Traditional medicine

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.

Traditional medicines have been recently recognized as a precise and knowledge for new source of anticancer drugs and new chemotherapy adjuvant to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy and to ameliorate the side effects of cancer chemotherapies however their healing mechanisms are still largely unknown. The current available methods of treatment like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery can induce certain side effects, so there is urge for alternate or adjuvant therapies has arisen. The natural compounds present in plants were known to inhibit or kills carcinogenic cells. In the race for the designing of new anti-cancer drugs development the phytochemical investigation of herbs has contribute new ideas in some extent. Apoptosis is the programmed cell death in which the cells activate an intracellular death program and kill themselves in a controlled way. The phytochemicals that have the anticancer property by inducing apoptosis are safe, abundantly available from dietary sources and the drugs have good immunomodulatory properties.  This attempt has been made to review plant and plant products used in the prevention and treatment of cancer by inducing apoptosis.

Hisar district is situated in the Haryana state of India and is endowed with various food plant species promi­nently employed in traditional medicine. The information on medicinal uses of plants is based on the exhaustive interviews with local physicians practicing indigenous system of medicine, village headmen, priests and denizens. The present research highlights useful ethnobotanical information about the uses of plants by the inhabitants of Hisar district of Haryana state. The study may open doors of unexplored medicinal plants to be used in treatments in future.

Cancer is a general term applied of series of malignant diseases that may affect different parts of body. The main causes of cancer are alterations of DNA, mutations, damage, smoking, addiction to liquor, chewing tobacco, imbalance diet, exposure to certain chemicals (carcinogens) etc. Complementary and alternative medicine use is common amongst cancer patients. In many surveys, herbal medicines are amongst the most commonly used group of treatments. Herbal remedies are believed by the general public to be safe, cause less side-effects and less likely to cause dependency. Traditional medicine has a long history of serving peoples all over the world.  The use of herbal remedies and dietary supplements is widespread throughout the world, and use may be increasing. These are taken for a wide range of perceived benefits and treatment of specific conditions. Alternatively many herbals and dietary supplements may predispose to control in different types of cancer. In this article, we review the potential anticancer effects of herbal remedies and discuss the potential interaction between these herbal substances and conventional anticancer medications. These herbal medicines along with benefits also include some adverse effects. This review summarizes the role of some pharmaceutically important herbal medicines used in treating cancer. Key Words: Traditional medicine,cancer,Dietary supplements, herbal remedies, potential interaction.

The mortality associated with scorpion sting rates from 3-22% worldwide. Out of 1500 scorpion species, 50 are dangerous to humans & can cause wide range of conditions including local as well as systemic symptoms. The plant and plant products have augmented human culture since time immemorial. The tribal peoples are custodian of unique traditional knowledge systems and their ambient flora and fauna. Traditional medicine practices and ethnobotanical information play an important role in the scientific research. 80% of world’s population depends on traditional Medicine and in India about 65% people from rural area uses Ayurveda and herbal medicines for the treatment various ailments including venomous bites. The present paper deals with the documentation & review of various ethnomedicinal plants used effectively by the tribal particularly for the management of Scorpion sting cases.