Since prehistorical times, the traditional knowledge of medicinal plants has been prevalent in India. The Indian Himalayas are one of the mega-biodiversity regions with vast reserves of medicinal plants. In dermatology, advanced healthcare solutions are not ordinarily available in rural areas; therefore, traditional medicines are used in treatment. The present review aims to emphasize and enlist the details of medicinal plants with curative action against skin disease in the Indian Himalayan region and to draw the attention of pharmacologists, botanists, and phytochemists to conduct scientific research on important ethno-dermatological medicinal plants. The review aimed to analyze the data of 112 plants from 56 families obtained from various online databases and servers. Lamiaceae and Asteraceae represent the highest number of plants against skin disorders. Leaves (44%) were the most commonly used plant part and the mode of administration of plant extract was majorly external and very few orally. The herbal formulations for skin by different cosmetic industries were studied individually to find out their key bioactive ingredients and were further listed in a table. In herbal cosmetics, Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. extract, sandalwood oil, and Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f leaf pulp are used in most herbal products because of their skin rejuvenating properties. The Indian Himalayas are the treasure box of medicinal plants but, because of increased environmental degradation, the number of plant species is declining. This review on ethno-dermatological knowledge of medicinal plants can escalate the development of drugs and new therapeutic potentials for curing skin diseases.

Research area of herbal psychopharmacology has been increased in this era. It is demand of the era to have comprehensive review of preclinical studies of Ayurveda herbal drugs as antidepressant, anxiolytic, and hypnotic psychopharmacology. On the basis of these findings, further clinical uses as well as better understanding of its mode of action and dosage form can be planned. In this review, search engines such as Ayush Portal, PubMed, DHARA, Research Gate, Scopus, AYU, Google Scholar, Academia, and Google were used to find out widely used psychotropic herbal medicines (last 20 years). A review was conducted to determine mechanisms of action of those drugs, in addition to a scientific review of preclinical trials for the treatment of most common psychiatric clinical conditions, i.e., anxiety and depression. Specific prominence was given to most apparent herbal medicines. Neurochemical as well as epigenetic activities were evident by results of individual herbal medicines in this review. Some drugs were found to be more effective in psychotropic activity, i.e., Kava (Piper methysticum G. Forst.) and Klamath Weed (Hypericum perforatum L.) for anxiety and depression disorders, respectively. However, because many researches have not been produced, caution should be exercised when interpreting the findings.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion (I/R) injury- a paradoxical challenge associated with contemporary methods of successful resuscitation triggers uncontrolled apoptosis induced by the concomitant oxidative stress. Adaptive mechanisms incorporating the upregulation of cytoprotective genes like Nrf2 protects cells from apoptotic changes and dysfunction under stress conditions. Partharishta an Ayurvedic formulation with all its individual ingredients being potent antioxidants, is thought to bring a positive result in reducing oxidative stress in cardiac tissues. Therefore the study aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the formulation Partharishta via the expression of Nrf2 gene in ischemia induced H9c2 rat cardiomyoblast cells when preconditioned with Partharishta. METHODS: Partharishta was prepared in accordance with the Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI). To evaluate the extent of cell viability the Partharishta pretreated H9C2 cell lines were subjected to MTT Assay. As confirmatory assays for antioxidant activity, an invitro ROS measurement assay and Reverse transcriptase PCR Analysis to confirm the expression of Nrf2 gene against oxidative stress was conducted. RESULTS: On MTT Assay the cells pretreated with 25µg/ml of dessicated Partharishta provided an average cell viability of 85.12%. The confirmatory Assays conducted in the cells at this concenteration showed that the ROS production is relatively low and the Nrf2 gene against oxidative stress was expressed in these cells. CONCLUSION: These findings of the present in-vitro study reveal that the formulation Partharishta possess significant antioxidant as well as the free radical scavenging activity and therefore may be considered as one of the good sources of natural cardioprotective formulation.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to validate the collection time for the whole plant of Mandookparni [Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.] by assessing the variation in marker compound asiaticoside, a bioactive secondary metabolite with quantitative high performance liquid chromatography in all available seasons along with the observation of morphological and microscopic studies. METHODS: Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. the whole plant was collected from the same habitat in all six seasons described in Ayurveda that is Shishir ritu (Jan–Feb), Vasant ritu (Mar-Apr), Grishm ritu (May-Jun), Varsha ritu (July-Aug), Sharad ritu (Sep-Oct), and Hemant ritu (Nov–Dec). The source of collected plant material was authenticated at Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Jhansi. The voucher specimen was deposited in the CARI herbarium (Accession no. 23602) for future reference. Botanical identification and comparative macro and microscopic studies for samples collected in each season were carried out. The extraction in various solvents such as alcohol, hydro alcohol, and methanol through soxhlet was carried out to evaluate the quantitative analysis of extractive values and asiaticoside in all six seasons through HPLC at Captain Srinivasa Murthy Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CSMCARI), Chennai. RESULTS: The whole plant is used for medicinal purpose. It was observed that the flowering and fruiting occur at end of the rainy (Varsha ritu) season and persists up to the winter season (Shishir ritu). Plant material is procured from the same habitat in all seasons from Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) garden, Jhansi. The raw botanical material showed the similar characters in powder microscopy in Shishir ritu, Vasant ritu, Sharad ritu, and Hemant ritu whereas the powder study of Grishma ritu and Varsha ritu was observed without the fruiting parts that is pericarp and endosperm. And other four seasons are same as Shishir ritu. Selected marker compound asiaticoside was quantified in all available seasons by HPLC. The extractive value was found maximum of 2.2332 g (44.66% w/w) in a methanol extract of Grishma ritu sample and HPLC estimation evident for the large quantity of asiaticoside is more upto 0.4596 (% w/w) in Grishma ritu sample. CONCLUSION: The highest concentration of asiaticoside was found in the sample collected during Grishma ritu (May and June). Hence, it can be concluded that the best procurement time for Mandukaparni whole plant is Grishma ritu (May and June).

BACKGROUND: Traditional medicines always played important role in meeting the global healthcare needs. In Hassan district, traditional medicinal practices are widespread, which may be attributed to rich plant diversity in the Western Ghats and presence of many ethnic groups. The study was conducted with a purpose of evaluating the current status of traditional medicinal practitioners in the study region and encompassed on the reasons behind depleting practices and future prospects. METHODS: The present study collected and reviewed information using questionnaire from 171 traditional practitioners from Hassan district, Karnataka during 2020–2021. RESULTS: The survey found that 36% of healers learnt from other practitioners in their community who were not family members, either as students or people who lived nearby, and 65% learned traditional medicine from their ancestors. In traditional medicine, plants are the main source of medication, and 83% of practitioners use plants solely in their concoctions. Sixty-six percent (66%) of healers were willing to share knowledge, whereas the remaining were conservative in their approach. Various categories of diseases were being treated with abdominal and skin diseases being the dominant. CONCLUSIONS: Given the similarities in disease diagnosis, plant harvesting, and processing that have been seen, additional rigorous research is required to put the relationship between Ayurveda and noncodified ancient systems of medicine on a more firm footing. The practise seems to be going extinct due to a lack of knowledge transmission and a shortage of medicinal plants.

BACKGROUND: Good prenatal care includes the mother’s nutrition and healthy habits during pregnancy. Failure to supply adequate nutrition can lead to fetal malnutrition. Critical analysis of the dietetic guidelines mentioned in Ayurveda classics for pregnancy reveals that the recommended diet has Rasayana (rejuvenation) properties, which covers the additional nutritional needs. Jeevantyadi Avaleha is a formulated combination (Anubhoot yoga) of Jeevanti, Shatavari, Amalaki, Guduchi, Atibala, Draksha, Arjuna, and Sita; almost all of these have Sheeta veerya (cold potency), Madhura vipaka (sweet bio-transformed rasa) and Rasayana property. To properly evaluate the finished product from the perspectives of safety, efficacy, and quality, pharmacognostic and pharmaceutical analyses were done. METHODS: Jeevantyadi Avaleha was prepared after identification, authentication, and microscopic evaluation of raw drugs as per the standards mentioned in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. In pharmacognostical evaluation, organoleptic study and microscopy were done. In pharmaceutical evaluation, physicochemical analysis and high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) were carried out. Physicochemical parameters namely loss on drying, pH value, water-soluble extract, and alcohol-soluble extract were tested. RESULTS: The diagnostic features obtained by microscopy were compared with the standards of the individual drugs mentioned in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. On HPTLC of the formulation, five spots were visualized at ultraviolet 254 nm and three spots at ultraviolet 366 nm. CONCLUSION: After assessing the pharmacognostical parameters, Jeevantyadi Avaleha was found to be genuine. This study’s results may be considered as the reference standard in future research proceedings.

