AKINIK PUBLICATIONS Rohini, Delhi

Traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurvedic, Uninai, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) have been in practice in a great account. Owing to population rise, inadequate supply of drugs, prohibitive cost of treatments, side effects of several allopathic drugs and development of resistance to currently used drugs for diseases have led to increased emphasis on the use of plant materials as a source of medicines for a wide variety of human ailments as witnessed by the use of folk medicines in the present scenario. This review article describes the prominence of a medicinal plant Tinospora cordifolia in therapeutics such as use of crude extract of plant for the amelioration of various diseases, morphology, growth constraints, biochemical composition, biological activities, research work done, projects sanctioned to this plant species and the future prospects of this important neglected plant species for research in the field of plant tissue culture, natural products and nano-biotechnology.

Leptadenia reticulata (Jivanti) is a versatile medicinal plant, used from ancient periods as a natural remedy for many diseases due to its healing property. Lots of Indian researcher performed work for phytochemical screening, pharmacological effects and for its propagational strategies. Through In vitro propagation scientists are trying to proceed on new path which help to conserve Leptadenia reticulata and also help to discover hidden properties of this important medicinal plant. This work highlights some important work done by Indian researchers in field of isolation and characterization of phytochemical constituent and plant tissue culture of Leptadenia reticulata (jivanti).

Standardization of herbal formulation is essential in order to assess the quality of drugs for therapeutic value as it is a plant-derived material containing raw ingredients. According to an estimate of World Health Organization (W.H.O) most of the developing countries rely on traditional medicines. Hence, it has given a detailed protocol in 1999 for the standardization of herbal drugs. Hingwashtak Churna is an Ayurvedic formulation which is used to treat stomach ailments to maintain proper function of the gastrointestinal tract, maintain eliminative function. It is also used in the treatment of vata imbalance and vata related diseases like bloating joint diseases etc. A scheme was developed for standardization of Hingwashtak churna for two marketed formulations and in-house. Various parameters such as physical, chemical and biological were carried out for quantitative and qualitative analysis of selected formulations and they showed promising results.

Jasminum grandiflorum belongs to the family Oleaceae. Although cultivated in subtropical and warm temperate regions for its ornamental qualities, Jasminum grandiflorum is valued as a medicinal plant as it is effective against number of ailments. The root of the plant is useful in paralysis, mental debility, chronic constipation, flatulence, sterility, ring worm, leprosy and skin diseases[1]. The leaves of the plant are useful in fixing loose teeth, leprosy, skin diseases, dysmenorrhoea, ulcers, wounds and corns[2]. The flowers of Jasminum grandiflorum are useful in conditions of leprosy, skin diseases, pruitus, ulcers, dysmenorrhoea and vitiated conditions of pitta[3]. The whole flowers of J. grandiflorum are used in treatment of wound healing in folk medicine. Protease, one of the key enzyme in wound healing is not so for been reported in flowers of J. grandiflorum.

Brahmi Ghrita is an important formulation used in treatment of learning and memory disorders. It contains Brahmi (Bacopa monneri), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Kushtha (Saussurea lappa), Shankhapushpi (Convolvulus pluricaulis) and old clarified butter (Puran Ghrita). Here an attempt was done to assess the effect of Brahmi Ghrita on Serum creatine and Serum Urea in experimental animals. For this purpose, Brahmi Ghrita was prepared as per standard Sneha paka process mentioned in our classics. For experimental study one of those animals were selected which have high Serum creatine and Serum Urea level. These animals were divided in three groups, among them one was an experimental control group and animals of the other two groups were treated with Brahmi Ghrita in a dose of 400 and 800 mgkg body weight of rats. After period of one month haematological parameters, Serum creatine and Serum Urea was examined. It was observed that Brahmi Ghrita significantly decreases Serum creatine in dose dependent manner and have no adverse effect was observed on haematological parameters.