Pharmacological Activity and Nutritional Potential of Buchanania lanzan Spreng

The plant science that studies the historical and current uses of plants is called ethnobotany. Spices and herbs have since medieval times been categorized as having medicinal properties. India is a land of spices, and several spices have been grown in the country. Buchanania lanzan Spreng, commonly known as char, achar, and chironji, is one among these spices. It has been referred to as one having immense value and medicinal use. The chapter discusses the cultivation, uses, chemical constituents, and therapeutic activities of Buchanania lanzan Spreng and emphasizes the need for and importance of pharmacognostic study.

Phytochemistry and Ethanopharmacology of Illicium verum (Staranise)

Illicium verum, as a spice and pharmaceutical treatment of many harmful diseases, has been widely used in most Asian countries. The Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China considered it as both food and medicine due to its non-toxicity towards human health. In the present study, the review focuses mainly on food and medical applications of I. verum. The fruits are commonly used as an ingredient of the traditional “five-spice” powder of Chinese cooking, and the essential oil of I. verum can be used as flavoring. The extraction from I. verum has carminative, stomachic, stimulant, and diuretic properties, and is used as a pharmaceutical supplement. Shikimic acid extracted from I. verum is one of the main ingredients in the antiviral drug Tamiflu, which is used to fight avian influenza. It has also been reported to possess antimicrobial and antioxidative properties as well as significant anticancer potential. This review presents a detailed compilation of the literature on phytochemicals and pharmacological properties of Illicium verum.

Pharmacological Applications of Saffron (Crocus sativus)

Saffron spice also known as Crocus sativus (Saffron crocus) belongs to the family of iridaceae. Many studies have proved its potential role in disease eradication. It has been reported to possess the attributes of a sedative, an anti-asthma, an emmenagogue, an expectorant, and an adaptogenic agent. Crocin, crocetin, and safranal are the most important biochemically active ingredients that were found in different parts of the plants in varying proportions like the peels, fruits, seeds, and rind of Crocus sativus. The in vitro and in vivo studies showed that saffron has got its therapeutic implication in health management via anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, hepatoprotective, and anti-tumour activity. This review attempts to reveal the potential pharmacological properties of Crocus sativus. It also draws attention towards the use of herbs and spices in various ailments without facing the harmful side effects of chemically derived medicine.

Elucidating the Phytochemical and Pharmacological Potential of Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg)

Myristica fragrans or nutmeg is a ground spice of the family Myristicaceae. Its tree has dark leaves mainly cultivated in Grenada, Malaysia, and Kerala. It is majorly a source of two spices derived from its fruit: nutmeg (jaiphal) from its seed and mace (javitri) from the covering of seed. The important bioactive constituents present in nutmeg include macelignan, carvacrol, myristicin, β-caryophyllene, β-pinene, α-pinene, p-cymene, and eugenol. Low doses of nutmeg do not cause any side effects whereas after consuming 5g toxic overdose occurs, and central nervous system (CNS) effects were induced after consuming 1 to 2 mg/kg b.wt. of nutmeg. Various therapeutic or medicinal applications were shown by nutmeg such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, aphrodisiac, anticancer, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and cardioprotective activity. This review chapter focuses on ethnobotany, phytochemistry, acceptable daily intake, and different pharmacological actions of this medicinal plant.

Turmeric

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a rhizomatous crop found in tropical regions and belongs to the family Zingiberaceae. It was used in the form of a spice, flavoring substance, coloring agent, and as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of several human ailments for centuries. Turmeric, along with its extracts, has a very broad and diverse field of application. It is an exclusive and versatile naturally occurring plant product having properties of not only a spice but also food colorant, medicine or drug, and cosmetics. In ethnic delicacies, turmeric is a commonly used flavoring ingredient. It is also a popularly used natural food color. It exhibits several biological activities such as having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antiparasitic properties. It is well known as a skincare product and a healthy food ingredient. It is found to have the capability to prevent or retard a wide range of ailments.

