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IMPORTANCE AND USES OF MEDICINAL PLANTS – AN OVERVIEW

Article · December 2016

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Yudharaj P. et al. / International Journal of Preclinical & Pharmaceutical Research. 2016; 7(2): 67-73.

e-ISSN 2249-7552
Print ISSN 2229-7502
International Journal of
Preclinical & Pharmaceutical Research
Journal homepage: www.preclinicaljournal.com
IMPORTANCE AND USES OF MEDICINAL PLANTS – AN
OVERVIEW
P. Yudharaj, M. Shankar*, R. Sowjanya, B. Sireesha, E. Ashok Naik, R. Jasmine
Priyadarshini
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Seven Hills College of Pharmacy, Venkataramapuram, Tirupati-517561,
Andhra Pradesh, India.

ABSTRACT
A medicinal plant is any plant which, in one or more of its organs, contains substances that can be used for therapeutic
purposes, or which are precursors for chemo-pharmaceutical semi-synthesis. When a plant is designated as medicinal, it is
implied that the said plant is useful as a drug or therapeutic agent or an active ingredient of a medicinal preparation. Herbal
medicines are in great demand in the developed as well as in the developing countries for primary health care because of their
wide biological and medicinal activities, higher safety margins and lesser costs.

Key Words: Therapeutic purposes, Development, Altrnative Medicine, Herbalism.

INTRODUCTION
The term of medicinal plants include a various medicinal plant species is cited, but this includes many
types of plants used in herbalism and some of these plants algae, fungi, and micro-organisms that are not really plants
have a medicinal activities. These medicinal plants as the word is understood by botanists [2].
consider as a rich resources of ingredients which can be These days the term Alternative Medicine became
used in drug development and synthesis. Besides that these very common in western culture, it focus on the idea of
plants play a critical role in the development of human using the plants for medicinal purpose. But the current
cultures around the whole world. Moreover, some plants belief that medicines which come in capsules or pills are
consider as important source of nutrition and as a result of the only medicines that we can trust and use. Even so most
that these plants recommended for their therapeutic values. of these pills and capsules we take and use during our daily
These plants include ginger, green tea, walnuts and some life came from plants. Medicinal plants frequently used as
others plants. Other plants their derivatives consider as raw materials for extraction of active ingredients which
important source for active ingredients which are used in used in the synthesis of different drugs. Like in case of
aspirin and toothpastes [1]. It has been estimated that about laxatives, blood thinners, antibiotics and antimalaria
13,000 species of plants have been employed for at least a medications, contain ingredients from plants.
century as traditional medicines by various cultures around
the world. A list of over 20,000 medicinal plants has been FUTURE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS
published, and very likely a much larger number of plants. Medicinal plants have a promising future because
there are about half million plants around the world, and
ALTRNATIVE MEDICINE most of them their medical activities have not investigate
The world's flowering plant species have been yet, and their medical activities could be decisive in the
used medicinally. Sometimes the figure of 70,000 treatment of present or future studies in table 1 [3].

Corresponding Author CHARACTERISTICS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

Synergic medicine- The ingredients of plants all
M. Shankar interact simultaneously, so their uses can complement or
Email: [email protected] damage others or neutralize their possible negative effects.
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Yudharaj P. et al. / International Journal of Preclinical & Pharmaceutical Research. 2016; 7(2): 67-73.

