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Nature has been a great source of therapeutic compounds. The use of plants and plant-derived products as medicine has been a popular tradition as the beginning of human civilization. Plants are considered as the richest source of traditional and modern medications as well as food supplements, pharmaceutical intermediates and chemical entities for synthetic drugs. Among them, Azadirachta indica is one of the most versatile, multitudinous tree having immense potentials. Since Vedic times, it has been known as the multi-directional therapeutic uses in India. It is economically cheaper and safe and its different parts such as leaves, flowers, bark, fruits, gum, seeds, oil possesses great medicinal properties. The aim of this review is to assemble all the information regarding the distribution, botanical description, commercial and medicinal values of Azadirachta indica. This paper is fully based on secondary data. Information was gathered from about 28 published articles from various online portals and these gathered information is analyzed and presented well here in this paper. Azadirachta indica is commonly known as ‘Neem’ which is regarded beneficial to humans and animals. Different parts of neem has been used for treating various diseases such as cancer, Dental diseases, stress, ulcers, heart diseases, malaria, skin diseases, viral diseases, AIDS, oral diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, etc. Chemically diverse and structurally complex phytochemical constituents such as azadirachtin, nimbolinin, nimbidin, gedunin, nimbidol, Quercedin, gallic acid, glycoside, amino-acid, ascorbic acid, salannin and many others are found in Azadirachta indica which show anti-diabetic, antiviral, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-parasitic, anti-malarial, anti-cancer, anti-ulcer, hepatoprotective and gastro-protective activities. Thus, more attention must be given for the production of this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since ancient times, crude drugs have been used as medicines and are of great importance for human beings. However, traditional knowledge about the use of medicinal plants is eroding day by day, and there was a need to document the everyday experience of these indigenous medicinal plants. Ayurveda describes the medicinal values and uses of plants for healthcare. By the course of time, various new plants got added to Ayurvedic material medica, Dravyaguna Vigyan. Tricholepis glaberrima (Brahmadandi) is one of them. This plant has great importance due to its nutritive value and a significant source of medicines as they have been found throughout human history. This plant is mostly used for its aphrodisiac property, but several unknown activities need to be taken seriously. This mini-review paper encompasses the Ayurvedic aspects as well as the phytochemistry structure and pharmacological activities of the Brahmadandi plant. The current review focuses on the updated information from various scientific studies and reports available in the context of the phytoconstituents and pharmacology of this plant. This review also provides adequate information about the use of this plant in an Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcuma caesia Roxb. is one of the rarest medicinal plants used traditionally for the mitigation of various ailments. It is now classified as an endangered species and through this review, an overview regarding the pharmacological benefits of this plant has been put forward. Information on the ethnobotany and phytochemistry along with pharmacological activities was retrieved from the electronic databases for the period from 1962 to 2019. A literature review of articles published in local magazines, conference papers, unpublished materials, and books on traditional and medicinal plants of India was also conducted. There is very little information on C. caesiais in the literature, which revealed its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities along with neuropharmacological, thrombolytic, anthelmintic, antiulcer, and antidepressant properties. The modern pharmacological studies have validated some of the traditional claims and uses. However, many aspects of this perennial herb have not been studied due to its limited availability and authenticity of the species. There is limited availability of the species as it has become an endangered crop due to its overexploitation as traditional medicine since ancient times. Being a critically endangered medicinal plant, conservation strategies using modern breeding techniques strongly warrant further research on in vitro and in vivo biological activities in different assay systems; toxicity, adverse effects, and clinical efficacy of C. caesia are recommended to be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passiflora foeitda Linn commonly known as rakhi plant is widely used in ayurveda and folk lore India traditional medicine. The various part of the plant is extensively used in the treatment of several disease and disorders of the human. The present review highlighted the phyto-chemistry, medicinal uses and some recent research done in the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigate the observations of research