Therapeutic Effects of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. Fruit in Traditional and Modern Medicine: A Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1069-1088 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Sobhani ◽  
Sara Nikoofal-Sahlabadi ◽  
Mohammad S. Amiri ◽  
Mahin Ramezani ◽  
Seyed A. Emami ◽  
...  

Ziziphus jujuba Mill. belonging to the Rhamnaceae family, has been consumed since ancient times as a medicine and food. In the different traditional medical schools, Z. jujuba has been used to treat various diseases such as respiratory system diseases (asthma, cough, and laryngitis), gastrointestinal problems (constipation, colitis and liver diseases), as well as cardiovascular and genitourinary system diseases. From the perspective of Islamic traditional medicine (ITM), Z. jujuba fruit is an emollient, laxative, and maturative, it can purify blood and improve blood circulation, relieve internal heat and reduce inflammation. Some therapeutic uses of Z. jujuba such as antibacterial, antioxidant, sedative, hepato-protective, anti-hyperglycemic, and anti-hyperlipidemic activities have been shown in modern pharmacological studies. In the current study, traditional and ethno-medicinal uses, botany, phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Z. jujuba were reviewed.

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-78
Author(s):  
Charana Kumar ◽  
◽  
Clara Manasa P.A. ◽  
M. Jadeyegowda ◽  
Shrikant Gunaga ◽  
...  

Indigenous knowledge on the usage of medicinal plants all over the world precedes the origin of modern medicine in healthcare system. Plants have given many health benefits to humans since ancient times. Drynaria quercifolia commonly called Oak Leaf Fern, is used in traditional medicinal system by different groups of people to treat various kinds of health problems however, in Ayurvedic System of Medicine it is sold in the name of ‘Ashwakatri’. The present study aims to document the traditional medicinal knowledge on Drynaria quercifolia in the Kodagu district. The folk knowledge believes that the host specific Drynaria quercifolia has considered as strong and effective medicine. This ferns collected from only specific tree species can be extracted for its medicinal value. Paper also deals with the tradition information on the preparation and consumption of folk medicine. Though the medicinal uses of Drynaria quercifolia has been described by many workers, the practice of traditional medicines significantly varies from region to region and also in the similar location of the same region. The survey was conducted in the Kodagu district of Karnataka to document the traditional medicinal usage of fern Drynaria quercifolia. To generate the information on traditional knowledge, frequent discussions and semi-structured interviews with folk healers viz., natividyas, knowledgeable individuals and forest tribes. Based on the results of the study it is found that this species is used for curing jaundice as folk medicine and the medicinal value of the fern which is extracted only from those individuals growing on specific host trees viz., Artocarpus hirsutus, Ficus mysorensis, F. benghalensis and Mangifera indica have found the effective results than the species growing on other trees. Study concluded that the host specific trees of Drynaria quercifolia are more effective in treating ailments.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-104
Author(s):  
Amir Parviz Tavassoli ◽  
Majid Anushiravani ◽  
Seyed Mousalreza Hoseini ◽  
Zahra Nikakhtar ◽  
Hamideh Naghedi Baghdar ◽  
...  

Alhagi maurorum is one of the species of Alhagi genus producing manna of Tarangabin. Tarangabin is mainly prepared in Iran and Afghanistan. The medicinal properties of Tarangabin and A. maurorum have been mentioned in some major Materia Medica manuscripts in the Islamic era. Tarangabin has various pharmacological properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, analgesic and gastrointestinal effects. The purpose of this review is to introduce Alhagi plant and its different species, to present its geographical distribution, and to review its phytochemical and pharmacological properties as well as traditional and folklore applications. Phytochemistry of different parts of Alhagi, such as root, leaf and manna is also explained in details. In addition, temperament and medicinal uses of Tarangabin mentioned in the Islamic traditional medicine (ITM) books are presented. Indeed, sparse clinical research has been done on the medicinal properties of Tarangabin, which calls for future well-designed trials.


