including their effects on the immune system, mucolytic activity, bronchodilation, antioxidants, and inflammation. Several herbal plants show promise in treatment, such as ginseng, astragalus, marshmallow root, mullein, turmeric, ginger, liqorice, eucalyptus, peppermint, thyme, green tea, oregano, rosemary, and marshmallow root. They aid in symptom alleviation, immune response modulation, mucus clearance, oxidative stress reduction, inflammation reduction, and airway enlargement. In conclusion, herbal medicinal plants are essential for comprehensive care of long-term respiratory conditions, providing a multitude of therapeutic choices with varying mechanisms of action and potential advantages.

Solanum virginianum L., a perennial wild plant, belongs to the 'Dashamoola' group in Ayurveda. 'Kantkari Ghrita' in Charaka Samhita is used for cough, cold, fever, asthma, and cardiac diseases. 'Dasmul Asava' and 'Dashmularishta' are tonics for lactating mothers. Inflammatory disorders, rheumatism, and diabetes are traditionally treated using leaf juice and fruits. Various plant parts contain bioactive compounds like solamargine, solasonine, campesterol, ?-sitosterol, cycloartenol, chlorogenic acid, vanillic acid, etc. Roots, flowers, stems, and fruits are used for their medicinal properties such as carminative, febrifuge, expectorant, diuretic, and bitter tonic effects. They are employed to treat cough, asthma, fever, toothache, tuberculosis, rheumatism, sore throat, kidney disorders, gonorrhea, vesicular eruptions, and burning sensation in the feet. Different extracts from various plant parts exhibit significant anti-inflammatory, nephroprotective, anti-asthmatic, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, larvicidal, antinociceptive, antispermatogenic, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities. This study reviews 37 relevant research articles to comprehensively explore the plant's traditional uses, bioactive compounds, and pharmacological properties in both in-vitro and in-vivo settings, along with their mechanisms of action.

The first botanical gardens in Europe were established for the study of medicinal, poisonous, and herbal plants by students of medicine or pharmacy at universities. As the natural sciences became increasingly important in the 19th Century, botanical gardens additionally took on the role of public educational institutions. Since then, learning from living nature with the aim of developing technical applications, namely biomimetics, has played a special role in botanical gardens. Sir Joseph Paxton designed rainwater drainage channels in the roof of the Crystal Palace for the London World’s Fair in 1881, having been inspired by the South American giant water lily (Victoria amazonica). The development of the Lotus-Effect® at the Botanical Garden Bonn was inspired by the self-cleaning leaf surfaces of the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). At the Botanic Garden Freiburg, a self-sealing foam coating for pneumatic systems was developed based on the self-sealing of the liana stems of the genus Aristolochia. Currently, botanical gardens are both research institutions and places of lifelong learning. Numerous botanical gardens provide biomimetics trails with information panels at each station for self-study and guided biomimetics tours with simple experiments to demonstrate the functional principles transferred from the biological model to the technical application. We present eight information panels suitable for setting up education about biomimetics and simple experiments to support guided garden tours about biomimetics.

Background:: Depression is a psychiatric and mood disorder that impacts a person's mental health and behavior and is frequently linked to suicide. As per the World Health Organization's estimate, depressive disorder will be the main cause of mental disorders by the year 2030, and it has a huge impact on the burden of disease in the world. To treat depression, there are pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapy alternatives. With little to no consideration of other neurochemicals altered in depression, most antidepressant preparations are based on the monoamines, neuroendocrine, and neuro-inflammation concepts. Objective:: The present study aims to provide comprehensive data related to depression, the factors associated, the mechanism involved, herbal plants effective for managing depression, and novel formulations along with patents and clinical trials. Methods:: A thorough assessment of herbs and novel formulations that have been proven effective in treating depression was conducted. After extensive review, the present study includes a mechanism of action of herbal plants showing antidepressant effects, novel formulations, patents, and clinical trials related to depression. Results:: Numerous studies reported that diverse herbal plants have been found to have a positive effect on depression management, such as Panax ginseng, Melissa officinalis, Piper methysticum, Schinus molle L, Kielmeyera coriacea Mart, Elaeocarpus ganitrus, Hypericum perforatum, Lavandula angustifolia Mill, Crocus Sativus L. Conclusion:: Herbal plant research could help establish the potential of isolated compounds from plants with medicinal properties for managing depressive illnesses.

