The Chemistry inside Spices & Herbs: Research and Development

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common metabolicendocrine and multi-faceted gynecological disorders for reproductive-aged women. This condition has multiple undesirable effects with psychological, reproductive, and metabolic evidence. Multi-systemic adverse effects and conditions in PCOS cause irregular menstrual cycles, hirsutism, infertility, insulin resistance, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, anxiety, depression, sexual dysfunctions, and eating disorders. PCOS symptoms are multi-faceted and alterable for each person, leading to different treatment methods evaluated from different perspectives. There are no definitive and ideal treatments for hormonal disorders-related clinical symptoms. Alternative therapies are also considered instead of commercially available drugs. In addition, alternative treatment methods have increased tremendously in recent years due to their minimal side effects. Since the therapies for PCOS require a multidisciplinary approach to understanding all aspects of this condition, medicinal plants should also be considered. The role of medicinal plants, including spices and their bioactive components, has been encouraged to prevent and treat PCOS, with new treatment strategies yielding promising results. Therefore, in this review, a general evaluation of the plants and herbal products in PCOS has been compiled from the preclinical and clinical point of view, with the current publications based on in vitro, preclinical, and clinical studies as a new perspective. Moreover, traditional usages of the plants, based on the ethnopharmacological aspects of PCOS, have been evaluated. The effects and underlying mechanisms of herbal medicines used as a remedy for PCOS were also reviewed with the expectation of herbs-spices and new herbal-based products that are effective on PCOS for future treatments.

Arthritis is the medical term for swelling or inflammation of one or more joints, ligaments, and surrounding tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune arthritis that is one of the 100 forms of arthritis. Currently, this autoimmune inflammatory arthritis is incurable. Still, treatment is done on an individual basis of symptoms with the primary goal of minimising joint discomfort and inflammation, improving joint performance, and preventing cartilage damage and distortion. Pharmacotherapy of Rheumatoid arthritis includes nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (paracetamol, naproxen sodium, ketoprofen, diclofenac), biological agents (rituximab, adalimumab, tocilizumab), and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (penicillamine, sulfasalazine, gold), immunosuppressants (methotrexate, cyclophosphamide), and corticosteroids (prednisolone and methylprednisolone) along with physical therapy. The inability to achieve complete remission from chronic diseases, as well as the expensive cost of new treatments, and the long-term side effects and risks of modern medicine, have all contributed to a rise in public interest in alternative medicine in recent years and different approaches to treating arthritis are continually being researched. Dietary changes, nutritional supplements, and the use of botanicals and phytochemicals are some of the more popular alternative treatment options for RA. Dietary phenolic compounds, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, carotenoids, and alkaloids have effectively slowed the progression of arthritic disease because of their ability to alter pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory pathways. In addition to whole herbs and spices and their extract, many isolated phytoconstituents have been discovered to have healing capability in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. These compounds include aconite, brucine, kaempferol, tamaractam, andrographolide, artemisinin, asiaticoside A, bufalin, hecogenin, curcumin, swertiamarin, resveratrol, cardamonin celastrol, lapachol, brazilin, thymoquinone, asperosaponin VI, liquiritin, βelemene, oleanolic acid acetate, ellipticine, hesperidin, and sinomenime. The current review outlines the role of medicinal plants, herbs, dietary supplements, and isolated bioactive compounds from plants in the treatment and management of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as their mechanism of pharmacological action.

Orchidaceae is the highest-evolved family in the plant kingdom and the largest among the monocotyledons. The members of this family are considered not only for their aesthetic beauty but also for their medicinal values. Vanilla sp. is one of the members of the family known as the perennial climbing orchid and is a native of Mexico. It is also cultivated in other countries, viz. Madagascar, Indonesia, Comoro & Reunion islands, and India (Karnataka, Kerala, Tamilnadu, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands). The major cultivated members of Vanilla are Vanilla planifolia (Mexican), V. pompona (Indian), and V. tahitensis (Tahitian). The present study revealed its multiple usages, such as in the food, perfume, and pharmaceutical industries. Vanillin and vanillic acid are the main bioactive components of vanilla flavor, with other (~200- 250) components, including p-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, phydroxybenzyl alcohol, anise alcohol, vanillyl alcohol, etc. Local communities know its therapeutic value in curing various diseases like fever, spasms, dysmenorrheal, blood clotting, and gastrointestinal distress. Different biosynthetic and biotechnological approaches to this compound were elaborately discussed. This chapter could be a medium to conduct further investigations for specific bioactive compounds that will increase remedial, technical, and scientific knowledge.