Author(s):  
Alfred Maroyi

Lannea acida is widely used as herbal medicine in West Africa. The present study critically reviewed the medicinal uses and phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of L. acida. The keywords including L. acida, its synonyms, English common names, medicinal uses, and phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of the species were searched using electronic databases such as ISI web of knowledge, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, OATD, Scopus, OpenThesis, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The search for pre-electronic literature such as conference papers, scientific articles, books, book chapters, dissertations, and theses was carried out at the university library. Literature studies revealed that L. acida is mainly used for injuries, inflammation and pain, gastrointestinal problems, fever and malaria, gynecological and pregnancy disorders, ethnoveterinary medicine, hemorrhoids, skin diseases, and infections. Phytochemical compounds identified from the species include alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids. Pharmacological studies revealed that L. acida extracts have anthelmintic, antibacterial, antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory, antimycobacterial, antioxidant, estrogenic, fertility, hyaluronidase, phospholipase A2, proteolytic, and vibriocidal activities. Given the importance of L. acida as herbal medicine, there is a need for detailed studies aimed at establishing the efficacy, clinical relevance, and safety of the plant extracts and compounds.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 106-112
Author(s):  
Shifali Thakur ◽  
Hemlata Kaurav ◽  
Gitika Chaudhary

The field of Ayurvedic Science is acquiring more importance and prevalence all through the world as a result of its amazing medicinal uses. Therapeutic plants have been utilized by humankind since ancient times. According to World Health Organization, 80% of individuals depend on natural drugs for some aspect of their primary healthcare. Hemidesmus indicus (Anantmool) is a significant medicinal plant, which is described in Ayurvedic literature and current science because of the presence of its number of remedial properties. Hemidesmus indicus is locally known as Anantmool and Indian Sarsaparilla. It is an aromatic, long-rooted plant that belongs to the Apocynaceae family. The plant is widely cultivating in deciduous forests, uncultivated lands and moist hedges. The medicinal plant is used against a variety of diseases due to the presence of various phytochemicals like Hemidesmol, Resin, Glucoside, Tannin and Resin. The plant parts, roots and rhizome have been utilized for hundreds of years in Ayurvedic medication for relieving countless diseases. Many reported studies highlighted the potential pharmacological properties of H. indicus like anti-cataractous, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-cancerous, anti-diabetics, anti-venom, anti-angiogenic. The present work aims overall Ayurvedic and modern therapeutical information of Hemidesmus indicus with various reported Ayurvedic literature and scientific pharmacological studies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 376-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonali Mishra ◽  
Nupur Srivastava ◽  
Velusamy Sundaresan ◽  
Karuna Shanker

Background: Decalepis arayalpathra (J. Joseph and V. Chandras.) Venter is used primarily for nutrition besides its therapeutic values. Traditional preparations/formulations from its tuber are used as a vitalizer and blood purifier drink. The folklore medicinal uses cover inflammation, cough, wound healing, antipyretic, and digestive system management. A comprehensive review of the current understanding of the plant is required due to emerging concerns over its safety and efficacy. Objective: The systematic collection of the authentic information from different sources with the critical discussion is summarised in order to address various issues related to botanical identity, therapeutic medicine, nutritional usage, phytochemical, and pharmacological potentials of the D. arayalpathra. Current use of traditional systems of medicine can be used to expand future research opportunities. Materials and Methods: Available scripted information was collected manually, from peered review research papers and international databases viz. Science Direct, Google Scholar, SciFinder, Scopus, etc. The unpublished resources which were not available in database were collected through the classical books of ‘Ayurveda’ and ‘Siddha’ published in regional languages. The information from books, Ph.D. and MSc dissertations, conference papers and government reports were also collected. We thoroughly screened the scripted information of classical books, titles, abstracts, reports, and full-texts of the journals to establish the reliability of the content. Results: Tuber bearing vanilla like signature flavor is due to the presence of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (HMB). Among five other species, Decalepis arayalpathra (DA) has come under the ‘critically endangered’ category, due to over-exploitation for traditional, therapeutic and cool drink use. The experimental studies proved that it possesses gastro-protective, anti-tumor, and antiinflammatory activities. Some efforts were also made to develop better therapeutics by logical modifications in 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzaldehyde, which is a major secondary metabolite of D. arayalpathra. ‘Amruthapala’ offers the enormous opportunity to develop herbal drink with health benefits like gastro-protective, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. Results: The plant has the potential to generate the investigational new lead (IND) based on its major secondary metabolite i.e. 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-benzaldehyde. The present mini-review summarizes the current knowledge on Decalepis arayalpathra, covering its phytochemical diversity, biological potentials, strategies for its conservation, and intellectual property rights (IPR) status. Chemical Compounds: 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (Pubchem CID: 69600), α-amyrin acetate (Pubchem CID: 293754), Magnificol (Pubchem CID: 44575983), β-sitosterol (Pubchem CID: 222284), 3-hydroxy-p-anisaldehyde (Pubchem CID: 12127), Naringenin (Pubchem CID: 932), Kaempferol (Pubchem CID: 5280863), Aromadendrin (Pubchem CID: 122850), 3-methoxy-1,2-cyclopentanedione (Pubchem CID: 61209), p-anisaldehyde (Pubchem CID: 31244), Menthyl acetate (Pubchem CID: 27867), Benzaldehyde (Pubchem CID: 240), p-cymene (Pubchem CID: 7463), Salicylaldehyde (Pubchem CID: 6998), 10-epi-γ-eudesmol (Pubchem CID: 6430754), α -amyrin (Pubchem CID: 225688), 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzaldehyde (Pubchem CID: 12127).


