Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Five Traditionally Valuable Herbal Plants: A Review

Abstract

Herbal plants are used by traditional medical practitioners for the treatment of various diseases. The present review summarizes information about the phytochemistry, biological properties, traditional and medicinal uses of five herbal plants: Plectranthus amboinicus (Indian Borage), Ocimum tenuiflorum (Holy Basil), Mentha piperita (Peppermint), Trigonella foenum-graecum (Fenugreek) and Acalypha indica (Indian Acalypha). The therapeutic uses of plants are considered inexpensive and efficient due to their ease of availability and wide range of biological activities. These herbs are used in medicine for the treatment of various disorders such as asthma, flu, eczema and cardiovascular disorders. They possess medicinal properties and are pharmacologically beneficial through their antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anticancer, analgesic, antimalarial, antibiofilm, antidiuretic, wound healing activity, skincare, hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic activities. This is due to the presence of various secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, phenols, alkaloids, tannins and steroids which have been identified through various spectroscopic methods. The different parts of these herbs have been used to prepare medicines. Due to the presence of various important phytochemicals, they are used in food, nutrition and medicine without side effects. These further find applications in drug discovery, novel drug development, nanodiagnostics and nanotherapy.