Uma Ranjan Lal

By Uma Ranjan Lal and Inder Pal Singh

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of intestinal disorders that cause prolonged inflammation of digestive tract. Chronic inflammation results in Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). There is a disruption of homeostasis of various regulatory factors, for example, cohesive functioning of intestinal epithelial barrier, macrophages, and cellular mediators such as cytokines and chemokines. Natural products derived from plants based on traditional system of medicine have exhibited efficacy for UC and CD in experimental models and clinical trials. In the present review, current developments of natural products and herbs for the treatment of IBD in the context of Indian traditional medicine have been highlighted. Two classes of Ayurvedic formulation, fermented preparations (Asava and Arishta) and Ghrita (preparations involving butter), are employed for the maintenance of intestinal disorders. Here, we discuss mainly about the fermented preparations, their main constituents, and correlations with modern findings. The way these fermented formulations are processed also affects the extraction of constituents in them. So, the correlation between the chemistry of the plant material (their constituents as well) with the IBD was done. These correlations may serve as a step forward to reduce the gap between modern system of medicine and traditional system of medicine.

Part of the book: Translational Studies on Inflammation

By Uma Ranjan Lal and Snigdha Lal

The present review gives an account of various bioactive molecules obtained from Indian medicinal plants for neurological degenerative disorders. Emphasis is laid on their correlation with the plants used in traditional system of medicine in India. The methodology involved in present review was enlisting of medicinal plants used for neurodegenerative disorders followed by their chemistry. A correlation with the chemical constituents and their recent findings has been done. Many medicinal plants such as Aloe vera and Bacopa monnieri have documented correlations and also need to be explored more. Molecules like garcinol (34), which was originally an anticancer compound, have good correlation as neuroprotective agent. Likewise many plants that have not been explored but are used in traditional system of medicine have also been listed. Jaggery and honey, which are used in traditional formulations in large quantity, also have natural products that are used as neuroprotective agents. In conclusion, a lot more study is required to correlate the medicinal plants and herbal formulations to have much more natural products for neurodegenerative disorders.

Part of the book: Bioactive Compounds in Nutraceutical and Functional Food for Good Human Health