Herbal plants contain a medicinal source with antimicrobial properties that offer a safer and more cost-effective method to treat human pathogens. Scientists in the field are performing research on plants to discover their potential antimicrobial compounds. This study aimed to conduct a review of the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and investigate particular herbal plants with medicinal activities in the north and east of Syria. Considering that some herbal plants, including Cuminum cyminum, Mentha piperita, Allium cepa, Majorana hortensis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Thymus capitatus, Achillea millefolium, Malva parviflor, and Capparis spinose, have antifungal, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities, the products obtained from these plants may be used to control the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, this study focused on the chemical compounds, including p-cymene, kaempferol, quercetin, capsaicin, 1,8-cineole, flavonoids, gallic acid, and alkaloids, which play a role in inhibiting microbial growth. Based on the results obtained from this review study, using these herbal plants can control human infectious, pathogenic, cancerous, and antioxidant diseases.

A mental disorder, also referred to as a psychiatric disorder or mental illness, is characterized by significant disturbances in an individual’s thinking, emotions, or behavior. In Ayurveda, herbal plants are used as alternative therapies for various ailments, including mental disorders. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of herbal medicines used in treating mental disorders in Sri Lanka. It relies on foundational books as primary sources to systematically identify and analyze the therapeutic potential of 24 traditional medicinal plants for treating mental disorders. Each plant was evaluated based on its scientific name, plant parts used, distribution in Sri Lanka, mechanisms of action, and identified phytochemicals. Furthermore, additional research was conducted using keywords such as mental disorders, herbal plants, plant distribution, phytochemicals, side effects, and mechanism of action through scientific databases. The phytochemicals present in these herbal plants possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, contributing to their potential antipsychotic activities. Trigonelline (from Abrus precatorius), bacosides (from Bacopa monnieri), asiaticoside and asiatic acid (from Centella asiatica), quercetin (from Ginkgo biloba), alliin and allicin (from Allium sativum), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (from Eclipta alba), and shogaol (from Zingiber officinale) demonstrate significant potential in modulating neurotransmitter levels, reducing oxidative stress, and alleviating symptoms associated with mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and neurodegenerative diseases. The suggested therapeutic value of these identified herbal plants and their bioactive phytochemicals indicates the need for preserving and extensively investigating these remedies to establish their clinical effectiveness.

Herbal plants and their extracts deserve special attention because of the important influence they have on human health. For the majority of the world population, herbal plants represent the primary source of the health care. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, almost 80% of people in marginal communities use only herbal plants for the treatment of various diseases. Although, the effectiveness of the herbal plants is mainly associated with their constituents such as essential oils, vitamins, glycosides and many other products but prolonged intake can cause health problems due to the presence of heavy metals. The human body requires both the metallic and the non-metallic elements within certain permissible limits for growth and good health. Therefore, the determination of element compositions in food and related products is essential for understanding their nutritive importance. The accumulation of some heavy metals in large quantities in the body may have a toxic effect. The concentration levels ( mg/L) of selected heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and Pb) and macronutrients (Na, Ca, Mg, K and P) in eight useful herbal plants of Soon Valley District Khushab were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer and colorimeter. The herbal plants having different growing seasons and uses were collected from different locations. The results revealed that the herbal plants accumulate the elements at different concentrations. The maximum concentrations ( mg/L) of heavy metals in the analyzed samples were 47.25 ± 0.01, 26.6 ± 0.01, 207.6 ± 0.08, 78.90 ± 0.04 and 0.39 ± 0.01 for Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn and Pb, respectively. The maximum concentrations ( mg/L) of macro elements were 728 ± 0.60, 28300 ± 113, 68500 ± 25, 24250 ± 55 and 3700 ± 299 for Na, K, Mg, Ca and P, respectively. The levels of heavy metals determined in the analyzed samples were found below the maximum allowable limit. Hence they were safe for consumption. Fe was accumulated most among the plants analyzed for heavy metals. The analyzed samples were good source of important macro elements. Keywords: Heavy metals, nutritional composition, medicinal herbs, Soon Valley.

