Introduction to Serial Reviews: Recent Advances in Indian Herbal Drug Research

The modulation of diseased states by using medicinal plant products as a possible therapeutic measure has become a subject of active scientific investigations in the recent years. The basic concept has, however, existed in the ancient Vedic scripture, the Ayurveda, and has been practiced in Indian traditional medicine for many centuries. The two main approaches to illness in Ayurveda are preventive and curative. A significant part of Ayurvedic therapeutics aims to promote positive health which means complete physical, mental and social well-being. The prescribed procedures include not only drugs but also daily routine including exercise, diet and nutrition besides mental attitude and discipline. A part of Ayurvedic system that pertains to prevention and treatment of degenerative diseases is known as ‘Rasayana’, and plants used for this purpose are classed as rejuvenators. Indian medicinal plants are a rich source of substances that have several therapeutic properties like cardioprotective, chemopreventive and other effects. These can form basis for a healthy and ‘curative nutrition’. At the present juncture, the modern conventional healthcare is burdened with great problems of unsafe medicines, chronic diseases, resistant infections, auto-immune disorders and degenerative disorders of ageing, despite great scientific advances. In this scenario, India’s own heritage medicine, ‘Ayurveda’ through its millennia-old experimental wisdom, appears to hold the key for many of these above said problems. Indian healthcare consists of medical pluralism and Ayurveda remains dominant compared to modern medicine, particularly for treatment of a variety of chronic disease conditions. Herbal drugs constitute a major share of all the officially recognised systems of health in India viz. Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and Naturopathy, except Allopathy. More than 70% of India’s 1.1 billion population still use these non-allopathic systems of medicine. Employing a unique holistic approach, Ayurvedic medicines are usually customized to an individual’s constitution. It has an important role in bioprospecting of new medicines, besides in rediscovering the functionality of different food components. It also provides details of various healthy diets for patients afflicted with diseased conditions. Considerable research on biopharmacognosy, chemistry, pharmacology and clinical therapeutics has been carried out on Indian medicinal plants, which are also rich sources of antioxidants. The present serial reviews highlight current status and newer developments on research pertaining to the potential therapeutic effects of various Indian medicinal plants their active ingredients and herbal drugs using these plants. I am sure the reviews and articles under the section “Recent advances in Indian herbal drug research” will be of immense interest to all those who are looking for newer/novel and holistic approach to the various problems that occur in today’s world filled with a large number of health problems.