Andrographis paniculata Burm f Wall. ex Nees (Kalmegh) Family: Acanthaceae

Kalmegh is an erect annual herb with dark green quadrangular stem and longitudinal furrows with wings on the angles. Stem is slightly enlarged at nodes. Leaves are opposite and decussate. White flowers are in axillary or terminal panicles or raceme. Plant grows and also cultivated through out India. Andrographolide is the chief active constituent. The plant is tonic, blood purifier and hepatoprotective.

Adhatoda vasica Nees (Vasaka) Family: Acanthaceae

Vasaka is evergreen gregarious, perennial herb distributed all over the plains of India and in the lower Himalayan ranges. It has long and broad leaves, light green in color having characteristic odor and bitter taste. The leaves, flowers, fruits and roots are used for treating cough, cold, chronic bronchitis and asthma. It acts as expectorant and antispasmodic.
Its principle constituents are alkaloids, chief alkaloid being vasicine.

Asparagus racemosus Willd. (Shatavari) Family: Liliaceae

A much branched spinous under shrub with fusiform succulent tuberous roots. The chief chemical constituents are triterpene saponins Shatavarin I & IV. The roots are emollient, cooling, and aphrodisiac. They are useful in nervous disorders, dyspepsia, tumours, scalding of urine, throat infections, tuberclosis, cough bronchitis and general debility.
The root extracts exhibit antiallergic activity. Clinical studies indicate the tuberous roots increase the milk production in lactating women.

Azadirachta indica Juss (Neem) Family: Meliaceae

Neem is a large, evergreen tree commonly found throughout the greater part of India, and often cultivated. The leaves contain chiefly nimbin, quercetin and ß-sitosterol. Almost every part of the tree is bitter and finds application in indigenous medicine. Neem extracts have been reported to possess anti- diabetic, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. The extract of leaf yields fractions which markedly delay the clotting- time of blood and mild antiseptic. The aqueous extract of neem leaf is hepatoprotective, known to decrease blood sugar levels and prevents adrenaline as well as glucose-induced hyperglycaemia. Clinical studies with neem leaf extract indicates its effectiveness to cure ringworm, eczema and scabies.

Bacopa monnieri (Linn.) Wettst. (Brahmi) Family: Scrophulariaceae

It is a small creeping perrenial herb containing. The leaves of this plant are succulent and relatively thick. It commonly grows in marshy areas throughout India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, and is also found in Florida and other southern states. Chief chemical constituents are steroidal saponins including Bacosides. The herb is reported to improve intellect and acts as anti-anxiety agent. Studies indicate the usage of this herb in mental disorders among children. The herb is used for cleansing the blood, has an extremely positive effect on blood circulation and the function of the liver, lungs and kidneys. It is also believed to stimulate hair, skin, and nail growth.

Boswellia serrata Roxb. (Salaiguggul) Family: Burseraceae

A medium to large-sized, deciduous, balsamiferous tree is commonly found in the dry forests from Punjab to West Bengal, and in peninsular India. The oleo-gum-resin yields triterpenic acids, chiefly is ß-boswellic acid, acetyl-ß-boswellic acid, acetyl-11-keto-ß-boswellic acid and 11-keto-ß-boswellic acid. Boswellic acids show remarkable reduction of joint swelling, restoration and improvement of blood supply to inflamed joints, pain relief, increased mobility, amelioration or morning stiffness, steroid sparing effect and general improvement in the quality of life. It produces none of the common side effects associated with conventional NSAIDS and second line drugs.

Camellia sinensis (Linn.) Kuntze. (Green tea) Family: Theaceae

The tea has long been cultivated in India, SriLanka, China and other Asian countries. It is an evergreen shrub or tree usually maintains at a height of 2 – 3 feet by regular pruning. The main active principles of Green tea are Catechins like Epicatechin, Epigallocatechin, Epicatechingallate and Epigallocatechingallate and Caffeine. It also contains other Polyphenols. Green tea is stimulant and antioxidant. Population-based studies indicate that the antioxidant properties of green tea may help prevent atherosclerosis, particularly coronary artery disease. Research shows that green tea lowers total cholesterol and raises HDL (“good”) cholesterol in both animals and humans. Several studies indicate green tea to protect against various types of cancer.

Cassia angustifolia (Senna) Family: Caesalpinaceae

Senna is a much branching erect shrub occurring naturally and cultivated in many parts of India. It is known to increase peristaltic movements of the colon by its local action upon the intestinal wall. It is used as expectorant, wound dresser, antidysentric, carminative and laxative. Sennosides found in leaves, pods and in flowers are the active compounds for laxative properties.

Centella asiatica Linn. (Mandukaparni) Family: Apiaceae

t is a prostate stoloniferous perennial herb native of India, China, Indonesia, Australia, the South Pacific, Madagascar and Southern and Middle Africa. It prefers marshy areas and river banks. It shows the presence of triterpenoid and saponin glycosides chiefly Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic acid. The plant is used in treatment of leprosy, skin diseases (psoriasis, eczema) and also to improve memory. It is also used in respiratory ailments, strengthening of veins (varicose veins), as blood purifier, for relieving stress and is an immune booster.
 

Coleus forskohlii Briq. Family: Labiatae

A small perennial, branched, aromatic herb is distributed in subtropical Himalayas of Kumaon and Nepal ascending to 8,000 ft. and in the Deccan peninsula, Gujarat and Bihar. The main chemical constituent is forskohlin, indicated in hypertension, congestive heart failure, angina pectoris, eczema (atopic dermatitis), asthama, psoriasis and glaucoma.

