Use of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants as Immunomodulators in Geriatrics: Preclinical Studies.

Foods and Dietary Supplements in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease in Older Adults

January 27, 2015, Pages 143-149

Bhat, H.P.^a, 

Jakribettu, R.P.^b, 

Boloor, R.^b, 

Fayad, R.^c, 

Baliga, M.S.^d

 

^a  Mangalore Institute of Oncology, Pumpwell, Mangalore, India
^b  Department of Microbiology, Father Muller Medical College, Kankanady, Mangalore, Karnataka, India
^c  Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States

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Abstract

In this century there has been an increased interest globally in identifying immune modulator compounds that are pharmacologically potent and have low or no side effects, for use in treating diseases involving immunological disorders. As plants produce significant amounts of chemicals that are considered to be immunosuppressants or immunostimulators, they represent a potential source of new compounds with immunological activity. Conventional herbal medicines form an essential part of the healthcare system in India. Ayurveda, the oldest medical system in the world, contributes potential leads to finding active and therapeutically useful compounds from plants. Seeing the growing interest in assessing the immunological capacity of herbal medicine, in this chapter we discuss 20 rarely reviewed plants reported to have immunomodulatory properties. Some of the plants reviewed are part of multiherbal preparations while others are used individually. We will focus on Indian medicinal plants that have immunomodulatory properties examined by the modern system of basic science research. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Author keywords

Ayurveda; Immune modulation; Indian medicinal plants