BACKGROUND: The state of Sikkim possesses 26% of Indian flowering plants. This is an important phytogeographical region of India. There are no floristic exploration studies being carried out in East Sikkim district. Due to this, the present study was intended to explore the floristic diversity in the East Sikkim district of Sikkim state. METHODS: For the exploration, the Medico Ethno-Botanical Survey (MEBS) team surveyed 09 different forest ranges of East Sikkim and documented the floristic diversity as per the guidelines of CCRAS, Ministry of Ayush, New Delhi. RESULTS: The study explored 165 plant species belonging to 140 genera of 71 families. Among the collected plants, the family Asteraceae represents the highest number (15) of plants, whereas the genus Rhododendron exhibits more number (06) of species. The herbs encompass a copious number (87) of plants compared to other habits of the plant. The enlisted plants were cross-verified with Ayurvedic texts, which revealed that 26 plant species were indexed with their Ayurvedic formulations. The IUCN status and trade value of the explored plants were also mentioned. CONCLUSIONS: The floristic exploratory studies represent the species richness of a particular geographical area. It facilitates further research for scholars to utilize the plant taxa sustainably to taxonomy, ecology, biodiversity, and medicinal plants-related works to manufacture herbal-based formulations.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is a primary physiological defence mechanism that assists the body in protecting itself from infection, toxic chemicals, or other noxious stimuli. The current study demonstrated phytochemical screening, anti-inflammatory activities, and sub-acute toxicity of hexane and ethanol extracts of Nigella sativa L. (seeds), Ocimum tenuiflorum L. (leaves), and Piper longum L. (Fruits), as well as anti-oxidant activity. The Carrageenan-Induced Rat Paw Edema method was used to assess anti-inflammatory activity. METHODS: The carrageenan-induced paw edema test evaluated anti-inflammatory activity. Male albino Wistar rats weighing 150 ± 10g were divided into six groups of six animals each. Paw edema was induced with 1.5% carrageenan in all the groups except the normal. Group, I received a plain control of 1 ml of 1% Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC); Group II standard drug received Indomethacin (10 mg/kg); Group III received Polyherbal formulation of hexane extracts (PHFH) 250 mg/kg b.w; Group IV received PHFH 500 mg/kg b.w.; Group V was given 250 mg/kg b.w. of Polyherbal formulation of ethanolic extracts (PHFE). The extract’s acute toxicity (2000 mg/kg) as per OECD guidelines was studied in albino rats for 14 days. The qualitative analysis of various phytochemical constituents of various phytoconstituents was determined. The DPPH method was used to evaluate anti-oxidant activity. RESULTS: The results showed that both PHFH and PHFE exhibited marked inhibition of the edema size from 1, 3, and 5 hrs of study as compared to the standard drug indomethacin (10 mg/kg b.w). The PHFE (250 and 500 mg/kg) displayed excellent protection against inflammation to PHFH (250 and 500 mg/kg). Compared to the standard drug, indomethacin which showed the highest excellent protection against inflammation. PHFE has lower anti-oxidant activity than standard ascorbic acid but exhibits higher anti-oxidant activity than PHFH. In an acute toxicity test, hexane-ethanolic extracts up to 3000 mg/kg had no toxic effects. CONCLUSION: From this study, we conclude that Nigella sativa L. (seeds), Ocimum tenuiflorum L. (leaves), and Piper longum L. (fruits) have anti-inflammatory activity by reducing paw inflammation as well as showing anti-oxidant activity.

BACKGROUND: Dhattura herbal tea has been reported for toxicity, which is attributed to use without purification. Purification of Dhattura as per classics is essential as it contains toxic alkaloids. The present study highlights the role of classical Shodhana procedures in rendering the drug safe for therapeutics. METHODS: Dhattura seeds were collected and purified by Swedana (sudation) using Goksheera (cow milk) and Gomutra (cow urine). The unpurified and purified Dhattura seeds were analyzed for alkaloid content by UV spectroscopy. RESULTS: Unpurified Dhattura seeds contained 40.83 mg atropine equivalent (AE)/100 g of drug. Purification using Goksheera reduced alkaloid content to 20.46 mg AE/100 g of drug, and purification using Gomutra resulted in 26.45 mg AE/100 g of drug. CONCLUSION: UV spectroscopy is an effective method to determine the total alkaloid content in the raw and purified Dhattura seeds. This study supports that the purificatory methods stated in Ayurveda are effective in reducing atropine levels in Dhattura seeds.