Eclipta alba (Linn.) Linn. (Bhringaraja) Family: Asteraceae

It is an erect or prostate much branched, hirsute annual herb often rooting at nodes. Leaves are opposite and sessile. Principle constituents of herb are alkaloids wedelolactone and demethylwedelolactone. The herb is used as tonic and deobstruent in hepatic and splenic enlargements. The plant possesses hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory property.

Emblica officinalis Gaertn. (Amla) Family: Euphorbiaceae

A deciduous tree common in Indian forests ascending to 4,500 feet on the hills. It is now being commonly cultivated.
The fruit is the richest known natural source of vitamin C. Fruit bark and leaves are rich in tannins. Amla fruits are anabolic, anti-bacterial and resistance building. The aqueous extract of fruit has been reported to provide protection against radiation induced chromosomal damage in both pre and post irradition treatment. The tannoid principles of the fruits exhibit antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo. Clinical studies indicate amla fruits to be beneficial effects in reducing total serum cholesterol levels.

Garcinia cambogia Desr. (Vrikshamla) Family: Guttiferae

Commonly known as “Malabar Tamarind& is grown in ever green forests of west and southern India and Sri Lanka.
The fruits are like small pumpkin and of the size of an orange, too sour in taste, and their fleshy rind has been valued as a culinary ingredient. The tree is valued for its fruit rind which is rich in acids and possesses marked antiseptic properties. Its chief acid is (-)-hydroxycitric acid known to significantly reduce body weight. Hence the extract is used in the management of obesity to reduce fat synthesis and accelerate fat metabolism.

Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. (Madhunashini) Family: Asclepiadaceae

A large pubescent, woody climber found in the Deccan Peninsula, extending to parts of northern and western India. It is occasionally cultivated. An aqueous extract of the leaves contains the saponins gymnemic acid III, IV, V, VIII and IX. Gymnemic acid has anti-diabetic property. It has inhibitory effect on plasma glucose and serum insulin in man through regeneration of insulin producing beta cells, hence find its application in type I Diabetes.

Momordica charantia Linn. (Karela) Family: Cucurbitaceae

A monoecious climber with solitary fruits found throughout India also commonly cultivated, up to an altitude of 1,500 m. The fruits and leaves of the plant contain alkaloids, chiefly momordicine. Roots contain bitter principles. The extracts of bitter gourd produces hypoglycaemia in normal as well as alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. Charantin isolated from the fruits given in doses of 50 mg/kg orally lowered the blood sugar by 12% in the fourth hour after administration.

Ocimum sanctum Linn. (Tulsi) Family: Lamiaceae

An annual herb. found throughout India ascending up to 1,800 m. in the Himalayas, and in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, commonly cultivated in gardens. The plant increases the physical endurance and prevents stress-induced ulcers. It also potentates the hexobarbitone sleeping time. Protective action against histamine-induced bronchoplasm has been shown in animals. Tulsi extracts inhibits acute and chronic inflammation and is found to be analgesic and antiypretic. The anti-inflammatory action involves cyclooxygenase inhibitory pathway. The extract also possesses antioxidant activity.

Terminalia belerica Roxb. (Bahera) Family: Combretaceae

A large deciduous tree with characteristic bark and obscurely 5-angled fruits grown throughout India. Its principle constituents are beta sitosterol, gallic acid, ellagic acid, ethylgallate, gallolyl glucose and chebulic acid. It is astringent, tonic, expectorant and laxative. It is used in coughs and sore throat. Its pulp is used in dropsy, piles and diarrhoea. It is also useful in leprosy, fever and hair care. Fruits possess antibacterial property.

Terminalia chebula Family: Combretaceae

It is a tree with rounded crown and spreading branches. Its principle chemical constituents are chebulagic acid, chebulic acid and corilagin. Its fruits are laxative, stomachic and tonic. Studies indicate extract to possess immunomodulatory and hepatoprotective properties.

Tinospora cordifolia Miers.(Guduchi) Family: Menispermaceae

A large, glabrous, deciduous climbing shrub with succulent stems found throughout tropical India, ascending to an altitude of 300m. The stem is used in general debility, dyspepsia, fevers and urinary diseases. The climber contains chiefly alkaloids responsible for antibacterial, hyoglycaemic and immunomodulatory activity. The extract is also useful in the treatment of jaundice and rheumatism.

Tribulus terrestris Linn. (Chota Gokru) Family: Zygophyllaceae

It is a prostate annual herb widely distributed in the tropics and warm temperate regions of India, China and parts of Europe. Fruits resemble ribbed, spinous tuberculate tiny spherical balls. The chief constituents are steroidal sapogenins. The fruits are diuretic and aphrodisiac. Clinical studies indicate its anti-urolithiatic property. It improves muscle tone, stamina and endurance. It is known to increase sexual drive and performance.

Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn. (Fenugreek) Family: Fabaceae

It is erect aromatic annual herb commonly cultivated through out India. The long slender stems bear tripartite, toothed, grey-green obovate leaves. The thin, sword-shaped pods are curved beak-like tip, each carrying 10-20 seeds. The chief chemical contituents are steroidal saponins. The active constituent of Fenugreek is galactomannan. It is known to reduce blood glucose, possess antiviral and anti-oxidant property.

Withania somnifera Dunal. (Ashvagandha) Family: Solonaceae

An erect, evergreen, tomentose shrub, found throughout the drier parts of India in waste places and on bunds. It is also cultivated for the medicinal roots. The alkaloids – withanoloids are hypotensive, bradycardiac, antioxidant, antidepressant, and respiratory-stimulating action. The hypotensive effect is due mainly to autonomic ganglion-blocking action. The total alkaloids showed relaxant and antispasmodic effects against several spasmogens on intestinal, uterine, bronchial, tracheal and blood-vascular muscles. Withaferin A exhibits potent anti-arthritic and anti- inflammatory activities.