Silymarin is obtained from the seeds of the herb Silybum marianum (milk thistle) belonging to the family Carduus marianum. The herb is traditionally used as a liver tonic and in biliary tract disease treatment, dysmenorrhea, and varicose veins. The major bioactive constituents of Silymarin are silychristin, silybin A, silybin B, isosilybin A, and isosilybin B, while other flavonolignans such as neosilyhermin, silyhermin, and silydianin are also present. Due to its cytoprotective anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic action, it is the most acceptable and safe natural compound in the treatment of hepatic diseases like jaundice, liver cirrhosis, and chronic viral hepatitis. Silymarin functions as a free radical scavenger and modifies the activity of enzymes that cause cellular damage, fibrosis, and cirrhosis to occur. In the present book chapter, the author will explore the potential of the herb in the treatment of hepatic diseases.

Hygrophila spinosa T. Anders also known as Indian cuckoo is found in moist places and is widely distributed throughout India. Different plant parts are used for disease treatment. The plant contains a variety of secondary metabolites. Furthermore, the plant has pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, erythropoietic, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, diuretic, antiosteoporotic, antidiabetic, CNS, androgenic and anabolic, neuroprotective and nephroprotective activities. Here, we have compiled the traditional uses, phytoconstituents, and pharmacological potentials of H. spinosa, which would help researchers in further exploration of the plant.

Ocimum is a well-known genus accepted for various ethnopharmacological benefits worldwide. The Tulsi plant is abundant globally; and falls under the Ocimum species. Earlier, numerous species relevant to the Ocimum genus have been identified and cultivated in various parts of the world. Leaves of Ocimum contain 0.1% of essential oils, which are composed of eugenol, citral, ursolic acid, carvacrol, linalool, limatrol, caryophyllene, camphor, and estragole while fatty acids and sitosterol are present in the volatile oil of seed. Eugenol is responsible for its potential effect. The ethnopharmacological aspects of Ocimum species have been reported as antimicrobial, antimalarial, anthelmintic, anti-mosquito agents, anti-diarrheal, anti-oxidant, anticataract, anti-inflammatory, chemo, and radioprotective, antiseptic drugs, cardioprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-hypertensive, anti-cancer, pain killer, antiallergenic, antidepressant, memory boosting drugs, antiasthmatic, cough suppressant, diaphoretic, anti-thyroid, anti-fertility, spasmolytic, anti-arthritic, herbal pharmaceuticals, anti-anxiety, and blood thinning activities. In the previous studies, Tulsi has reported the potential effect against cellular toxicity caused by insecticides and industrial chemicals, which is the subject of attention. In this chapter, the author will explore the pharmacological and chemical paradigms of Tulsi that are present globally. 

Combretum caffrum (Combretaceae) commonly known as the South African bush willow tree grows naturally along the coast region of the East Cape of South Africa. Combretastatins are emerging chemical molecules discovered from C. caffrum tree capable of targeting colchicine binding sites; thus inhibiting the tubulin polymerization for the treatment of cancer. Numerous combretastatin analogues have been found in nature and created artificially, which showed strong cytotoxicity against a variety of cancers, including breast, colorectal, lung, kidney, ovarian, thyroid, liver, leukaemia, pancreatic, and cervical. Combretastatin A-4 was revealed to be the most potent antitumor agent in an isolated extract of C. caffum. Combretastatin A-4 is a pioneer in the development of anticancer medicines because of its distinctive features, which include a simple molecular structure, simple synthesis procedure, and antitubulin and antivascular activities. The objective of the present chapter is to elucidate the chemistry and biological activity of isolated combretastatins from C. caffrum, and to explore the development, mechanism of action, computer-aided drug design studies, and current clinical status as anticancer agents. As orphan drugs, the two Combretastatin A-4 analogs CA-4P and AVE8062 have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency to treat anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), ovarian cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, and gliomas.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder whose prevalence has been steadily expanding worldwide. Diabetes can cause complications with time, which include failure of the heart and the kidney, and a reduction in the quality of life. Continuous administration of allopathic drugs such as biguanides, sulfonylurea (Hypoglycaemic agents), and insulin causes many side effects such as Hypoglycaemia, stomach upset, etc., and have a high cost due to which researchers take eager interest in studies on herbs to find novel chemical compounds for the treatment of diabetes. Some diabetologists have recently found evidence that a therapeutic supplement containing plant derivatives is required to optimise diabetes treatment. Herbal medicine research has grown in importance in recent decades, and the usage of natural products in the cure of diabetes is becoming more popular around the world. They have the property to act as an antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, and anticancer. Herbs are used nowadays, in place of high-cost prescribed drugs. There are many medicinal plants or herbs that are used in the treatment of diabetes such as Allium sativum, Trigonellafoenum graecum (Fenugreek), Cuminum cyminum L (Cumin), Cinnamomum verum (Cinnamon), Ocimum sanctum (Holy basil), and Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi). Diabetes is caused mostly by oxidative stress and a rise in reactive oxygen species, which can have serious consequences. Many herbs include natural antioxidants, including flavonoids, C and E vitamins and tannins, which hold the capacity to lower blood glucose levels. Medicinal plants help to improve fasting blood sugar levels and, function of the kidney. This study focused on diabetes and accessible diabetic treatments, with a particular emphasis on herbal medicines and clinical trials of these herbal plants.