1.3 IMPORTANCE OF THE
STUDY
The medicinal plants find application in
pharmaceutical, cosmetics, Agriculture and food industry. The use of the medical
herbs for curing diseases has been documented in the history of all
civilizations. Man in the pre-historic era was probably not aware about the health
hazards associated with irrational therapy with the onset of research in
medicine, it was concluded that plants contain active principles, which are
responsible for curative action of the herbs.
Before, onset of synthetic era, man was completely
dependent on medicinal herbs for prevention and treatment of diseases. With the
introduction of scientific procedures, the researchers were able to understand
the toxic principles present in the green flora. The scientist isolated active
constituent of the medicinal herbs and after testing some were found to be
therapeutically active.
Aconitine, Atisine, Nicotine, Digoxin, Atropine,
Morphine
are
some common examples.The efficacy of some herbal products id beyond doubt, the
most recent examples being silybum, marianum Artemisiannua (artenmesinin) and
Taxus
baccata
(Taxol). On the other hand, randomized, controlled trails have proved the
efficiency of some established remedies for instance Uinkgo, biloloa for
tinnitus, hyperjcum perforalum is a reputed remedy for depression. In hypericum,
some researchers are of the view that hypericum is the active ingredient that
hyperforin is responsible for antidepressant action of the herb.
Recently research has supported biological
activities
of
some medicinal herbs. Cancer is such a segment where researchers are expecting
new molecules from herbs that can provide us with tools for tightening thus
dreaded disease. Allamanda Cathratica (allamandin).Elephatopas clatas (elephantopin)
Helennium autimnale (helenalin) vernonia hymenlepis.
Heliotropium
indicum (indicine-N-oxide).
Dephnemezereum
(mezerien) are medicinal plant that have shown significant tumor inhibiting
effect.
Diabetes mellitus is another area where a lot of
researches is going on. Ajuga reptens (the active-principle is said to be
potential effects of insulin). Galagea officials (Galagine). Bougainvillea
spectabilis (Pintol) momordica charantia (Chirantin). Gymnema sylvestre
(gymnemic acid) are some medicinal herbs that have shown effectiveness in
non-insulin dependent diabetes.
Recently, extract of Tecoma stars has shown potent
anti
diabetes
activity. Alkaloid tecomonine is considered to be the active ingredient of the
herb.
Arthritis is another potential disease where no
satisfactory answer is present in modern medicine commiphora minkul
(guggulsterones), Bosivellia serrata (bosivellic acid) withania somnifera (with
anolides) Ruscus acuelcatus (ruscogenin), Havpagoside is a precious constituent
as it has anti sheumatoid activity. Rest of all natural products has anti
inflammatory activity.
Chrysanthemum
parthenium traditionally known as fever few has shown promising results in
migraine