Current Traditional Medicine - Volume 10, Issue 1, 2024

Like other viruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV- 2) continuously evolves due to mutations during genome replication. These mutations lead to various new variants and may alter the pathogenicity, immune escape capacity, and re-infection risk. In addition, it is also evident that a compromised immune system increases the susceptibility and severity of the disease. Therefore, strengthening the immune system is considered to combat COVID. Yoga is an ancient practice used for strengthening the body and mind. There are abundant studies that focus on yoga's benefits for stress management; however, lesser studies observed the effects of yoga on the immune system. Therefore, the present study aims to compile randomized controlled studies on the role of yoga in immunity and COVID-19. Our finding reported moderate evidence for the benefits of yoga in the levels of inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), and cytokines, such as interleukin (IL) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-±). However, lesser shreds of evidence were observed on the effect of yoga on innate and adaptive immunity. Our finding reported a paucity of studies examining the impact of yoga on the immunity of COVID patients. Thus, its efficacy as a potential adjuvant to attenuate COVID-19 infection has yet to be proven. Further extensive studies are recommended to draw the inference on the impact of yoga on COVID-19.

Background and Objective: The present paper will enlighten the role of different types of diets in maintaining a healthy heart, as mentioned by Ibn Sina in his valuable work 128;œRisaala adwiyah al Qalbiyah128;. Owing to an increased trend of dietotherapy in the current era, this paper is an attempt to enhance the same (particularly the cardio-protective diets).Methods: Risaala adwiyah al Qalbiyah is an important work of Ibn Sina focusing on the maintenance of heart health. For the current study, we have selected a total of thirteen nutraceuticals out of sixty-three that can be taken in the routine diet to avail of their benefits and avoid the risk of cardiovascular diseases, which are at their peak at present. To meet this need, a thorough literature survey of classical literature was conducted to collect all the necessary and relevant information. These medicines/diets were looked upon for their proven benefits by searching them with their botanical names using modern search engines like PubMed, Google Scholar and Research Gate to provide an evidence-based edge to the current work.Results: The specific diets mentioned by Ibn Sina have proved to possess potential effects in preventing cardiovascular diseases and thus promoting cardiac health.Conclusion: Dietotherapy plays a primary role in achieving the principal goal of the Unani system of medicine (the preservation of health and prevention of diseases). Food items mentioned in this paper can be added to the routine to get the benefits from their cardio-protective action and avoid the risk of highly increasing cardiovascular diseases.

In contemporary cosmetics, botanicals and natural extracts remain vital components and have been used in formulations since ancient times. However, natural and botanical products can still be highly effective in treating aging skin, even though they are becoming more technological and invasive. Many natural products are being elucidated through biochemical mechanisms of action, correlating with traditional uses of many plants for skin benefits. Different formulations of medicinal and pharmaceutical substances incorporate synthetic molecules and chemicals, which is the principal cause of dermal toxicity. Consumers' awareness about personal health and safety and the desire for safer cosmetics free of harmful chemicals have driven the cosmetics and personal care market toward natural ingredients. The commercialization of natural products derived from herbs and bees is possible. Our purpose is to present a comprehensive and critical review emphasizing the benefits of natural products for skin care, women's purchasing patterns, and updated information about natural products.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had emerged as an unprecedented global health crisis. The pandemic resulted in over 672 million confirmed cases, and 6.84 million deaths till date. Several dietary plants are known for their beneficial health effects due to their diverse bioactive metabolites. Some of them are already reported for their therapeutic potential against respiratory viral infections with excellent safety profiles. Thus they can serve as sources of bioactive agents for the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Objective: With limited therapeutic options, the identification of safe, effective, and affordable medicines for the SARS-CoV-2 infection are urgently needed. The primary aim of the current study is to identify edible plant materials with preventive activity against SARS-CoV-2 infection.Methods: Extracts of 30 dietary plants were evaluated for their in cellulo anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential. The antiviral activity was evaluated on SARS-CoV-2, propagated in Vero cell line (ATCCCCL- 81), followed by isolation of viral RNA, and its confirmation by qRT-PCR. Cytotoxicity of extracts was evaluated by using MTT assay in the Vero cell line, while the reduction in viral load was measured through plaque reduction assay. Furthermore, evaluations of the plant extracts on various treatment targets were also performed in cellulo.Results: An extract of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Fenugreek leaves) was identified as a promising inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 propagation with 98.7% reduction in the formation of plaques at 50μ mL¹. Moreover, Trapa natans L. (Water caltrop, fruit) (part of the plant: fruit) also showed a 55.0% reduction in viral load at 50μ mL¹. Both dietary plants exhibited prophylactic effects against SARS-CoV-2 infection.Conclusion: Trigonella foenum-graecum L., and Trapa natans L. and their bioactive metabolites can be used as preventive agents against SARS-CoV-2 infection. These results can form the basis for the development of anti-viral nutraceutical formulations.

Background: Estrogens play a pivotal role in maintaining human health whose imbalance leads to several disorders in the human system and most of these effects are observed during menopause. A vast number of vasomotor symptoms have been observed among which hot flushes is the most common. Though numerous medical regimens are available, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is the most preferred one owing to its effectiveness in relieving menopausal symptoms. But it might pave way for various other illnesses such as cancers in the reproductive system and cardiac problems. Hence, a different strategy is required, which opened the vision towards Complementary and Alternative Medicine which is preferred throughout the world due to its efficacy and safety in varied medical issues.Methods: Data were collected from sources such as Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Google Scholar, EMBASE, PubChem and Dr. Duke's phytochemical and ethnobotanical databases.Results: An array of plants were listed encompassing the etymology, botany of the plants, chief phytochemicals present with estrogenic potential and medicinal benefits. Vital phytoestrogens reported were flavonoids, coumestans, stilbenes, chalcones and lignans. Phytoestrogenic compounds were reported to empower women's health during and after menopause.Conclusion: These botanicals are considered safe due to their low or no side effects but intensive research is necessitated to validate the effectiveness and safety of phytoestrogens.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, and coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most prominent one among the spectrum of CVD. Conventional CHD drugs pose an increased risk of pharmaceutical interactions. Moreover, the possibility of tainting or substituting other medications also raises concerns. Diet and lifestyle play an important role in preventing and treating heart disease, and certain spices and supplements can help reduce the risk of heart disease and treat it. Spices have been an important part of Indian culture from the dawn of time, valued for both their culinary and medicinal virtues. Indian spices and their bioactive phytoconstituents are reported to play an ameliorating role in treating CHD. Despite the fact that the majority of these spices have an effect on organic components associated with the cardiovascular system, data on their therapeutic effects is sparse. To make the most of the enormous potential of these spices, multidisciplinary research is the need of the hour to establish them as remedies for CVDs. We endeavour to document some ethnopharmacological studies aimed to establish the cellular and molecular cardio-protective mechanisms of the spices and their bioactive phytoconstituents using recently reported in vitro and in vivo studies. Finally, we reviewed and reported the results of the recent clinical trials that have been conducted using these spices with special emphasis on their efficacy, safety, and toxicity.

Diosgenin (1) is an important steroidal metabolite often used as a precursor material for the synthesis of a broad array of steroidal drugs. Recent studies have indicated that compound (1) and many diosgenyl derivatives such as (1→9) possess both in vivo and in vitro biological activities like antioxidant, hypolipidemic, antithrombotic, immuno-modulatory, and estrogenic including anticancer activities. This steroidal sapogenin is of increasing interest in the pharmaceutical industry as it is being explored as an important starting material for the synthesis of oral contraceptives, sex hormones, and many other steroidal drugs having anticancer potential. Naturally occurring diosgenin, and its glucoside derivatives are quite abundant in several plant sources, but very little is known about the biogenesis of this class of secondary plant metabolites. Hence, designing a semi-synthetic protocol for the improved anticancer potential with enhanced efficacy of diosgenin and its derivatives is always a challenging field of cutting-edge research in pharmaceutical chemistry. The present review highlights some of the recent research findings and applications of this group of triterpenoids as a potential anticancer agent.

Background: Obesity is a condition that has been linked to several ailments. The current investigation is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical experiment to examine how Portulaca oleracea L. tablets affect hunger and Body Mass Index (BMI).Methods: A total of 70 healthy people aged 18 - 65 years old with a BMI >25.0 kg/m² were chosen for an 8-week study. They were randomized into two groups, herbal medicine and placebo. Anthropometry, laboratory tests, and appetite assessment by questionnaire were performed at baseline and the end of the study period. In the end, the data were analyzed.Results: There were significant differences in appetite and BMI (p<0.05) between the two groups after 8 weeks. No serious adverse events occurred in the two groups, and herbal medicine was well tolerated. Purslane juice was found to be well tolerated and could be effective in the reduction of appetite and BMI, either in obese or overweight individuals, following 8 weeks of intervention.Conclusion: The trial indicated the effectiveness of this extract on appetite and BMI. However, long-term investigations with larger populations are needed to determine the tolerability and permanent effectiveness of this natural medicament.

Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused the recent pandemic and worldwide outbreak of respiratory disease. Since there are no known specific drugs for fighting this virus and the process for new drug development is lengthy, scientists have been trying to develop drugs against this viral infection. The potent antiviral activity of natural products has been confirmed in several previous studies. Viral and host proteins contributing to COVID-19 infections can be targeted by natural compounds derived from plants, marine organisms, and microorganisms. The most important of these compounds are polyphenols (e.g., anthraquinone polyphenol, hinokinin, curcumin, and epigallocatechin gallate), alkaloids (e.g., isoquinoline, 10- hydroxyusambarensine, anisotine, and adhatodine), and terpenoids (salvinorin A, thymoquinone, bilobalide, ginkgolide A, and celastrol) from plants, sulphated polysaccharides (carrageenans, chondroitin sulfate C, and fucoidan) from marine organisms, and glycocin F and lactococcin G phycocyanin, and lipopeptide from microorganisms. This study reviews these compounds and their mechanism of action for treating COVID-19 infection and guides researchers in developing effective and safe therapeutic agents against this disease from naturally derived compounds.