publications in the field of Phytochemistry in India as reflected from the Web of Science (WoS) core collection database during 1994-2014. As per the database, a total 1280 scholarly publications with 1216 citations and 2083 cited references were found and have retrieved in worldwide and from India, 121 research outputs with 1446 citations and 473 authors and the cited references are 8732 were collected in the time span of 21 years. This paper discusses the various types of Phytochemistry publications such as articles, reviews, article based proceedings papers, correction and editorial materials. This paper deals with in terms of authorship pattern, single vs. joint - authored research publications, International collaboration, Institution based collaboration, subject based categories, most cited references, ranking of core journals, highly cited authors, papers and productive keywords. This paper highlights different parameters in terms of evaluation such as h-index, g-index, e-index, hc-index, HI-index, HI-norm, HI-annual, hm-index, AW-index, AWCR, and AWCRpA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Gastrodia elata Blume ( Orchidaceae ) is commonly called Tian ma in Chinese and mainly distributed in the mountainous areas of eastern Asia, such as China, Korea, Japan and India. It is an extensively used traditional Chinese herbal medicine in the clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine, to treat headache, migraine, dizziness, epilepsy, infantile convulsion, tetany and so on. The present paper reviews the advancements in investigation of botany and ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and quality control of Gastrodia elata Blume. Finally, the possible tendency and perspective for future investigation of this plant are also put forward. Materials and methods The information on Gastrodia elata Blume was collected via piles of resources including classic books about Chinese herbal medicine, and scientific databases including Pubmed, Google Scholar, ACS, Web of science, ScienceDirect databases, CNKI and others. Plant taxonomy was validated by the databases “The Plant List”, and “Mansfeld’s Encyclopedia”. Results Over 81 compounds from this plant have been isolated and identified, phenolics and polysaccharides are generally considered as the characteristic and active constituents of Gastrodia elata Blume. Its active compounds possess wide-reaching biological activities, including sedative, hypnotic, antiepileptic, anticonvulsive, antianxietic, antidepressant, neuroprotective, antipsychotic, anti-vertigo, circulatory system modulating, anti-inflammationary, analgesic, antioxidative, memory-improving and antiaging, antivirus and antitumor effects. Conclusion Despite the publication of various papers on Gastrodia elata Blume, there is still, however, the need for definitive research and clarification of other bioactive compounds using bioactivity-guided isolation strategies, and the possible mechanism of action as well as potential synergistic or antagonistic effects of multi-component mixtures derived from Gastrodia elata Blume need to be evaluated. It is also necessary and important to do more quality control and toxicological study on human subjects in order to maintain its efficacy stable in the body and validate its safety in clinical uses. In addition, more investigations on other parts of this plant beyond the tubers are needed. Further studies on Gastrodia elata Blume will lead to the development of new drugs and therapeutics for various diseases, and how to utilize it better should be paid more attention to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trachyspermum ammi, commonly known as Bishop's weed, Carom seed (English names) and ajowan or ajwain or omum in Indian languages, is an erect annual herb with striate stem. According to Ayurveda, the seeds are hot, pungent, stomachic, appetizer, aphrodisiac, carminative, laxative and diuretic. The present paper highlights the phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and traditional benefits of the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Callistemon viminalis belongs to the family Myrtaceae and also known as bottlebrush which is or found throughout in India. It has a remarkable place in Ayurvedic medicine of India, due to presence of phytoconstituents and pharmacological activities. Callistemon species as a farm tree are planted for forestry or ornamental purposes and for weed as well. In traditional Chinese medicines, C. viminalis is used for treating hemorrhoids. Hot drink locally 'tea' in Jamaica from C. viminalis has been used for the treatment of gastroenteritis, diarrhea and skin infections. The phytochemical research carried out on C. viminalis extracts and showed that the plant is rich in phenolics, triterpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, steroids, alkaloids, tannin, carbohydrates, amino acids and proteins compounds. The investigated pharmacological studies reported the presence of anti-inflammatory, Alzheimer, hemolytic activity, anthelmintic, anti-oxidant property, anti-bacterial, antifungal and hepatoprotective activities in C. viminalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Withania somnifera L. Dunal (Ashwagandha), a key medicinal plant native to India, is used globally to manage various ailments. This review focuses on the traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry, and pharmacological advances of its plant-derived constituents. It has been reported that at least 62 crucial and 48 inferior primary and secondary metabolites are present in the W. somnifera leaves, and 29 among these found in its roots and leaves are chiefly steroidal compounds, steroidal lactones, alkaloids, amino acids, etc. In addition, the whole shrub parts possess various medicinal activities such as anti-leukotriene, antineoplastic, analgesic, anti-oxidant, immunostimulatory, and rejuvenating properties, mainly observed by in vitro demonstration. However, the course of its medical use remains unknown. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of W. somnifera, which will be useful for mechanism studies and potential medical applications of W. somnifera, as well as for the development of a rational quality control system for W. somnifera as a therapeutic material in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemidesmus indicus (L.) R. Br. ex Schult. (Apocynaceae) is widely used in traditional medicine in the different parts of the Indian subcontinent due to the various biological activities attributed to its different parts, especially the roots. It has traditionally been used for treating snakebites, scorpion stings, diabetes, urinary diseases, dyspnea, menorrhagia, oligospermia, anorexia, fever, abdominal colic and pain, dysentery, diarrhea, cough, rheumatism, headache, inflammation, pyrosis, skin diseases, leprosy, sexually transmitted diseases and cancer. In Ayurveda, the plant is used in the treatment of bone-loss, low body weight, fever, stress, topical wound and psoriasis. Besides, Ayurvedic literature also depicts its use as anti-atherogenic, anti-spasmodic, memory enhancing, immunopotentiating and anti-inflammatory agents. In this review, we aim to present a comprehensive update on the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, specific pharmacology, and toxicology of H. indicus and its bioactive metabolites. Possible directions for future research are also outlined in brief. Popular and widely used international databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar and JSTOR were searched and traditional literature were consulted using the various search strings to retrieve a number of citations related to the ethnopharmacology, biological activity, toxicology, quality control and phytochemistry of H. indicus. All studies on the ethnobotany, phtochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of the plant up to 2019 were included in this review. H. indicus has played an important role in traditional Indian medicine (including Ayurveda) and also in European medicine. The main pharmacological properties of H. indicus include hepatoprotective, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-ophidian, cardioprotective, nephroprotective, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Phytochemical evaluations of the root have revealed the presence of aromatic aldehydes and their derivatives, phenolics, triterpenoids and many other compounds, some of which were attributed to its bioactivity. This review also compiles a list of Ayurvedic formulations and commercial preparations where H. indicus has been used as an active ingredient. We have included the critical assessment of all the papers cited in this manuscript based on experimental observation and other important points which reflect the loop-holes of research strategy and ambiguity in the papers reviewed in this manuscript. The study presents an exhaustive and updated review on the traditional, pharmacological and phytochemical aspects of H. indicus with notes on its quality control and toxicological information. Although the crude extracts of H. indicus exhibit an array of pharmacological activities, it is high time to identify more active phyto-constituents by bioactivity-guided isolation besides elucidating their structure-activity relationship. More designed investigations are needed to comprehend the multi-target network pharmacology, to clarify the molecular mode of action and to ascertain the efficacious doses of H. indicus. Moreover, H. indicus is not fully assessed on the basis of its safety and efficacy on human. We hope this review will compile and improve the existing knowledge on the potential utilization of H. indicus in complementary and alternative medicine. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tussilago farfara L., a perennial species, is a medicinal herb used in traditional medicine, mainly for the treatment of respiratory tract-related pathology. In traditional Chinese medicine, flower buds are preferred; in Europe, the leaves are used; and in some parts of India, the whole plant is utilized. This preferential usage of the plant organs might be based on differences in the chemical composition due to environmental conditions, along with preferred traditional and cultural approaches. In this article, the impact of pedoclimatic growth conditions on the morpho-anatomical development and phytochemical profile of the plant were studied on T. farfara in the vegetative state, collected from two different locations in the Romanian spontaneous flora, revealing significant variations. Furthermore, the antioxidant profile of the specific extracts from the aerial and subterranean plant parts is also in accordance with these discrepancies. The plant anatomy was assessed histologically by optical microscopy, while the analytical chemistry evaluation was based on LC/MS and spectral methods for the evaluation of the antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activity. To our knowledge, this is the first comparative analysis contextually reporting on the histology, phenolic profile, antioxidant capacity, and geographical location of the vegetative form of T. farfara. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus hystrix, commonly known as kaffir lime and medicinal lime as mentioned in ancient literature and belonging to Rutaceae family and it is native to everywhere within India and South East Asia. The fruits are green when raw and greenish yellow when fully ripe. They are used to prepare juice, pickles and as acidulant in curries. In the traditional Indian system of medicine the Ayurveda and various folk systems of medicine, the fruit peel and leaves are used to treat various inflammatory ailments. Chemical studies have shown that fruit contains various phytoconstituents like glycerolglycolipids, tannins, tocopherols, furanocoumarins and flavonoids and alkaloids. Preclinical studies have shown that some of its phytochemicals possess antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, chemopreventive, antioxidant, anticholinesterase, cardio and hepatoprotective effects. The present paper deals with review of phytoconstituents and pharmacological action of underutilized C. hystrix fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: India has a great wealth of various naturally occurring plant drugs which have great potential pharmacological activities. Datura stramonium (D. stramonium) is one of the widely well known folklore medicinal herbs. The troublesome weed, D. stramonium is a plant with both poisonous and medicinal properties and has been proven to have great pharmacological potential with a great utility and usage in folklore medicine. D. stromonium has been scientifically proven to contain alkaloids, tannins, carbohydrates and proteins. This plant has contributed various pharmacological actions in the scientific field of Indian systems of medicines like analgesic and antiasthmatic activities. The present paper presents an exclusive review work on the ethnomedical, phytochemical, pharmacological activities of this plant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Garcinia indica Choisy Syn Brindonia indica, commonly known as kokum and belonging to Guttiferae family, is a plant native to certain regions of India. The trees yield fruits annually in the summer season during the months of March to May. The fruits are green when raw and red to dark purple when fully ripe. They are used to prepare juice, pickles and as acidulant in curries. In the traditional Indian system of medicine the Ayurveda and in various folk systems of medicine, the fruit rinds and leaves are used to treat various inflammatory ailments, rheumatic pain and bowel complaints. The kokum butter prepared from the seed is of both commercial and medicinal use. Chemical studies have shown that the rind contains protein, tannin, pectin, sugars, fat, organic acids like (−)-hydroxycitric acid, hydroxycitric acid lactone and citric acid; the anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-sambubioside; and the polyisoprenylated phenolics garcinol and isogarcinol. Preclinical studies have shown that kokum or and some of its phytochemicals possess antibacterial, antifungal, anti-ulcerogenic, cardioprotective, anticancer, chemopreventive, free radical scavenging, antioxidant and anti-obesity effects. The present paper reviews the nutritional value, the phytochemical compounds, traditional uses and validated pharmacological properties of kokum. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: Carissacarandas is an evergreen thorny shrub (Apocynaceae family), commonly, known as karonda. It has small berry‐shaped fruits, used as additive in many pickles or as a spice in northern India. Methods: The present review covers the literature survey from 1968 to 2020. The data have been collected from various journals, books, thesis and some of the electronic search via Internet‐based information such as PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, online electronic journals, SpringerLink, Wiley and Ayush. Key findings: From literature survey, it has been found that the herbal drug contains wide variety of flavonoids, phenolic acids, steroids, volatile oils, lignans, alkaloids, polysaccharides and so on. These phytochemicals exhibit a range of pharmacological activities including antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial and antifungal properties. Conclusions: This current review offers primary data for further research work. The in‐vitro evaluations as well as in‐vivo models/experiments have provided a biosynthetic observation for its various ethno‐pharmacological uses and even pharmacological properties. This review would provide all valuable information which will be beneficiary to conduct some important pharmacokinetic