This review assesses the potential use of various herbal plants which are beneficial for health and can helps to stimulate the body energy. It is recognized in the available literature and findings on effect of caffeine on health and nutrition that Caffeine is a stimulant found in famous energy drinks, but it can negatively affect on our health and the consumption of caffeine should be limited. However sensitive population like children, lactating women, should not consume more amount of caffeine. Thus, the purpose of this review paper is to state that herbal extracts or plants can be used as energy boosters in replacement of caffeine and some chemical stimulants. large number of plants have medicinal properties and from the ages some plants are traditionally used as natural energy boosters. Methods: A search through different data base was performed to find various studies on effects of caffeine and alternatives of caffeine.

Introduction: Medicinal plants have been used therapeutically all around the world, being an important aspect of various traditional medicine systems. However, the use of phytotherapy according to the efficacy and safety criteria is not sufficient to guarantee the quality of both the herbal medicine and its use. Objective : The aim of this study was to determine the level of Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu , Hg and pesticide residues in some commonly used herbal medicines and herbal plants to assess the relative safety of these products based on world standard limits and potential health risk to local inhabitants. Materials & Methods: 6 different medicinal herbal products and 6 herbal plants were purchased from Tehran’s market. Certain weight of each samples were digested with nitric acid by wet digestion method for determining of toxic metals. Atomic absorption spectrometry (AA) was used for the determination of the concentration of Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu and an automated continuous – flow hydride vapor generation system was used for Hg and pesticide residues were analyzed by gas-chromatography – mass spectrometry after extraction performed using solid – phase micro extraction technique. Results: Results were compared with the permissible limits (Pl), acceptable daily intake (ADI) and provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) as set by world health organization (WHO), Food and Drug administration (FDA). Mercury, Lead and Cadmium were highly present in the majority of samples. In 100% of medicinal plant samples which brought randomly from the markets, the amounts of Diazinon, Fenitrothion, Malathion was higher than the allowed limits when compared to the MRL scale. Conclusion: By a comparison between acceptable global standards and the level of Hg, Cd and Pb on investigated herbal medicine and medicinal plants, our results showed that the majority of medicinal plants samples had higher level of these heavy metals. Due to lack of research data and technical limitations at present, more research is needed in order to establish the scientific criteria for herbal medicines.

