Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC., commonly known as Shalparni in Ayurveda, has been used for treating various diseases. The plant is one among ten ingredients of classical Ayurvedic formulations Dasamula. Decoctions of root and leaf, root powder and leaf juice of D. gangeticum are used as tonics, febrifuge, digestive, antiemetic, astringent, anti-asthmatic, anti-diarrhoeal and anti-inflammatory agents in traditional medicinal practices of India and its neighbouring countries. Phytochemical investigations of this plant revealed the presence of many bioactive phytoconstituents. The present review was prepared with the objective of documenting the phytochemical and pharmacological profiles of D. gangeticum. The data presented here were collected from various sources like books, journals, various online databases, and monographs and internet search engines Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, etc. Studies reported from phytochemical screening revealed that D. Gangeticum leaves and roots are rich in flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, phenols, carbohydrates, steroids, phenylpropanoids, pterocarpans, coumarins, and volatile oil. Among the isolated compounds, major bio-active constituents are alkaloids, flavonoids and pterocarpans. All these phytochemicals are widely distributed in various parts of D. gangeticum. The other active constituents like desmodin, hordenine and gangetin are largely responsible for its broad spectrum of therapeutic potentiality. Desmodin belongs to the class of pterocarpans and is reported to have antifungal and antibacterial activities. Gangetin, which also belongs to the pterocarpans, is reported to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. FTIR spectroscopy showed that D. gangeticum extracts are mainly rich in phenolic derivatives. Scientific experiments carried out in vitro as well as preclinical animal experimentations, showed that the plant and its bioactive chemicals exhibit various therapeutic activities. It is reported that D. gangeticum extracts showed potent antioxidant, antibacterial, hypoglycaemic, analgesic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activities. Studies reported that D. gangeticum or its formulations are safe when used in appropriate therapeutic dosage.

Thyroid disorders have been one among the most challenging and most common endocrine disorders that we confront worldwide. Major thyroid disorders include hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, goiter/iodine deficiency, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and thyroid cancer. Among these, hypothyroidism is arguably the most challenging as its multifarious clinical presentation often goes unnoticed. Hypothyroidism can be attributed to the deficiency of thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), in the body. Mild or subclinical hypothyroidism refers to the condition where peripheral thyroid hormone levels are within normal range, but serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels are mildly elevated. Data to date are scarce that include direct experimental, pharmacological, or preclinical types of evidence of treating hypothyroidism with Ayurvedic and herbal drugs. The scope of this manuscript covers the utility of conventional Ayurveda or herbal drugs in ameliorating the pathophysiological symptoms of hypothyroidism. Treatment strategies have been evolving since the early and mid-twentieth century, starting from using the whole thyroid extract to the modern-day thyroxine monotherapy by L-thyroxine. Despite these advances, there remains a considerably large population who endure the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Various assortments of formulations are available for such conditions in Ayurveda system of medicine since the very early days of civilization. In Ayurveda, though there are not any direct reference of thyroid, Galaganda and Gandamala, which possess symptomatic similarities with thyroid disorders, have been mentioned frequently in the texts. With the present data available, it is concluded that natural resources around can be utilized for the prevention and amelioration of hypothyroidism in mammals.

According to the WHO, about 170 countries have reported the use of traditional medicines for the treatment of various ailments, some of them include acupuncture, herbal medicines, indigenous traditional medicine, homoeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, naturopathy, chiropractic, osteopathy, Ayurvedic, and Unani medicines. These traditional medicines and practices have positively shaped the modern healthcare system as more than one-third of pharmaceutical products today have been derived from traditional knowledge. In this chapter, we have provided a brief detail about some prominent herbal medicines being used in Ayurveda since ancient times along with their botanical, pharmacological, and chemical aspects. With the advancement of modern scientific methodologies, the bio-activities of herbal drugs are being validated on scientific lines with the help of pharmacological analysis which in turn pave the way for new drug discoveries and at the same time optimizing the bio-activity of existing drugs. The amalgamation of the traditional medicine system and modern scientific techniques can serve for betterment of mankind. Modern medicine offers evidence-based procedures and technical breakthroughs, whereas traditional medicine offers individualized, culturally appropriate healing. By combining the effectiveness of both approaches, this integration—also referred to as integrative medicine—improves research into traditional treatments, encourages cooperation between traditional healers and contemporary practitioners, and improves patient outcomes.