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 557-567
Author(s):  
Aparoop Das ◽  
Anshul Shakya ◽  
Surajit Kumar Ghosh ◽  
Udaya P. Singh ◽  
Hans R. Bhat

Background: Plants of the genus Inula are perennial herbs of the family Asteraceae. This genus includes more than 100 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Africa and Asia including India. Many of them are indicated in traditional medicine, e.g., in Ayurveda. This review explores chemical constituents, medicinal uses and pharmacological actions of Inula species. Methods: Major databases and research and review articles retrieved through Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline were consulted to obtain information on the pharmacological activities of the genus Inula published from 1994 to 2017. Results: Inula species are used either alone or as an important ingredient of various formulations to cure dysfunctions of the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, urinary system, central nervous system and digestive system, and for the treatment of asthma, diabetes, cancers, skin disorders, hepatic disease, fungal and bacterial infections. A range of phytochemicals including alkaloids, essential and volatile oils, flavonoids, terpenes, and lactones has been isolated from herbs of the genus Inula, which might possibly explain traditional uses of these plants. Conclusion: The present review is focused on chemical constituents, medicinal uses and pharmacological actions of Inula species and provides valuable insight into its medicinal potential.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 752
Author(s):  
Andreas N. Angelakis ◽  
Heikki S. Vuorinen ◽  
Christos Nikolaidis ◽  
Petri S. Juuti ◽  
Tapio S. Katko ◽  
...  

Since ancient times, the need for healthy water has resulted in the development of various kinds of water supply systems. From early history, civilizations have developed water purification devices and treatment methods. The necessity for fresh water has influenced individual lives as well as communities and societies. During the last two hundred years, intensive and effective efforts have been made internationally for sufficient water quantity and quality. At the same time, human life expectancy has increased all over the globe at unprecedented rates. The present work represents an effort to sketch out how water purity and life expectancy have entangled, thus influencing one another. Water properties and characteristics have directly affected life quality and longevity. The dramatic increase in life expectancy has been, indisputably, affected by the improvement in water quality, but also in other concomitant factors, varying temporally and spatially in different parts of the world throughout the centuries. Water technologies and engineering have an unequivocal role on life expectancy. In some cases, they appear to have taken place earlier than the progress of modern medicine. Among these, improved sanitation, personal hygiene, progress in medicine, and better standards of economic living have played the greatest roles.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 584
Author(s):  
Nadia Las Heras Las Heras Etayo ◽  
Félix Llamas ◽  
Carmen Acedo