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to untangle the influence of Linda Tuhiwai Smith’s Decolonizing Methodologies on botanical gardens, particularly in the context of commemorating 25 years since its publication. By examining the intersections between decolonial theory and botanical practices, this article seeks to elucidate the ways in which Smith’s work has informed and inspired efforts to decolonize botanical research, conservation and education. Through a narrative review and case study analysis, this article highlights key insights, challenges and opportunities for botanical gardens to embrace decolonial practices and foster more equitable and inclusive relationships with Indigenous communities, science and knowledge systems.Design/methodology/approachThe design and methodology of this article involve a narrative literature review and comparative case study analysis (Petticrew and Roberts, 2006; Goodrick, 2014). The review synthesizes scholarly articles, books and reports on decolonizing botanical practices, focusing on literature that stems from Indigenous science, identifies engagement strategies and advocates for systemic change within botanical institutions. Key themes and recommendations are identified and analyzed to provide insights into future directions for decolonizing botanical gardens. This approach allows for a thorough examination of current discourse and best practices in decolonial theory and botanical research, informing actionable recommendations for advancing decolonization within botanical gardens.FindingsThe findings reveal that Linda Tuhiwai Smith’s Decolonizing Methodologies has significantly influenced botanical gardens, inspiring efforts to prioritize Indigenous knowledge systems, deepen community engagement and advocate for systemic change. While progress has been made in integrating decolonial practices, challenges persist, including the need for greater institutional commitment, capacity building and accountability. However, opportunities abound for botanical gardens to continue advancing decolonization, particularly through partnerships with Indigenous communities, educational outreach and policy advocacy. Overall, the findings underscore the importance of ongoing reconciliation and action in cultivating more equitable and respectful relationships that advance principles of Indigenous data sovereignty and governance.Research limitations/implicationsWhile this article offers valuable insights into the influence of Linda Tuhiwai Smith’s Decolonizing Methodologies on botanical gardens, several limitations must be acknowledged. Firstly, the literature review may not document all relevant transformations undertaken by gardens to date if such initiatives are not documented in the public domain, such as institutional websites. Additionally, the review primarily focuses on English-language literature, limiting the exploration of decolonial practices for botanical gardens in non-English-speaking contexts.Practical implicationsThis article holds several practical implications for botanical gardens seeking to decolonize. Firstly, by prioritizing Indigenous knowledge and deepening community engagement, botanical gardens can foster more inclusive and respectful relationships with Indigenous communities. Secondly, advocating for systemic change and policy reforms will address institutionalized inequities and recognize Indigenous People’s rights, including biocultural and intellectual property. Additionally, investing in educational outreach and capacity-building initiatives can enhance institutional and public understanding of decolonization. Overall, embracing decolonial practices can contribute to the adoption and advancement of Indigenous Data Sovereignty and the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance within botanical gardens and beyond.Social implicationsThis article highlights the importance of decolonizing botanical gardens for promoting justice and equity. By centering Indigenous rights to data sovereignty, such as attribution of traditional and biocultural knowledge, botanical gardens can contribute to reconciliation efforts and promote respect for Indigenous rights and sovereignty. Additionally, addressing colonial legacies and systemic inequalities within botanical institutions can advance botanical justice and help build more just and equitable societies. Moreover, this transformation also aligns with a growing legal movement recognizing the inherent rights of Nature, including plant relatives collected, stored and stewarded by botanic gardens.Originality/valueThis article contributes to the literature by exploring the intersection of decolonizing methodologies and botanic gardens, particularly in the context of Linda Tuhiwai Smith’s influential work. By synthesizing key insights and offering actionable recommendations, this review provides guidance on future directions botanic gardens can follow to advance their decolonization strategies and initiatives in furtherance of botanical justice.

It is recommended by the World health organization (WHO) the most of the world’s population depends on herbal medicine for their health care. Shatavari, Asparagus racemosus is one of the most significant restorative plant employed by Ayurvedic Vaidyas from ancient times. This herbal plant has wide selection of biological activities and described as a Rasayan in Ayurvedic literatures. Root is the most used part of Shatavari by Ayurvedic Vaidyas. It is one of the most common herbal plant used worldwide and possess various chemical constituents such as Racemoside A, B, C, Shatavarins, Asparanin A, Immunoside, 27 α-dimethyl-1β, 2β,3β-trihydroxy-25-spirost-4-en-19β-oic, 27 α-dimethyl-1β, 2β,3β-trihydroxy-25-spirost-4-en-19β-oic and many others. It is described as a tonic and have lactogenic properties. It has an extensive use in Nervine disorders, Acid peptic diseases, several contagious ailments and as a immunomodulant. It is primarily used in female ailments mainly as galactagogic and several menstrual problems. The chemical constituents of Asparagus racemosus have many pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, wound healing effect, antidepressant, anti-anxiety, antifertility and also skin cancer, pigmentation and many other. Much scientific research on Asparagus racemosus has been conducted over the last years to investigate chemical and pharmacological properties. In this review, the general description, phytochemicals, pharmacological properties, ayurvedic properties and folk uses of Asparagus racemosus are briefly explained. Keywords: Shatavari, Ayurveda, Saponins, Menstrual disorders, Anti-ulcer, Immunomodulatory.

