Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz., Family: Combretaceae) possesses a great therapeutic value and is widely distributed in India, up to an altitude of 1500 m. Though Terminalia chebula Retz is the only botanical source of Haritaki, the uses of its varieties along with their sources, identifying features and therapeutic uses are described in Ayurvedic classics and other medical literature. In the present study, a detailed review has been carried out on different varieties of Haritaki.
Ayurvedic medicines are often considered effective for chronic and lifestyle disorders. Hypertrophic lichen planus (HLP) is a rare inflammatory skin condition and develops into squamous cell carcinoma in few cases. It has resemblance with Charma Kushtha mentioned in Ayurvedic classics. Conventional therapy used in this condition is unsatisfactory and is not free from side effects. A case of long-standing systemic steroid-dependent HLP is presented here which was intervened successfully with Ayurvedic modalities.
Piper species are reported to have great medicinal values in Indian system medicines. The present study was therefore carried out to provide the requisite pharmacognostic, phytochemical and HPTLC study of the four piper species namely Piper longum, Piper nigrum, Piper cubeba and Piper retrofractum. The marker compound present in all these four species is Piperine, an alkaloid found naturally in plants belonging to the pyridine group of Piperaceae family. This study will be the ready reference for the correct identification of the four crude drugs.
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