Parasitic Mistletoes of the Genera Scurrula and Viscum: From Bench to Bedside (original) (raw)

Medicinally important terrestrial parasitic plants

Medico-Biowealth of India, Volume V, 2022, 2022

Parasitic plants are the keystone species in the ecological restorations as they help in coexistence of species. Intense research works in the recent years on parasitic plants have shown affirmative effects on biodiversity. Indigenous parasitic plants have medicinal importance however medicinal values of these parasitic plants is still one of the under studied area. Parasitic plants, contain diverse secondary metabolites which are potent against many vital diseases. In this study, we documented some such medicinally important terrestrial parasitic plants. Ethnobotanical survey was carried out using semi structured questionnaire and Passport Data Form in Odisha state, India. As a result, we found 10 terrestrial parasitic plants having medicinal values and used against various diseases and disorders. Present study further highlights the added value of traditional medicinal parasitic plants for health care.

Ecological and medicinal aspects of parasitic plants

APRF, 2023

The fundamental components of a plant's pharmacological features are its secondary metabolites. The presence of secondary metabolites provides indigenous communities with a scientific base for the remedial utilisation of plants for therapeutic purposes. In ecological restorations, parasitic plants play a crucial role in facilitating species cohabitation, which promotes biodiversity. Their ethnomedicinal values might be due to the presence of bioactive compounds. Some of the major reported secondary metabolites found in them were flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds. Therefore, a literature review and field survey were carried out to gather the ecological and ethnopharmacological values of parasitic plants to draw attention to them as a source of bioactive compounds.

Medicinal Plants: the Medical, Food, and Nutritional Biochemistry and Uses

International Journal of Advanced Academic Research, 2019

This article focuses on the medical, food, and nutritional biochemistry and uses of medicinal plants. Medicinal plants are used with the intention of health maintenance, to be administered for specific conditions, or both, whether in modern or in traditional medicines. Many phytochemicals with established or potential biological activity have been identified in plants. The compounds found in plants (phytochemicals) are of several kinds, but most are in four main biochemical classes: terpenes, alkaloids, glycosides, and polyphenols. Medicinal plants are used widely in non-industrialized societies and developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Southern America, mainly because they are thought to be very effective, cheaper than modern medicines, and readily available. Plants, including many currently used as culinary spices and herbs, have been used as medicines, not certainly effectively, from ancient times. Polyphenols of many classes are widely spread in plants. Plants having phytoestrogens, a type of polyphenols, have been administered for decades for gynecological conditions, such as fertility, menopausal, and menstrual problems; among these plants are Pueraria mirifica, anise, kudzu, angelica, and fennel. The astringent rind of the pomegranate, having polyphenols known as punicalagins, is commonly used as a medicine. Angelica, having phytoestrogens, has been used for gynaecological disorders for long. Nicotine, an alkaloid, from tobacco directly binds to Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the body, accounting for its pharmacological effects. Cardiac glycosides are powerful drugs from the medicinal plants including lily of the valley and foxglove; they include digitoxin and digoxin which support heart beating, and work as diuretics. Terpenoids and terpenes of many kinds are contained in many medicinal plants, and also in resinous plants such as conifers; they are strongly aromatic. A number of the terpenoids and terpenes have medicinal uses: for instance, thymol (an antiseptic) was once used as an anti-worm medicine (vermifuge). In most of the developing countries, especially in the rural areas, local traditional medicine, inclusive of herbalism, is the lone source of health care for individuals, while in the developed countries, alternative medicine including dietary supplements is aggressively marketed using claims of traditional medicine.

Medicinal Based Plants: A Call to Nature

2020

Herbal plants play an unprecedented role in preventing and treating of human diseases. For many years, people have been using medicinal plants in traditional medicine. Human civilization around the world have been associated with plants, however, plants are known as a rich source of phytochemical compounds that enable it to have a medicinal value. In the development of herbal and conventional drugs, medicinal plants are potential sources. In the 21 century, medicinal plants have been considered due to its pharmacological effects as a promising drug for the management of diverse health implication. The resurgence of interest to discover medicinal plants as a potential source of new drug has become imperative. Even though synthetic drugs are gaining ground in the healthcare system all over the world, however, available evidences suggest that nature will be a pointer for drug discovery. Hence, there is a need to understand and discover the knowledge of medicinal plants as a rich source...

Medicinal plants: Role, distribution and future

Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 2020

Medicinal plants have been used for healthcare since time immemorial. Application of plants to prepare medicine has been realized through hit and trail method, and gradually man became able to fulfill his needs from his surroundings. The use of medicinal plants was started by Japanese for carrying out rituals, food flavoring and treating various diseases. Studies have been carried out globally to verify their potential and some of the findings have given rise to what we call plant-based medicines. Being an important source of medicine, these plants have always been of utmost importance in virtually all cultures of civilizations. Medicinal plants are regarded as rich resources of traditional medicines and not only this but these plants serve as an important source for many modern medicines as well. It is the presence of secondary metabolites which is responsible for their characteristic features. By standardizing the health of active plant-derived compounds, herbal drugs can provide ...

WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants

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