and toxicological research works on human models with respect to ensure the effects of active ingredients in the body and even to validate its safety issues in clinical aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Moringa Adans. comprises 13 species, of which Moringa oleifera Lam. native to India and cultivated across the world owing to its drought and frost resistance habit is widely used in traditional phytomedicine and as rich source of essential nutrients. Wide spectrum of phytochemical ingredients among leaf, flower, fruit, seed, seed oil, bark, and root depend on cultivar, season, and locality. The scientific studies provide insights on the use of M. oleifera with different aqueous, hydroalcoholic, alcoholic, and other organic solvent preparations of different parts for therapeutic activities, that is, antibiocidal, antitumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardio-protective, hepato-protective, neuro-protective, tissue-protective, and other biological activities with a high degree of safety. A wide variety of alkaloid and sterol, polyphenols and phenolic acids, fatty acids, flavanoids and flavanol glycosides, glucosinolate and isothiocyanate, terpene, anthocyanins etc. are believed to be responsible for the pragmatic effects. Seeds are used with a view of low-cost biosorbent and coagulant agent for the removal of metals and microbial contamination from waste water. Thus, the present review explores the use of M. oleifera across disciplines for its prominent bioactive ingredients, nutraceutical, therapeutic uses and deals with agricultural, veterinarian, biosorbent, coagulation, biodiesel, and other industrial properties of this "Miracle Tree." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocimum sanctum L. commonly called as 'holy basil' in English and 'Tulsi' in Hindi is a many branched, erect, stout and aromatic herb about 75 cms high, small sweet scented herb found throughout India and cultivated at a large scale. Ocimum sanctum has been used for a wide range of ailments in traditional medicine. Being complex chemical composition, due to its inherent botanical and biochemical complexity and presence of numerous valuable compounds, such as volatile compounds, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and amino acids, Ocimum sanctum has anti-stress, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, immunomodulating, antiinflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antipyretic, antidiuretic, antidiabetic, antimalarial and hypolipidemic properties. The review aims to gather the fragmented information available in the literature regarding morphology, ethnomedicinal applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of Ocimum sanctum. It also compiles available scientific evidence to identify gaps required to be filled by future research and for the ethnobotanical claims. Traditional uses and scientific evaluation based findings indicate that Ocimum sanctum remains to be the most widely used herbal plant. Ocimum sanctum has been a good source of traditional medicine that provides a noteworthy basis in pharmaceutical biology and for the development/formulation of new drugs and future clinical uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To study the phyto-constituents present in some selected medicinally important pteridophytes from the Western Ghats, India. Methods: The dried and powered leaves materials (50 g) were extracted successively with 250 mL of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol, chloroform, acetone, benzene and water by using Soxhlet extractor for 8 h at a temperature not exceeding the boiling point of the solvent. The aqueous extracts were filtered using Whattman filter paper (No.1) and then concentrated in vacuum at 40°C using Rotary evaporator. The residues obtained were stored in a freezer −70°C until further tests. Phytochemical screening of the extracts was carried out according to the standard methods. Results: The present study screened the phytochemical properties of ten plants with sixty six extracts and showed varied degree of phyto-constituents present. The presence or absence of the phyto-constituents depended upon the solvent medium used for extraction and the physiological property of individual taxa. Conclusions: From these results, it can be concluded that the ten plants extracts may be used as broad-spectrum antimicrobial, bioactive agent after extensive investigation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Phytochemical analysis of the stem bark of Suregada angustifolia (Baill. ex Muell. Arg.) Airy Shaw resulted in the isolation of six known compounds: friedelin, epi-friedelinol, n -octacosanol, a-amyrin, ß-sitosterol, and ß-sitosterol-3 ß-D-glucopyranoside. The aqueous and various solvent (methanol, chloroform, and hexane) extracts of stem bark were tested by the agar well-diffusion method against 12 human pathogenic bacteria. Maximum antibacterial activity was observed in the order of chloroform, hexane, and methanol extracts. Aqueous (room temperature, boiled, and autoclaved) extracts did not demonstrate any activity. The results of the current investigation correspond positively with the claims of the ethnomedicinal uses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]