Support of official medicine- In the treatment of complex respiratory, digestive, and circulatory systems. E.g. fennel,
cases like cancer diseases the components of the plants ginger, garlic, lemongrass [5].
proved to be very effective.
Preventive medicine- It has been proven that the Astringent Herbs
component of the plants also characterize by their ability to Tannins in Astringent Herbs have the ability to
prevent the appearance of some diseases. This will help to precipitate proteins, and this "tightens," contracts, or tones
reduce the use of the chemical remedies which will be used living tissue, and helps to halt discharges. They affect the
when the disease is already present i.e., reduce the side digestive, urinary, and circulatory systems, and large doses
effect of synthetic treatment. are toxic to the liver. They are analgesic, antiseptic, ant
abortive, astringent, emmenagogue, hemostatic, and
CLASSIFICATION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS styptic.
Classification of medicinal plants is organized in
different ways depending on the criteria used. In general, Bitter Herbs
medicinal plants are arranged according to their active Bitter Herbs are named because of the presence of
principles in their storage organs of plants, particularly phenols and phenol glycosides, alkaloids, saponins and are
roots, leaves, flowers, seeds and other parts of plant. These divided into four subcategories:
principles are valuable to mankind in the treatment of Diuretic Herbs induce loss of fluid from the body
diseases. Reports on the classification of many plant through the urinary system. The fluids released help
species yielding vegetable oils used in cosmetics and body cleanse the vascular system, kidneys, and liver. They are
and skin care preparations are sporadic or lacking. alterative, antibiotic, ant catarrhal, antipyretic, and
antiseptic, lithotripter, and blood purifier in nature.
Classification According to the Usage asparagus, blessed thistle, burdock, butcher's broom,
The herbs are classified in four parts: medicinal buchu, chaparral, chickweed, corn silk, dandelion, dog
herbs, culinary herbs, aromatic herbs, ornamental herbs. grass, grapevine, and parsley [5].
 Medicinal Herbs have curative powers and are used in
making medicines because of their healing properties like Mucilaginous Herbs
marigold, lemon balm, lavender, johnny-jump-up, Mucilaginous herbs derive their properties from
feverfew etc. the polysaccharides they contain, which give these herbs a
 Culinary Herbs are probably the mostly used as slippery, mild taste that is sweet in water. All plants
cooking herbs because of their strong flavours like produce mucilage in some form to store water and glucide
oregano, parsley, sweet basil, horseradish, thyme etc. as a food reserve. They eliminate the toxins from the
 Aromatic Herbs have some common uses because of intestinal system, help in regulating it and reduce the bowel
their pleasant smelling flowers or foliage. Oils from transit time. They are antibiotic, antacid,demulcent,
aromatic herbs can be used to produce perfumes, toilet emollient, vulnerary, and detoxifier in nature. For e.g.
water, and various scents. For e.g. mint, rosemary, basil althea, aloe, burdock, comfrey,dandelion, Echinacea,
etc. fenugreek, kelp, psylium,slippery elm, dulse, glucomannan
 Ornamental Herbs are used for decoration because from Konjak root, Irish moss, and mullein [5].
they have brightly coloured flowers and foliage like
lavender, chives, bee balm, lemongrass etc [4]. Nutritive Herbs
Wheat germ these herbs derive both their name
Classification according to the Active Constiuents and their classification from the nutritive value they
According to the active constituents all herbs are provide to the diet. They are true foods and provide some
divided into five major categories: Aromatic (volatile oils), medicinal effects as fibber, mucilage, and diuretic action.
Astringents (tannins), Bitter (phenol compounds, saponins, But most importantly they provide the nutrition of protein,
and alkaloids), Mucilaginous (polysaccharides), and carbohydrates, and fats, plus the vitamins and minerals that
Nutritive (food stuffs). are necessary for adequate nutrition. For e.g. rosehips,
acerola, apple, asparagus, banana, barley grass, bee
Aromatic herbs pollen,bilberry, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower,
The name is a reflection of the pleasant odour that grapefruit, hibiscus, lemon,oat straw, onion, orange,
many of these herbs have. They are used extensively both papaya, pineapple, red clover, spirulina, stevia.
therapeutically and as flavourings and perfumes. Aromatic
herbs are divided into two subcategories: stimulants and Classification According to their Herbs
nervines. Herbs also can be classified as annuals, biennials,
Stimulant Herbs increase energy and activities of and perennials. Annuals bloom one season and then die.
the body, or its parts or organs, and most often affect the Biennials live for two seasons, blooming the second season
only. Once established, perennials live over winter and
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Yudharaj P. et al. / International Journal of Preclinical & Pharmaceutical Research. 2016; 7(2): 67-73.

