Phytochemical and Pharmacological Appraisal of Barks from Unani Medicinal Plants

Abstract

The Unani system of medicine uses all three sources of drugs, viz., plant, animal and mineral origin in various dosage forms. Various parts of plant origin drugs are used in the treatment of diverse pathological states of the body. A single drug, plant parts and their formulations have been documented for their beneficial effects in the traditional and scientific literature. Barks of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Terminalia arjuna, Acacia arabica, Melia azadirachta, Butea monosperma, Azadirachta indica, Calotropis procera, etc., are used in various dosage forms for the treatment of various ailments of the body. These barks serve as a main ingredient in a number of Unani formulations. It has been reported that glycosides from the A. indica have strong gastric antisecretory and antiulcer activity in rats. Arjun bark has been used, since ancient times in the Unani system of medicine for its cardiotonic activity. Its known constituents include tannins and triterpenoid saponins like arjungenin, arjunolic acid and arjunic acid. The powder of Calotropis root bark is used effectively in the treatment of diarrhoea, asthma and liver disorders as it contains bioactive phytoconstituents, such as α-amyrin, β-amyrin, lupeol, β-sitosterol and flavanols. Likewise, other plant barks of M. azadirachta, M. indica, etc., are also being used for numerous pharmacological activities due to their bioactive principles. The present chapter aims to highlight the pharmacological properties of barks from Unani medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds.