Pharmacological activities

Plant drugs have a long history in both traditional and modern societies as crude drugs. The plant drugs have been extensively practiced as traditional medicine since centuries by peoples of almost all countries of the world. The medicinal plants are considered to be the almost exclusive source of primary health care as well as a source of pharmacological active compounds for 80 % of the world’s population, herbal medicines have been proven effective in common as well as rare diseases. Bacopa monnieri belongs to the family Scrophulariaceae is perennial, creeping herb, origin to wetlands of southern and eastern India, Australia, Europe, Asia, north and South America. The major therapeutic chemical constituents of this plant identified through various researches are the Triterpenoids, Saponins, Bacoside, Flavonoids and Glycosides. Bacoside A has been recognized as the chief component responsible for therapeutic effects. The plant is used in traditional Ayurvedic treatment for a range of CNS applications, being considered as a memory tonic. It has been found to possess various CNS actions including nootropic, antidepressant and anxiolytic action. It is also considered to be an important adaptogen. This review shall cover pharmacological properties, chemical constituents and scientific researches supporting not only traditional use of Ayurvedic claims but also other physiological conditions such as anti-inflammatory, cardio tonic and other pharmacological effects of B. monnieri extracts.

This paper reviews the traditional, clinical potential, ethnopharmacology, phytoconstituent studies and safety profile of Prickly Amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus Linn.) with a view to explore the potentiality of the plant and proclaim it to the nature product researchers throughout the world. Phytochemical investigations prove its importance as valuable medicinal plant. It is known as a rich source of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic acids, steroids, amino acids, terpenoids, lipids, saponin, betalain, b-sitosterol, stigmasterol, linoleic acid, rutin, catechuic tannins and carotenoids. Various researchers have carried out wide spectrum studies on its pharmacological actions and preliminary work has been reported on antidiabetic, antitumour, analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, bronchodilator, hepato-protective, antifertility, antimalarial, antioxidant properties etc. Hence Prickly Amaranth holds a great potential for in depth biological evaluation.