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Medicinal Herbs

Written by sumeet dwivedi

Tuesday, 07 August 2007

RELEVANCE OF MEDICINAL HERBS USED IN TRADITIONAL SYSTEM OF MEDICINE

Herbs Medicinal plants have curative properties due to the presence of various complex chemical substance of different composition, which are found as secondary plant metabolites in one or more parts of these plants. The present article is focused on relevance of medicinal herbs used in traditional system of medicine with special reference to phytochemical status and biological activity.

RELEVANCE OF MEDICINAL HERBS USED IN TRADITIONAL SYSTEM OF MEDICINE

S N Dwivedi 1, Satyaendra Shrivastava 2, Sangeeta Dwivedi 3 , Abhishek Dwivedi 4 Sumeet Dwivedi* 5 and Shefali Kaul 6

1, Principal Investigator, UGC Research Project on Medicinal Plants , Department of   Botany, Janata PG College, APS University, Rewa- 486002, Madhya Pradesh, India
2, Lecturer, Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Pharmacy, Durg ,C.G.- 490042, India
3, Sanjay Nagar, Rewa, MP-486001, India
4, Bansal College of Pharmacy, Bhopal, MP-462021, India
5, 6, Smriti College of Pharmaceutical Education, Indore, MP-452010, India

*Correspondent Author Address
14/473, Near Samiti Office Sanjay Nagar Rewa- 486 001, Madhya Pradesh, India
Mob No.: +00919993218521,
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants have curative properties due to the presence of various complex chemical substance of different composition, which are found as secondary plant metabolites in one or more parts of these plants. These plant metabolites, according to their composition, are grouped as alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, corticosteroids, essential oils etc. However, it should be stated in all fairness that our-knowledge is still less about the biosynthetic pathway, leading to the formation of active constituents for which these plants are valued. The present article is focused on relevance of medicinal herbs used in traditional system of medicine with special reference to phytochemical status and biological activity.

INTRODUCTION

Medicinal plants have always been the principle source of medicine in India since ancient past and presently they are becoming popular throughout the developed countries. Besides, they also play an important role in the lives of tribal and rural people, particularly in remote part of developing countries. Obviously, these plants help in alleviating human suffering. These plants are being integrated to the field of foods as additives, beverage and cosmetics. There has been a rapid extension of allopathic system of medical treatment in our country during the past century. However, these drugs have adverse effect on human health and people are going back to nature with hope of safety and security. One the other hand, the drug obtained from the medicinal plants are safe, cheaper, easily available and with no fear of any side effects. Moreover, these are more compatible the human body constitution and suits to the local and cultural need of the people. The indigenous method of preparation maintains the purity of the drug. Furthermore, traditional folk healers treat with kindness, grace, patience and tolerence, which play a vital role in healing process today.

Medicinal plants generated commercial demand for pharmacopoeial drugs and their products in India(Evans, 1934). Efforts have been made in recent years to introduce many of these drug plants to common people. The agronomical practices for growing few medicinal plants have been developed and there is now localized cultivation of these medicinal plants commercially in many part of our country.

It is evident that many valuable herbal drugs have been discovered by knowing that a particular plant was used by the ancient folk healers for the treatment of some kind of ailments. Moreover, the medicinal plant wealth are our national heritage and it seems to be the first and foremost line of defence for the treatment of various diseases mostly tribal and rural communities and is a worth scientific study.

The urgent need of hour is the evolution of an action plan for spreading awareness about the value and importance of medicinal plants. In addition to curing various ailments, these plants will add to the national needs export potential. We have to link the indigenous traditional knowledge with modern technology. With the coming of chemical revolution, the medicinal plants, which were once used by the primitive folk healers and traditional medicine men, have found wide acceptance and a place of pride in the modern system of medicine. Their chemical examination revealed that they possess chemical compounds of great biological activity. Indeed, these plants are capable to cure some incurable diseases and also cure the diseases from root. People suffering from chronic diseases and after loosing all hops from allopathic medicine, turn their eyes towards herbal medicine. The add advantage is that the medicinal plants are easily available, cheaper and without any side effect. Hence, the prime need is to make uses of medicinal plants for solving the health problem and major ailments of the people.

Whole 24 pages article is availabel for download at Repository of Faramavita.Net

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