Nature's Medicinal Plants

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Transcript of Nature's Medicinal Plants

HERBAL PLANTS1. ASHWAGANDHA2. ALOEVERA

Presented By:- Abhinav Somani Roll No.1

Ashwagandha

• Kingdom: Plantae• Order: Solanales• Family: Solanaceae• Genus: Withania• Species: W.Somnifera

Description

• It grows as a short shrub (35–75 cm) with a central stem from which branches extend radially in a star pattern (stellate) and covered with a dense matte of wooly hairs (tomentose). The flowers are small and green, while the ripe fruit is orange-red and has milk-coagulating properties. The plant's long, brown, tuberous roots are used for medicinal purposes.

Etymology

Ashwagandha in Sanskrit means "horse's smell" (ashwa- horse, gandha- smell), probably originating from the odour of its root which resembles that of a sweaty horse.

The species name somnifera means "sleep-inducing" in Latin.

Medicinal Use

• The main chemical constituents are alkaloids and steroidal lactones. These include tropine and cuscohygrine. The leaves contain the steroidal lactones, withanolide, notably withaferin A, which was the first withanolide to be isolated from W. somnifera.

Aloe Vera

• Kingdom: Plantae• Order: Asparagales• Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae• Genus: Aloe• Species: A.vera

Description

• Aloe Vera is a succulent plant species that probably originated in northern Africa. The species is frequently cited as being used in herbal medicine since the beginning of the first century AD.

Uses Of Aloe Vera

• Scientific evidence for the cosmetic and therapeutic effectiveness of aloe vera is limited and when present is frequently contradictory. Aloe vera gel is used as an ingredient in commercially available lotions, yogurt, beverages, and some desserts

Folk Medicine

• Early records of Aloe vera use appear in the Ebers Papyrus from 16th century BC. Aloe vera, called kathalai in Ayurvedic medicine, is used as a multipurpose skin treatment. This may be partly due to the presence of saponin, a chemical compound that acts as an anti-microbial agent.

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