Background: Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L., known as “ Parijata ” is a flowering medicinal plant under the family Oleaceae, native to South-Eastern Asia. Different parts of the plant such as leaf, root, flower, and seeds are used in Ayurveda as laxative, diuretics, digestives, antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, etc. Parijata flower is used in the treatment and management of hepato-biliary disease, splenomegaly, colic, inflammatory conditions, dyspepsia, and many disease conditions in Ayurveda and other traditional medicine systems. Objective: To evaluate the antidyslipidemic activity of Parijata ( Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.) flower hydro-alcoholic extract in Wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods: Parijata flowers collected from the local market were identified by macroscopic and microscopic characterizations. High-performance thin-layer chromatography analysis of hydro-alcohol extract of Parijata flowers was done. For the assessment of antidyslipidemic activity, the extract was administered orally to Wistar albino rats fed with High Fat Diet (HFD) at three different dose levels (1000, 1500, and 2000 mg/kg body weight) for 4 weeks consecutively. Recordings of general clinical observations, weekly body weight measurement, feed and water consumption, organ weight, and serum biochemical examinations of the experimental animals were also carried out. Results: Parijata flower extract at the dosage of 1000 mg/kg, 1500 mg/kg, and 2000 mg/kg body weight significantly reduced Serum triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels after 4 weeks of treatment in HFD induced dyslipidemic rats as compared to untreated group. Conclusions: The study showed that Parijata flower extract possess significant antidyslipidemic activity in a dose-dependent manner.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting millions of people across the world. Trayodashang guggulu (TG) is a classical Ayurvedic formulation used for the treating joint diseases since decades in the Indian system of traditional medicine. The aim of the study was to evaluate anti-arthritic activity of TG against complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced arthritis in Wistar rats. Methods: Arthritis was induced by single injection of 0.1 ml complete Freund’s adjuvant into the intraplanter surface of left hind paw of Wistar rats. TG was administered orally at the doses of 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight for 14 days. In the preventive dose group, TG was administered at the dose of 100 mg/kg body weight, orally for 28 days. Paw swelling, joint circumference, serum rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, serum IL-1β, TNF-α and histopathological parameters were assessed for the evaluation of arthritis. Effects of TG were compared with standard allopathic drug ibuprofen. Results: TG reversed complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats when used for 14 and 28 days. Serum rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, IL-1β and TNF-α were decreased in rats treated with both standard drug ibuprofen and TG. Conclusion: Oral administration of TG reduced experimentally induced rheumatoid arthritis in rats by reversing elevated level of serum biochemical markers as well as reducing joint destruction similar to ibuprofen. Results obtained from the study paved the way in exploring more specific mechanisms of action of TG involving in vitro and in silico models.

The objective of this study is to assess the safety profiles of Ayurvedic formulation Vyosadi guggulu (VG) in Wistar rats. Acute, subacute and subchronic toxicity studies were conducted in accordance with the guidelines of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Committee for Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CCSEA). Approvals from the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC), Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Kolkata were obtained prior to carry out the animal experimental studies. Standardized trial drug VG supplied by Indian Medicine Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited (IMPCL), Uttarakhand. A single dose of VG at 2000mg/kg body weight was given to Wistar rats through oral gavage in acute toxicity study. Subchronic oral toxicity study was conducted out at three doses 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight and administered orally daily for 90 successive days. The doses were derived from a 28 days repeated dose oral toxicity study. Animals in the acute toxicity study were monitored for gross pathological examination, weekly feed and intake, mortality, weekly body weight changes, and general clinical symptoms. Animals were examined for mortality, weekly changes in body weight, general clinical signs, weekly feed and water intake, clinical biochemical investigations, hematological parameter analysis, examination for gross pathological changes, organ weight measurement, and histopathological investigations in the 90-day toxicity study. In acute toxicity study, the single dose of 2000mg/kg of VG was found to be safe. In 28 days and 90 days repeated dose oral toxicity studies all tested doses of VG were proven to be safe. In both studies, there was no significant adverse effect in food and water consumptions, hematological and clinical biochemistry parameters at any dose. No treatment related abnormal features were noticed during histopathological evaluation in 90 days oral toxicity study. The no observed adverse effect level from subchronic toxicity was found to be 1000mg/kg in Wistar rats. Major findings: The present study showed that Vyosadi guggulu is safe at single oral dose of 2000mg/kg in Wistar rats. In the subchronic toxicity studies all tested doses of VG were proven to be safe and the No Observed Adverse Effect Level was found to be 1000mg/kg body weight in Wistar rats.