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the loss and death of neurons with their structure and functions and this is causing a great burden on society at present time. The degeneration of neurons is caused due to a variety of factors which may be genetic, environmental, oxidative stress and many more. The scientific articles regarding neurodegenerative disorders, their classification, and mechanism of action are pooled from different scientific databases. We have used preferred reporting items for systemic reviewing of articles to filter those which are highly relevant and counter the information at present: neurodegenerative disorders, medicinal plants, herbal plants from neurodegeneration, and herbal nutraceuticals as summarized. As per the side effects caused by the use of synthetic drugs for the treatment of various neurological disorders, to reduce their efficacy, it was found the new advancement of herbal nutraceuticals has created havoc and has been reported to possess neuroprotective effects with minimized side effects. Medicinal plants for neuro-degenerative diseases have been documented to cure a variety of neurological disorders and their effects over synthetic drugs by the advancing use of herbal nutraceuticals. This review will provide the role of herbal nutraceuticals and medicinal plants in curing neurodegenerative diseases in the present era.

Ginger, known for its rich array of bioactive compounds, holds significant therapeutic potential due to its diverse medicinal properties. This study investigated the antimicrobial activity and bioactive principles present in ginger rhizome oils obtained using three different extraction methods viz: liquid-liquid extraction, cold maceration, and soxhlet extraction. The oils’ bioactive principles were identified by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) while their antimicrobial activity was determined by agar well diffusion technique. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of thirty compounds in each of the oils from liquid-liquid extraction and cold maceration, and fifty four compounds in the soxhlet-extracted oil. The most predominant compound in both liquid-liquid (31.13%) and cold maceration (16.99%) oils was oleic acid whereas the Soxhlet-extracted oil contained predominantly linoleic acid methyl ester (9.27%). Some bioactive compounds identified in these oils include δ-elemene, isoborneol, α-Bisabolol oxide, stearic acid, undecanone, palmitic acid, α-copaene, zingiberene, aromadendrene, farnesol, 2-methylhexane and farnesene which possess antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-cancer, hypolipidemic, mosquito repellant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic activities. Additionally, the oils exhibited promising antimicrobial potential against the test organisms with Staphylococcus aureus showing the least susceptibility to all the samples. Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were completely resistant to the oil obtained by Soxhlet extraction at all tested concentrations. Meanwhile, Klebsiella pneumoniae (20 mm), Proteus vulgaris (18 mm), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17 mm), were most susceptible to the oil obtained by liquid-liquid extraction, cold maceration and soxhlet extraction, respectively. The study highlighted the significance of extraction methods on the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of ginger rhizome oils, underscoring the importance of choosing appropriate extraction techniques to optimize the oils' therapeutic properties for specific medicinal applications.

Conventional Herbal Plants in Modern Periods : The Therapeutic Potential Syzigium cumuni and Hyperglycemia

The increasing prevalence of male infertility in animals has become a global concern. Recently, the use of herbal medicinal plants to enhance spermatozoa production has attracted increased interest. Therefore, this review aimed to summarize the results of available studies on these medicinal plants and determine the effectiveness and safety of their use in improving the fertility of male animals. Medline/PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases were searched for English articles published during 1983-2024 that contained a number of key terms, including animal fertility, animal reproductive, animal spermatogenesis, and medicinal plants. Finally, these studies included five different medicinal plants, namely, Allium sativum, Apium graveolens, Avena sativa, Lepidium sativum, and Spinacia oleracea, which have a clear effect on animal fertility and efficiency. A total of 127 studies were included, including 69 related to fertility and 58 related to phytochemicals, action mechanism, health benefits, and plant characteristics; in addition to 11 related to infertility were excluded. In conclusion, herbal plants are likely to be beneficial in increasing animal fertility due to their antioxidant function and lack of adverse effects.