Poonam Arora

Mesua ferrae Linn. (Fam. Clusiaceae) is an ornamental plant which possessing high medicinal value in Indian system of medicines. it is commonly known as Nagkesara in Hindi Ceylon iron wood in English. Mesua ferrea is a large tree with hard wood also known as shade provider and radiation modifier. It is native to tropical Sri Lanka and Tripura but slowly disappearing from India. Traditionally, flowers and aromatic leaves of paint are known for their antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, blood purifier, anthelmintic, cardiotonic, diuretic, expectorant, antipyretic, purgative, antiasthmatic, antiallergic, antispasmodic, antineoplastic, hepatoprotective properties. The plant is a powerful antidote for snake bite. Bioguided screening of plant shows the presence flavonoids along with other compounds such as coumarins, triterpenoids, xanthines biologically active constituents. M. ferrea is an ingredient of various ayurvedic and unani formulations.

The word ‘Beverage’ has been derived from the Latin word ‘bever’ meaning rest from work. At the most basic level, beverage are the portable drinks other than water that humans can consume to satisfy energy, thirst or hydration. Beverages are not usually consumed for their food value, but many, particularly the fruit drinks, contain quite a high percentage of sugar, vitamins and minerals, and, therefore, add to the energy content of the diet. They may be in the form of freshly squeezed juices to chemical-packed energy drinks. For hundreds of thousands of years, the idea of a beverage was restricted to water, milk or any fruit juice but with passage of time, there came alcohol, wine, various teas, coffees, cocktails, ciders and sodas, A wide range of plant materials are used to manufacture beverages. Broadly, there are two types of beverages alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage”. Former is used as a generic term for beverages that contain more than 2.50% alcohol by volume, nevertheless such that the minimum age provision in applies to beverages containing between 0.70 and 2.50 per cent alcohol by volume. These include leaves, stems, sap, fruits, tubers, and seeds (grains). China and India are the fastest growing markets for non-alcoholic beverages. Keywords: Beverage, energy drinks, alcoholic, non-alcoholic beverages

Adhatoda vasica Nees, (Family Acanthacea), commonly known as vasa or vasaka, is a well-known herbal drug in Ayurvedic, Unani and Homeopathic system of medicines. Vasaka is widespread throughout India and tropical regions of Southeastern Asia. This plant is a source of vitamin C and has other phytoconstituents with their proven medicinal value.  All parts of A. vasica are rich in alkaloids among which leaves and roots contain a bitter quinazoline alkaloid, adhatodine, vasicine, vasicinol, vasicinone, vasicinolone, vasicine and vasicinone, among which the latter two predominate. Other constituents include triterpenes, flavonoids, alkanes, steroid, daucosterol, β-sitosterol. Pharmacological properties of this plant are mainly due to vasicine, vasicinol and vasicinone. Vasicinone and vasicine are widely known for powerful bronchodilator action. The whole plant with its phytoconstituents has been studied for antiasthmatic, antitussive, antioxidant activity, hepatoprotective activity, antiulcer activity, uterotonic and abortifacient activity.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting an estimated 300 million people worldwide and ranks third responsible for hospitalization. In developing regions (Africa, Central and South America, Asia), asthma prevalence is rising sharply with increasing urbanization and westernization.  Plant-based medicines are the 3rd most popular choice of both adults (11 %) and children (6 %) suffering from asthma. WHO encourages, recommends and promotes traditional herbal medicines and their formulations in National Health Care Programme which need to ensure quality control using modern techniques applying suitable standards. Asavas are polyherbal Ayurvedic formulations mentioned in Bhaishajya Ratnawali and its modern English translated version known by the name Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Kanakasava, a polyherbal Ayurvedic asava formulation, consists of Datura metel Linn. Adhatoda vasica Nees.,  Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn., Piper longum Linn., Solanum xanthocarpum Scrad & Wendl, Zingiber officinalis Rosc., Clerodendrum serratum (Linn.) Moon, Mesua ferrea Linn, Abies webbiana Lindl., Woodfordia fruticosa Kurz., has been used traditionally since ages for the treatment of asthma. Standardization of the formulation was done as per API. The results of standardization parameters of pH (3.85 ± 0.029), specific gravity (1.046 ± 0.009), viscosity (1.52 CS ± 0.006), phenolic content (0.079 % w/v ± 0.012%), alcohol content (7.18% v/v ± 0.577), total solid content (14.64 % w/v ± 0.348) and estimation of heavy metals, aflatoxin, pesticide residues, microbial load complies with the official limits.