Ancient systems of medicine such as Ayurveda and others in India have contributed vast knowledge to develop herbal medicines over the years. The WHO has also recognized the importance of drugs developed from natural products. Sida rhombifolia Linn. known as 'Mahabala' is ethnomedicinal plant of Malvaceae. Traditionally S. rhombifolia was used in India in the form of extracts/powder/paste by tribal populations in India for treating common ailments like cough and cold, fever, stomach, kidney and liver disorders, inflammations, etc. The present review describes a detailed overview of traditional medicinal uses, phytochemistry and ethnopharmacological studies of S. rhombifolia. Several phytoconstituents from S. rhombifolia have been reported to exhibit pharmacological activities in vivo and/or in vitro bioassays. Validation of ethnomedicinal uses of medicinal plants by modern scientific approaches is essential for ensuring safe and effective utilization of herbal medicines.

Background: One of the most important metabolic disorders in the current century is diabetes, which can negatively affect the physiology of many body parts. Unfortunately, this disease is not limited to a specific part of the body and causes destructive effects on the nervous system, cardiovascular system, kidneys and many other parts of the body. The high costs and increasing prevalence of this disease have made scientists look for natural compounds to prevent and treat diabetes. Medicinal plants are a huge source of unknown compounds that can alleviate many human diseases.Objective: One of the oldest plant families that have been used medicinally is the Apiaceae family. One of the most important genera of this family is Ferula, which has 170 different species and is distributed in hot and dry regions of the earth and has various therapeutic properties. The purpose of this article is to review the anti-diabetic effects of the Ferula genus on diabetes.Methods: In this review article, key science databases, including Science Direct, PubMed, and Google Scholar, were searched to find information on Ferula genus using a combination of different keywords, including diabetes, hyperglycemia, and alpha-glucosidase inhibition.Results: A total of 9 types of Ferula have been reported in the articles that have anti-diabetic properties.Conclusion: The review of the conducted research shows that the genus Ferula has a high potential in reducing blood sugar and other aspects of diabetes, and additional research should be performed in this field.

Lysimachia capillipes Hemsl. is an annual flowering plant, mainly distributed in some parts of Asia. In the early 1970s, it was discovered by the folk of Le'an county, Jiangxi province. Lysimachia capillipes Hemsl., contains many bioactive components (flavonoids, saponins, volatile oils, organic acids, etc.) and has a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities. This plant medicine was used in the treatment of cold cough, asthma, rheumatism, pain, irregular menstruation, neurasthenia, restoring deficiency, expelling roundworm, anti-tumor, etc. in Chinese folk. In this minireview, the progress on the chemical constituents and biological activities of Lysimachia capillipes Hemsl., was comprehensively summarized by searching the CNKI, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases using "Lysimachia capillipes Hemsl." or 128;œManshanxiang128; as the keywords. This article may provide a reference for researchers for further study of Lysimachia capillipes Hemsl.

Background: In recent decades, all-embracing research accounting for thousands of natural bioactive compounds have been detailed on behalf of their origin, pharmacological activity, active phytoconstituents, and therapeutic applications. Chalcones, secondary metabolites have shown therapeutic potential against various forms of inflammation, pain, and cancer in multiple research papers targeting their pathway inhibition and their significant therapeutic activity. Area Covered: Diverse aspects of chalcones have been focused on with their biological source, pathway inhibition, and pharmacological activity.Objectives: This study aims to focus on the chalcones being the origin of ethnopharmacological, possess extensive pharmacological activities, including anti-neoplastic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-acne, anti-aging, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, psychoactive, anti-parasitic, and many others.Methods: Chalcones display anti-inflammatory activity via COX-2, NO synthase, and TNF-α inhibition. Furthermore, comprehensive studies will be discussed with a viewpoint of the chalcones's role in the alleviation of inflammation. According to recent advancements, chalcones clinically have been used in the treatment of inflammation, anti-aging, oxidative stress reduction, autophagy, and apoptosis.Conclusion: This article focuses on the molecular progression of inflammation and the chalcone role in combating inflammation by targeting inflammatory mediators and pathways.

Efforts have been made during the past two years to find out novel and effective drugs against SARS-CoV-2. Plants have become a source for the development of novel and improved medications against viruses due to the advancement of biomedical technologies and pharmacological evaluations. Phytocompounds including flavonoids, phenolics, alkaloids, lignans, terpenoids and tannins have been demonstrated to have antiviral properties, particularly against SARS CoV-2. The present review discusses information on the potential antiviral traditional medicines, medicinally important plants, their extracts and the specific bioactive compounds present in such plants along with their mode of action. It also gives an insight regarding the limitations in exploring medicinal plants for phytocompound antimicrobial drug discovery, and suggests novel and prospective strategies considering the fact that they are naturally occurring and relatively less harmful with a view to combating the present pandemic and the ones that may happen in the future.