bloom each season. They can last for many years with antiviral, hepatoprotectors, etc.
proper care. Annual herbs complete their life cycle in one
year; start them from seed. The annuals have to be seeded Regulators
each year unless conditions are favorable enough in the Like dopamine, used for Parkinson´s síndrome
garden to seed themselves. (only L-Dopa is active) Antibiotics: chemical products able
to inhibit the growth of microorganisms and even destroy
Classification according to Nature them.
Natural products are compounds consisting
essentially of carbon derived from natural sources and that Classification Based on their Physiologic Activity
generally have very diverse and interesting properties. Approximately one half of the medicines used
Some of the most relevant applications of the Natural today are natural products, i.e. alkaloids, antibiotics or
Organic Products are using it as Fuels, plastics, fats, soaps, synthethic analogs. For that it is usually employed a
sugars. classification that represents the physiologic activity, such
as hormones, vitamins, antibiotics ad mycotoxins. Even
Petroleum though the compounds belonging to each group have
(Petra = stone; Oil = oil) is a naturally formed by different structures and biogenetic origins, a narrow
liquid mixture of hydrocarbons, which are processed in the relationship is occasionally between those aspects and
petrochemical industry through fractional distillation and activity [7].
cracking to gasoline, natural gas, etc.
Classification based on their taxonomy
Soap This classification is based on morphological
It is the sodium salt of a fatty acid. Have a party studies of plants, or plant taxonomy. In animals and some
hydrophyllic (dissolves in water) and other lipophyllic (fat of the microorganisms, final metabolites are generally
dissolves dirt). excreted outside the body, while in plant metabolites are
stored inside the plant. While it was thought that some
Sugars metabolites were specific of some plants, we know today
These are natural polyhydroxialdehides or that are widely distributed in the plant kingdom and many
polyhydroxiketones with different functions: structure, constituents of plants such as alkaloids and isoprenoides
energy storage components of the nucleic acids, etc. They have been isolated from species, genera, families or
are formed by photosynthesis in plants and are classified specific plant. For example, the "opium" of Papaver
into monosaccharides (glucose), disaccharides (sucrose) somniferum contains twenty alkaloids such as morphine,
and polysaccharides (cellulose, starch, etc.) [6]. thebaine, codeine, and narcotine. they are all
biosynthesized from precursor 1-bencilisoquinolina by
Sweeteners oxidative coupling [8].
These are natural or synthetic substance that gives
a sweet taste to food. We can find natural sweeteners such Classification based on their biogenesis
as sucrose (cane and beet), fructose (sugar simpler and Although biogenesis and biosynthesis are terms
sweet, honey), lactose and galactose (sugars from milk, that are used sometimes indiscriminately, it is customary to
less sweet), and synthetic as: saccharin (300 times sweeter use the first term for a hypothesis, and the last for a
than sucrose), aspartame (160 times sweeter), etc. synthetic route tested experimentally. The constituents of
Industrial Use of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants 19 all plants and animals are biosynthesized in organisms
through enzymatic reactions. The most commonly source
Agro-chemicals of carbon used is the glucose, which is photosynthesized in
pesticides, plant growth regulators, etc. Modifiers green plants obtained from the environment heterotrophic
of animal behavior [6]. organisms. The relatively recent advances in biochemistry
have greatly clarified the interplay between enzymatically
Flavours and perfumes. catalyzed reactions of the primary metabolites and
Food Additives (flavours, colours, antioxidants, biopolymers. These metabolites lead to secondary
etc.) metabolites, so called because it is obvious his role in the
metabolism of many organisms [9].
Drugs
Product to be administered for curative purposes. PLANTS AS A BASIS OF SOME IMPORTANT
Although there are many natural source products that are DRUGS
used as drugs, the synthesis of drugs is well developed and Higher plants have been used as a source of drugs
provides a large amount of chemicals that are used as such. by mankind for several thousand years. In fact, ancient
For example: sedatives, anti inflammatories, diurethics, man was totally dependent on green plants for his day-to-
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day needs of medicaments. With the development of Allium sativum