The species Chiliadenus glutinosus (L.) Fourr. has a large number of therapeutic uses reported in the traditional Spanish medicine. The growing interest in preserving the ethnopharmacological knowledge related to the botanical diversity existing in Spain and the interest in achieving scientific validation of the therapeutic properties of medicinal species has led to the development of this study. To do it, all the known medicinal uses of Ch. glutinosus in Spain were compiled, then an exhaustive bibliographic research on its chemical composition was carried out, and finally, an in silico validation of the bioactive phytochemicals present in a higher proportion in the essential oil of Ch. glutinosus: camphor, borneol, lucinone, glutinone, quercetin, kutdtriol, and kaempferol; in an attempt to justify the reported traditional uses of the species. It was found that much of the traditional medicinal uses of Ch. glutinosus, along with the biological activity of its phytochemicals, are supported by scientific evidence. The results place this species in a prominent position to initiate possible lines of research to develop new, more effective drugs and improve therapies to treat conditions and diseases that affect the different organic systems of the human being.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Fathijouzdani ◽  
Rezvan Heidarimoghadam ◽  
Maryam Hazhirkamal ◽  
Akram Ranjbar

: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious concerns for people around the world. The COVID-19 is associated with respiratory failure, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the lack of antioxidants among patients. Specified ROS levels have an essential role as an adjuster of immunological responses and virus cleaners. Still, excessive ROS will oxidize membrane lipids and cellular proteins and quickly destroy virus-infected cells. It can also adversely damage normal cells in the lungs and even the heart, resulting in multiple organ failures. Given the above, a highly potent antioxidant therapy can be offered to reduce cardiac loss due to COVID-19. In modern medicine, nanoparticles containing antioxidants can be used as a high-performance therapy in reducing oxidative stress in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. It can provide a free and interactive tool to determine whether antioxidants & nanoantioxidants can be administered for COVID-19. More research and studies are needed to investigate and make definitive opinions about their medicinal uses.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-32
Author(s):  
Emil Vlajki

The history of humanity is a history of rationality. As a result, mankind has progressed from the Stone Age to the era of modern medicine, genetics, computer science, robotics, and nanotechnology. The life span of a man in ancient times was about twenty years, and today, in highly developed societies, a man lives, on average, to eighty-six years. Advances in science and technology have not always had a positive impact. Suffice to say, the ongoing environmental problems that seriously affect humanity or, for example, the dietary problems that have resulted due to genetic manipulation. Scientific and technological development must be considered in a serious and philosophical manner. Ethics are increasingly becoming an integral part of life. In this paper, we focused on the new coronavirus that has led to the planetary-wide disease called COVID-19. All countries have engaged in their efforts to suppress the resulting pandemic. However, some of the utilized measures have been suspect: whether to lock-down people in quarantine, whether their movement should be restricted, whether they should be forced to vaccinate, and so on. Claiming to act prophylactically, scientists, by adding some DNA, RNA segments (gain of function, GOF) to an innocuous human virus, have created a dangerous artificial influenza virus. Likewise, an artificial, infectious coronavirus was created in a laboratory. Both procedures for creating these dangerous, hybrid viruses have been described in eminent scientific journals. The scientists involved in this research told us that they wanted to find cures and vaccines for these non-natural viruses on the off-chance they ever appeared among humans; when carefully handled, engineered organisms provide a unique opportunity to study biological systems in a controlled fashion. Biotechnology is a powerful tool to advance medical research and should not be abandoned because of irrational fears. But the chance of this type of virus appearing among humans is almost non-existent. However, what if these viruses "escape" from the lab, as has happened in the recent past? What if a terrorist organization start producing these viruses on their own according to detailed instructions and then use them? Finally, since the two great world powers, the US and China, that jointly created the artificial coronavirus, called SHC014-MA15, who can stop them from continuing this practice? Isn't it possible that they also created the current SARS-CoV-2 provoking a death of two and a half million people? Related to these questions, this study deals with the issue of tolerance. A large number of world-renowned scientists really believe that the current cause of the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, is an artificial, laboratory-created virus, presenting a number of facts for this. It is not disputed that their claims are arguable. This, however, does not mean that their opponents, pharmaceutical companies and some superpowers, who have far greater political and economic power, have to incorrectly and utterly embarrass them all over, morally discredit them, nor ban their texts on the subject. In science, the struggle must be waged by arguments, not by totalitarian Orwellian methods.


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