Medicinal plants

Medicinal plants

A medicinal plant is a plant that

has similar properties as conventional
pharmaceutical drugs. Humans have
used them throughout history to either
cure or lessen symptoms from an illness.
A pharmaceutical drug is a drug that is
produced in a laboratory to cure or help
 Importance of medicinal
plants
The medicinal plants find application in
pharmaceutical, cosmetic, agricultural
and food industry. The use of the
medicinal herbs for curing diseases has
been documented in history of all
civilizations. Man in the pre-historic era
was probably not aware about the health
hazards associated with irrational therapy.
With the honest of research in
medicine, it was concluded that
plants contain active principles,
which are responsible, for
curative action of the herbs.
Eight popular medicinal
plants
1.Bael:

Extract of the leaves of this

very familiar tree helps cure
diarrhea,dysentery, constipation.
2.Tulsi:
Once a common sight at
the courtyard of every Indian
household, tulsi or basil leaves can
cure cough, cold, bronchitis and
loss of appetite. The plant is the
most widely used herbal
expectorant in the world.
3.Peppermint or pudina:
The plant's leaves are popular
mainly due to their taste. However,
its medicinal values like curing
indigestion and healing bruises are
also not to be overlooked.
4.Henna or Mehndi:
The answer is simple and obvious -
mehndi helps cure burns.
5.Neem
Ayurveds have
documented this plant
as one of the most
valuable herb. The
extract of its leaves
work as a sedative and
cure,analgesic,epileps
y, hypertension.
6.Cinnamon:
Another popular expectorant,
dalchini or cinnamon helps cure
pulmonary problems such as
bronchitis, asthma, and even
cardiac disorder and fever.
 7.Lavender
The flower is widely appreciated
for its smell. However, it also eases
pain, and when applied to cuts and
bruises, it functions as an
antiseptic.
8.Marigold:
Popularly known as gaenda,
marigold extract is good for sunburn,
acne, and blemishes. This medicinal
herb also soothes ulcers and helps
cure digestive problems.
Medicinal plants :
in our daily life
1.Turmeric
Turmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous
perennial plant of the ginger family,
Zingiberaceae. It is native to southern
Asia, requiring temperatures between
20 and 30 °C and a considerable
amount of annual rainfall to thrive.
Scientific name: Curcuma longa
Rank: Species
 2. cumin
Cumin is a flowering plant in the
family Apiaceae, native from the east
Mediterranean to South Asia. Its seeds
are used in the cuisines of many
different cultures, in both whole and
ground form.
Scientific name:Cuminum cyminum
Rank: Species
3.onion
The onion, also known
as the bulb onion or
common onion, is a
vegetable and is the most
widely cultivated species
of the genus Allium
4. Garlic
Garlic is a species in the
onion genus, Allium. Its close
relatives include the onion,
shallot, leek, chive, and Allium
chinense.
Scientific name: Allium sativum
Rank: Species
5.Curry leaf
The curry tree is a tropical to
sub-tropical tree in the family
Rutaceae, which is native to India
and Sri Lanka. Its leaves are used in
many dishes in India, Sri Lanka, and
neighbouring countries.
Scientific name: Murraya koenigii
Rank: Species
 6. Mustad
The Wild Mustard is an annual
that grows wild in most parts of the
country.It is a plant that grows upright
to a height of 30-90 cm.,has an
unpleasant smell,and belongs to the
plant family Capparidaceae.The
whole plant is covered with glandular
and simple hairs.
 7. coconut

The coconut tree is a member of

the family Arecaceae and the only
species of the genus Cocos. The term
coconut can refer to the whole coconut
palm or the seed, or the fruit, which,
botanically, is a drupe, not a nut.
8. Ginger
Ginger is a flowering plant whose
rhizome, ginger root or simply ginger,
is widely used as a spice or a folk
medicine. It is a herbaceous perennial
which grows annual stems about a
meter tall bearing narrow green leaves
and yellow flowers. Scientific name:
Zingier officinale
Rank: Species
9.Pepper
Black pepper is a flowering
vine in the family Piperaceae,
cultivated for its fruit, which is
usually dried and used as a spice
and seasoning. When dried, the
fruit is known as a peppercorn.
Scientific name: Piper nigrum
Rank: Species
 There are more medicinal
plant grow in our country. But all
plants have not medicinal effect.
Some plants have toxicity. So we
should be careful when using
medicinal plant. Use of medicinal
plants are beneficial for future.
Thank you

RAHANA .NK
KSTC