Therapeutic and Pharmaceutical Potential of Cinnamon

Cinnamon has been used as a spice, condiment, and aromatic plant since centuries ago. Cinnamon is a small evergreen tree belonging to the genus Cinnamomum in the family Lauraceae. There are more than 250 species of cinnamon worldwide. In India, Cinnamomum verum and Cinnamomum cassia are the most common species grown in the Himalaya region. They have been used as folk medicine for the treatment of nausea, flatulent dyspepsia, coughs, diarrhea, malaria, gastric disorder, and to alleviate pain and inflammation in rheumatic arthritis. Therapeutic properties of cinnamon are due to the presence of bioactive constituents such as p-coumaric, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, and eugenol. Cinnamaldehyde and eugenol are the major active constituents responsible for its characteristic flavor, aroma, and therapeutic properties. Pharmacological studies found that it could be a promising candidate with potential for designing new drugs. This review is aimed to summarize the ethanomedicinal importance, phytochemistry, and wide spectrum of pharmacological and therapeutic applications of cinnamon.

Role of Spices Beyond a Flavouring Agent

Plants, principally spices and herbs, have been given much more attention because they are considered important for flavoring and coloring foods and their use as condiments. Herbs and spices have been used for generations by humans as food and also to treat ailments since they are full of medicinal and antioxidant properties and contain bioactive compounds like tannins, alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, polyphenols, and vitamins, which help in healing diseases. Spices and herbs contain biomolecules that play a crucial role in healthcare and fitness levels. Spices and herbs have been considered as esoteric food adjuncts as they play numerous roles like being coloring agents, flavoring agents, preservatives, food additives, and having uses in the medicinal and pharmaceutical industries.

Proven Health Benefits and Uses of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.)

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L) is an annual herb that belongs to the family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) and is commonly known as dhanya. For centuries, the coriander plants and their parts, primarily their leaves and ripe seeds, have been used in folk medicines in addition to culinary uses. This plant is herbaceous and aromatic and is cultivated in several countries, including India, Italy, the Netherlands, Europe, China, and Bangladesh. The coriander plant is rich in essential oils, vitamins (vitamins C and K), minerals (calcium, phosphorous, potassium, thiamine, and niacin), and other micronutrients. The plants are extensively used in the preparation of food items. C. sativum essential oil and extracts possess various potential pharmacological properties and has been found to possess carminative, diuretic, stomachic, aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities. The present study aims to discuss the botany, traditional uses, medicinal, and industrial applications of coriander extracts and essential oils.

Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Properties of Zingiber officinale Essential Oil and Extracts

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been traditionally employed in south East Asia as well as India and China for treatment of nausea, asthma, fever, vomiting, cough, constipation, pain, arthritis, inflammation, etc. This chapter discusses the phytochemical composition and pharmacological studies of ginger extracts, ginger essential oil (GEO), and active bioactive constituents. The essential oil of fresh and dry ginger was ranged between 0.2% - 2.62% and 0.72% - 4.17% respectively. The bioactive constituent zingiberene, β-sesquiphellandrene, curcumene, β-bisabolene, β-farnesene, camphene, and gingerol and shogal are the major constituents in ginger extracts. These compounds are chief bioactive substances responsible for pharmacological activities such antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, anticoagulant, antiradiation, anti-inflammatory, gastrointestinal, antimicrobial, cardiovascular, anti-obesity, and weight loss effects. Future research needs to investigate the suitable duration, maximum dosage of ginger, concerns of overdosage, and its side effects in animal models and humans.

Pharmacology and Phytochemistry of Coriander

Coriander, named as Coriandrum sativum Linn, belongs to the family Umbelliferae and is one of the most popular and well-known spices/condiments and herbal medicines. The essential oils and fatty oils are the two major active chemical constituents present in the plant. The other minor ingredients found to be present are monoterpenes hydrocarbons i-e limonene, γ-terpinene, α-pinene, p-cymene, borneol, citronellol, camphor, geraniol, and geraniol acetate and abd heterocyclic components such as pyrazine, pyridine, thiazole, furan and tetrahudrofuran derivatives, isocoumarins, coriandrin, dihydrocoriandrin, coriandrons A-E, flavonoids. The volatile oil from the leaf contains aromatic acids such as 2-decenoic acid, E-11-tetradecenoic acid, undecyl alcohol, tridecanoic acid, capric acid, undecanoic acid, and more. The current pharmacological research reveals the application of coriander has antibacterial and antifungal activity.