modern medicine, synthetic drugs and antibiotics, the Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic,
importance of plants as raw material for drugs decreased belongs to the family Liliaceae and genusn Allium.Garlic
considerably. However, plants were used as a basis of is used as carminative, aprodisic ,expectorant and
some of the most important drugs, even in the modern disinfectant in the treatment of pulmonary conditions. Oil
system of medicine. With the advancement of synthetic of garlic is used as anthelmintic and rubefacient. It has
organic chemistry most of the active constituents of plants been noticed that garlic lowered the blood pressure and
used in medicine were synthesized. At one time it was level of cholesterol and also possesses strong antimicrobial
thought that ultimately all the plant drugs would be activity[13].
obtained from synthetic sources.
Spermicidal Activity
Herbs used as Diuretics Achyrantes aspera
Medicinal herbs are the significant source of Extracts from roots of Achyranthes aspera have
Diuretics. Mono and poly-herbal preparations have been been reported to possess spermicidal activity in human and
used as diuretics. According to one estimate, more than rat sperm, as studied by Paul et al. (2010) in fig 6.
650 mono and poly-herbal preparations in the form of
decoction, tincture, tablets and capsules from more than 75 Antiparasitic Activity
plants are in clinical use are as follows [8, 9]. Tephrosia purpurea Linn
Tephrosia purpurea Linn. belongs to family
Mangifera Indica Leguninosae. It also called as Sarwa Wranvishapaka. It
Mangifera Indica is a species of mango in the contains glycosides, rotenoids, isoflavones, flavnones,
Anacardiaceae family. It is found in the wild in India and chalcones, flavonoids and sterols. According to Ayurvedic
cultivated varieties have been introduced to other warm system of medicine various parts of this plant are used as
regions of the world. It is the largest fruit-tree in the world, remedy for impotency, asthma, diarrhoea, gonorrhoea,
capable of a height of one-hundred feet and an average rheumatism, ulcer and urinary disorders. It is also used in
circumference of twelve to fourteen feet, sometimes the treatment of bronchitis, boils, bleeding piles, pimples,
reaching twenty. Diuretic activity of Mangifera Indica bark roots and seeds are used as insecticidal, vermifuge, leprous
extract in rats was studied by Shree devi. They use Ethyl wound and the juice is used for the eruption on skin in fig
acetate, ethanol and water extract of Mangifera Indica for 7 [14]
evaluation of diuretic activity in fig 1[9].
Carica papaya Linn
Mimosa pudica Carica papaya Linn. belongs to family
Mimosa pudica also called sensitive plant, sleepy Caricaceae. Papaya fruits contains a mixture of cysteine
plant is a creeping annual or perennial herb often grown for endopeptidases such as papain. Chympopapain A and B,
its curiosity value: the compound leaves fold inward and papaya endopeptidase II, papaya endopeptidase IV, omega
droop when touched or shaken, to protect them from endopeptidase, chinitase, protease-inhibitors, and proteins.
predators, re-openingminutes later. The species is native to Papaya fruits posses wound healing properties, papaya
South America and Central America. It grows mostly in latex was applied to the burn wound using hydrogel as a
shady areas, under trees or shrubs in fig 2 [10]. vehicle system in fig 8 [15].

