Review of some important plants with antioxidant and other biological activities

The last two decades have witnessed a revival of interest in natural drugs and herbal products primarily due to the widespread belief that ‘green’ medicines are healthier than synthetic products. This has led to a rapid spurt in demand for health products like herbal teas, ginseng and such other products of traditional medicine. It is increasingly being realized that a majority of the present day diseases are due to the shift in the balance of the pro-oxidant and the antioxidant homeostatic phenomenon in the body. Despite the existence of endogenous defense mechanisms against reactive oxygen species (ROS) like the antioxidant enzymes and dietary antioxidants, it has been observed that whenever either the level of the cellular antioxidant system goes down or when the ROS reach abnormally high levels, oxidative damage to the cells occurs leading to several pathological conditions. Over about 100 disorders like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), hemorrhagic shock, cardiovascular system (CVS) disorders, cystic fibrosis, metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, gastrointestinal, ulcerogenesis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been reported as ROS mediated. In the present paper, ten ‘Rasayana’ plants with potent antioxidant activity (Acorus calamus, Andrographis paniculata, Anogeissus latifolia, Argyreia speciosa, Asparagus racemosus, Boerhaavia diffusa, Convolvulus pluricaulis, Curculigo orchioides, Desmodium gangeticum, Embelia ribes, Picrorhiza kurrooa, Withania somnifera) are reviewed for their traditional uses, phytochemical and pharmacological aspects.