Volume 82, Issue 2, March 2011, Pages 141–151
Review
Medicinal plants useful for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): Current status and future perspectives
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Abstract
Chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health problem.
The current therapies are inadequate and have numerous adverse effects.
There is an acute need of potential alternative therapies. Medicinal
plants are classical and most widespread form of medication for treating
various human ailments throughout the world. For COPD also, various
plants are practiced in many countries. We have surveyed the literatures
for the medicinal plants which are used in obstructive lung diseases
such as bronchitis and emphysema. These plants were segregated into two
categories. Firstly, the plants which are used for obstructive lung
diseases based on various traditional recommendations only. Secondly,
the plants or their formulations which have been studied grossly in COPD
patients and animal models for their scientific validation. Further, we
have described some known cellular and molecular factors involved in
COPD and their modulation by plant-derived compounds. Certain future
perspectives have also been discussed.
Graphical Abstract
Medicinal
plants and herbal formulations could be used for developing safer and
effective drugs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Keywords
- Medicinal plants;
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
- Emphysema;
- Plant compounds;
- Alternative therapy
- Corresponding author. Tel.:
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