Lepidium sativum Anti -inflammatory activity

Lepidium sativum known as garden cress belongs Phyllanthus polyphyllus
to the family Brassicaceae. The seeds and leaves of the It is a small shrub used in anti-inflammatory folk
plant contain volatile oils. Garden cress seeds are bitter, medicine in tropical and subtropical regions in India and
thermogenic, depurative, rubefacient, galactogogue, tonic, Srilanka. Four compounds, one benzenoid and three
aphrodisiac, ophthalmic, antiscorbutic, antihistaminic and arylnaphalide lignans isolated from whole plant showed
diuretic in fig 3 [11]. growth inhibitory effect on production of NO and
cytokines (TNF-α and IL-12) . Since TNF-α and IL-12
Euphorbia thymifolia were known as the main pro-inflammatory cytokines
Euphorbia thymifolia (Euphorbiaceae) is a small secreted during the early phase of acute and chronic
branched, pubescent, prostate annual herb, commonly inflammatory diseases, such as asthma, rheumatoid
known as laghududhika or choti-dudhi.The leaves, seeds arthritis, septic shock. The use of Phyllanthus polyphyllus
and fresh juice of whole plant are used in worm infections, as anti-inflammatory remedy in traditional medicine may
as stimulant, astringent. Kane S R et. al. investigated the be attributed by these compounds in fig 9 [16, 17]
diuretic activity of crude ethanolic extract and fractions of
Euphorbia thymifolia in fig 4 [12]. Curcuma longa (Haridra)
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Yudharaj P. et al. / International Journal of Preclinical & Pharmaceutical Research. 2016; 7(2): 67-73.

Traditionally, Curcuma longa, known as Haridra antidepressant-action in rodent animal models of

or Haldi or turmeric in India, belongs to the family depression which tested in FST and learned helplessness
Zingiberaceae. It contains the active phytochemical such as through increase in serotonin levels at the neuron in fig
alkaloid – curcumin which possesses a range of 11[21]
pharmacological properties-anti-inflammatory, anti-
oxidant, antimicrobial, anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic, and Cardiovascular Activity
neuroprotective activities [19] Recent studies have also Achyranthine
demonstrated the anti-depressant activity in mice using the Achyranthine, is a water-soluble alkaloid isolated
TST and FST which was of greater potency than fluox in from Achyranthes aspera, decreased blood pressure and
fig 10 [20] heart rate, dilated blood vessels, and increased the rate and
amplitude of respiration in dogs and frogs. The contractile
Morinda officinalis effect of the alkaloid at 0.5 mg/ml on frog rectus
Morinda officinalis, belongs to the abdominal muscle was less than that of acetylcholine and
familyRubiaceae and grows in humid areas of South East its spasmogenic effect was not blocked by tubocurarine
China. The ethanolic extract of M. officinalis showed [22].

Table 1. Some medicinal plants of central India having good antioxidant potential
Name of the plant Part of the plant Active component(s)
Acorus calamus Rhizomes Alkaloids
Aegle marmelos Leaves Alkaloids,Terpenoids, Saponins
Aloe vera Leaf Vitamin A,C,E, Carotenoids
Andrographis paniculata Whole plant Diterpenes, Lactones
Carica papaya Leaves Terpenoids. Saponins, Tanins
Cassia fistula Bark Flavonoids

Fig 1. Mangifera Indica Fig 2. Mimosa pudica

Fig 3. Lepidium sativum Fig 4. Ephorbia thymifolia

Fig 5. Allium sativum Fig 6. Achyrantes aspera

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Yudharaj P. et al. / International Journal of Preclinical & Pharmaceutical Research. 2016; 7(2): 67-73.

Fig 7. Tephrosia purpurea Fig 8. Carica papaya

Fig 9. Phyllanthus polyphyllus Fig 10. Curcuma longa

Fig 11. Morinda officinalis

CONCLUSION
Medicinal plants belong to a big plant group with further studies to be conducted to confirm reported
a great interest due to its pharmaceutical, cosmetic and activities. By this review, it can be concluded that in the
nutritional application. In addition, they are also an core of the nature there are so many plants which possess
alternative to traditional crop with species in high demand potent diuretic activity. Herbal medications are free from
at the current international market [23, 24] side effects and toxicity unlike the allopathic medicines.
The review has included the botanical
characteristics of the plant which helps in identification of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: None
the plant, Ethno botany which give traditional use of the
plant, and the reported activities of the plant. However, the CONFLICT OF INTEREST:
number of studies is limited and we recommend that The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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