TOPIC : HERBAL PLANTS

ENGLISH PROJECT WORK

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF MEDICINAL HERBS

What is meant by HERBAL PLANT ?

herbal plants are plants that grow herbs. the herbs mostly help in seasoning food and in medicine .

In our world there are different types of herbal plants are found.

Medicinal plants refer to using a plant’s seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark or flowers for medicinal purposes.

Example:i. Tulsiii.Alove-veraiii.Turmeric

• Medicinal plants are plants that have a recognized medical use.

• Their use ranges the production of mainstream pharmaceutical products to herbal medicine preparations.

• Herbal medicine is one of the oldest forms of medical treatment in human history and could be considered one of the forerunners of the modern pharmaceutical trade.

ASHWAGANDHA (Withania somnifera)

ALOE VERA

WE WILL DISCUSS TWO MEDICINAL HERBS

ASHWAGANDHA

KINGDOM: PlantaeORDER: SolanalesFAMILY: SolanaceaeGENUS: WithaniaSPECIES: W.somnifera

BINOMIAL NAME: Withania somnifera

Withania somnifera, also known as ashwagandha, Indian ginseng, poison gooseberry, or winter cherry, is a plant in the

Solanaceae or nightshade family. Several other species in

the genus Withania are morphologically similar. It is used as a herb in Ayurvedic

medicine

It grows a

s a sh

ort shrub (35–75 cm) w

ith

a central st

em from which branches

extend radially in a star patte

rn (stellate)

and covered with a dense matte of w

ooly

hairs (to

mentose). The flowers a

re small

and green, while the rip

e fruit is

orange-

red and has milk-coagulating propertie

s.

The plant's long, brown, tu

berous roots

are used for medicinal purposes.

DESCRIPTION

Ashwagandha in Sanskrit means "horse's smell" (ashwa- horse, gandha- smell), probably originating from the odour of its root which resembles that of a sweaty horse. [citation needed]

The species name somnifera means "sleep-inducing" in Latin.

ETYMOLOGY

Withania somnifera is cultivated in many of the drier regions of India, such as Mandsau District

of Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. It

is also found in Nepal.

CULTIVATION

Withania somnifera is grown as late rainy-

season (kharif) crop. Semitropical areas

receiving 500 to 750 mm rainfall are

suitable for its cultivation as a rainfed

crop. If one or two winter rains are

received, then

root development

improves.

The crop requires a relatively dry

season during its growing period. It can

tolerate a temperature range of 20 to

38°C and as low a temperature as 10°C.

The plant grows from sea level to an

altitude of 1500 meters

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH

Withania somnifera is prone to several pests and diseases. Leaf spot

disease caused by Alternaria alternata is the most prevalent

disease, which is most severe in the plains of Punjab, Haryana, and

Himachal Pradesh. Biodeterioration of its pharmaceutically active

components during leaf spot disease has been reported. The Choanephora cucurbitarum causes a stem and leaf

rot of Withania somnifera.

PATHOLOGY

The berries can be used as a

substitute for rennet, to

coagulate milk in cheese-

making

CULINARY USE

The main chemical constituents are alkaloids and steroidal lactones. These include tropine and

cuscohygrine. The leaves contain the steroidal lactones, withanolides, notably withaferin A, which was the first withanolide to be isolated

from W. somnifera

MEDICINAL USE

In Ayurveda, the berries and leaves of W. somnifera are locally applied to tumors,

tubercular glands, carbuncles, and ulcers. The roots of W. somnifera are used to

prepare the herbal remedy ashwagandha, which has been traditionally used to treat

various symptoms and conditions .

TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USES

In two published clinical trials of W. somnifera, the side effects were not

significantly different from those experienced by placebo-treated

individuals

SIDE EFFECTS

ALOE VERA

Aloe vera is a succulent plant species that probably originated in northern Africa. The species does not have

any naturally occurring populations, although closely related aloes do occur in northern Africa. The species is frequently cited as being used in herbal medicine since the beginning of the first century AD. Extracts from A. vera are widely used in the cosmetics and alternative

medicine industries, being marketed as variously having rejuvenating, healing or soothing properties.

There is, however, little scientific evidence of the effectiveness or safety of A. vera extracts for either cosmetic or medicinal purposes, and what positive

evidence is available is frequently contradicted by other studies

Preparations made from the plant Aloe vera are often referred to as "aloe vera". Scientific evidence for the cosmetic and therapeutic effectiveness of aloe vera is limited and when present is frequently contradictory. Despite this, the cosmetic and alternative medicine industries regularly make claims regarding the soothing, moisturizing, and healing properties of aloe vera. Aloe vera gel is used as an ingredient in commercially available lotions, yogurt, beverages, and some desserts, although at certain doses, it has toxic properties when used either for ingested or topical applications.

USES

Early records of Aloe vera use appear in the Ebers Papyrus from 16th century BC, in both Dioscorides' De Materia Medica and

Pliny the Elder's Natural History written in the mid-first century AD along with the Juliana Anicia Codex produced in 512 AD. The species is used widely in the traditional herbal medicine of many

countries. Aloe vera, called kathalai in Ayurvedic medicine, is used as a multipurpose skin treatment. This may be partly due to

the presence of saponin, a chemical compound that acts as an anti-microbial agent.

FOLK MEDICINE

Aloin, a compound found in the exudate of some Aloe species, was the common ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) laxative products in the United States prior to 2003, when the Food and Drug Administration ruled that aloin was a class III ingredient, thereby banning its use. Aloe vera has potential toxicity, with

side-effects occurring at some dose levels both when ingested or applied topically. Although toxicity may be less when aloin is removed by processing, aloe vera that contains aloin in excess

amounts may induce side-effects

DIETARY SUPPLEMENT

A 2-year National Toxicology Program (NTP) study on oral consumption of non-decolorized whole leaf extract of Aloe vera found evidence of carcinogenic activity in male and female rats. The NTP says more information is needed to determine the potential risks to humans.

Aloe vera juice is marketed to support the health of the digestive system, but there is neither scientific evidence nor regulatory approval to support this claim. The extracts and quantities typically used for such purposes appear to be dose-dependent for toxic effects.

Benefits• They cost less – the rising cost of prescription drugs have led the people to

look for alternatives. While medicinal herbs may not be as strong or as fast acting as conventional medicine, there is a growing body of scientific evidence that shows their efficacy and in what doses.

• They may have fewer side effects: while the side effects of any herbal medication depend on the drug in question, many have fewer side effects than conventional medicine. For example, St. John’s Wort, which is used for mild to moderate depression, has fewer side effects than most other prescriptive antidepressants.

• There is a choice on how to use them – medicinal herbs can be used in a variety of ways, depending on the kind of herb that is to be used. Some herbs can be mixed with food. Some can be made into tea, and there are some that are available in capsule or tablet form.

• They are good for more than one condition – most prescriptive drugs are designed for one specific health problem. By contrast, many herbal medicine act on several parts of the body at once. For example Ginko (Ginko biloba) is good for circulatory disorders, but it also helps enhance memory.

Conclusion

• Medicinal herbs can be a good alternative for many diseases and conditions. They are low cost, and tend to have fewer side effects. Moreover, they can be bought in health food shops, pharmacies and on-line without the need for a prescription. However, herbal medicines can still have unwanted health effects, especially when used in combination with other drugs. If you are using more than one herbal medicine, or using them for a serious condition, it’s best to consult with a naturopath or established herbalist. It’s also important to tell your physician that you are using an alternative medicine to prevent drug interaction.

PRESENTED BY

SAMEER NANDAN