MEDICINAL

PLANTS
IN
OUR
SURROUNDINGS
 CONTENTS
Introduction
Types of medicinal
plants
1. NEEM 5.CALOTROPE

2. TULSI 6.THORN APPLE

3. WATER SPINACH 7.TURMERIC

4. ALOE 8.GINGER

9.MENTHA

Conclusion
Bibliography
 INTRODUCTION
Medicinal plants, also called medicinal herbs,
have been discovered and used in traditional
medicine practices since prehistoric
times. Plants synthesize hundreds of chemical
compounds for various functions,
including defense and protection
against insects, fungi, diseases,
and herbivorous mammals
 TYPES OF MEDICINAL
PLANTS

NEEM - Azadirachta indica

TULSI - Ocimum sanctum
WATER SPINACH - Ipomoea aquatica
ALOE - Aloe vera
CALOTROPE - Calotropis procera
THORN APPLE - Datura stramonium
TURMERIC - Curcuma longa
GINGER - Zingiber officinale
MENTHA - Mentha piperita
 NEEM
Common Name: Neem
ScientificName: Azadirachta indica
Family: Meliaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Nature: Monocotyledonous
Flower colour: White

Also known as “cure for all ailments”

Medicinal properties:
Neem elaborates a vast array of biologically active compounds
that are chemically diverse and structurallycomplex. More than
140 compounds have been isolated from different parts of
neem. All parts of the neem tree- leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits,
roots and bark have been used traditionally for the treatment of
inflammation, infections, fever, skin diseases and dental
disorders. The medicinal utilities have been described
especially for neem leaf. Neem leaf and its constituents have
been demonstrated to exhibit immunomodulatory, anti-
inflammatory, antihyperglycaemic, antiulcer, antimalarial,
antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antimutagenic
and anticarcinogenic properties
 TULSI
Common Name: Tulsi
Scientific Name: Ocimum sanctum
Family: Lamiaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Nature: Dicotyledonous
Flower colour: Purple or Reddish

Medicinal properties:
Tulsi has anti-inflammatory properties as it reduces vata.
Tulsi helps in many skin disorders. It is effective in skin
rashes, insect bites and itching. Leaves of this plant are
effectively used in ring worm infections and lucoderma.
Tulsi leaves act as nervine tonic and help to sharpen
memory. Tulsi is beneficial in indigestion, intestinal
parasites and constipation. Crushed leaves of tulsi are
very effective in fever, cough, bronchitis and other
diseases of lungs. It helps in expectoration of excess
mucoussecretion. Tulsi acts as a cardiac tonic and
purifies blood.
 WATER SPINACH

Common Name: Water Spinach

Scientific Name: Ipomoea aquatica
Family: Convolvulaceae
Habitat: Aquatic
Nature: Dicotyledonous
Flowercolour: White

Medicinal Properties:
The dried juice has reported to be a purgative,
while the leaves and stems possess cooling action.
Moreover, it is also traditionally used in the
treatment of nervous and general debility, piles,
worm infections, leucoderma, leprosy, jaundice
and liver complaints. Very few studies have been
done in this plant.
 ALOE

Common Name: Aloe

Scientific Name: Aloe vera
Family: Asphodelaceae
Habitat: Terrestrial
Nature: Monocotyledonous
Flower color: Yellow, Orange

Medicinal Properties:
Aloe vera, can help inhibit the growth of certain bacteria
that can cause infections in humans. A review of 4
experimental studies found that Aloe vera could reduce
the healing time of burns by around 9 days compared to
conventional medication .The evidence for Aloe vera
helping to heal other types of wounds is inconclusive.
Aloe vera acts as a mouthwash by killing the plaque-
producing bacterium Streptococcus mutans in the
mouth, as well as the yeast Candida albicans. Studies
have convincingly shown that Aloe vera treatment can
accelerate the healing of mouth ulcers. Aloe vera has
often be used to treat constipation
 CALOTROPE

Common Name: Calotrope, Akondo

Scientific Name: Calotropis procera
Family: Apocynaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Nature: Dicotyledonous
Flower colour: Purple

Medicinal Properties:
Calotropis is used for digestive disorders including diarrhea,
constipation and stomach ulcers; for painful conditions
including toothache, cramps, and joint pain; and for parasitic
infections including elephantiasis and worms. Some peopleuse
calotropis for syphilis, boils, inflammation (swelling), epilepsy,
hysteria, fever, muscular spasm, warts, leprosy, gout,
snakebites, and cancer .In inhalation therapy, smoke from the
bark is inhaled for coughs, asthma, and to cause sweating.
Calotropis contains chemicals that might help thin mucous
and make it easier to cough up. In studies in animals,
calotropis has shown some activity against pain, inflammation,
bacteria, fever, and ulcers caused by alcohol and medications such
as aspirin, indomethacin (Indocin), and others.
 THORN APPLE

Common Name: Thorn Apple, Datura, Dhuttra

Scientific Name: Datura stramonium
Family: Solanaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Nature: Dicotyledonous
Flower colour: Purple

Medicinal Properties:
The leaves of D. stromonium are used for the relief of
headache and vapours of leaf infusion is used to relieve the
pain of rheumatism and gout. The smoke from the burning
leaf is inhaled for the relief of asthma and bronchitis.
European remedy of D. stromonium for haemorrhoid is to
steam the part over boiling water containing leaf. The fruit juice
is applied to the scalp for the treatment of falling hairand
dandruff. It is also applied to smooth painful wounds and sores.
Seeds and leaves of D. stromonium were used to sedate
hysterical and psychotic patients, also to treat insomnia
stromonium was used as hallucinogenic drug. It is also used to
relax the smooth muscles of the bronchial tube and asthmatic
bronchial spasm. It was reported that stromonium wasused
internally to treat madness, epilepsy and depression.
 TURMERIC
Common Name: Turmeric
Scientific Name: Curcuma longa
Family: Zingiberaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Nature: Monocotyledonous
Flower colour: Yellow

Medicinal Properties:
Turmeric is considered as a digestive bitter and a carminative.
It can be added into foods including rice and bean dishes to
improve digestion, reduce gas and bloating. It is a cholagogue,
stimulating bile production in the liver and encouraging
excretion of bile via the gallbladder. This improves the body’s
ability to digest fats. For chronic digestive weakness and/or
congestion turmeric is recommended. It can be taken as asingle
extract or in the form of digestive bitters, which combine
turmeric with other bitter and carminative herbs.
Turmeric is beneficial for people who feel tired afterconsuming
meals or who experience gas and bloating. Whatever way
turmeric is consumed it is beneficial to boththe digestive
system and the liver. It is said to shrink engorgedhepatic ducts,
so it can be useful to treat liver conditions such as hepatitis,
cirrhosis, and jaundice. Recent scientific research confirm that
turmeric can cure host of diseases.
 GINGER
Common Name: Ginger
Scientific Name: Zingiber officinale
Family: Zingiberaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Nature: Monocotyledonous
Flower colour: Yellow

Medicinal Properties:
The phenolic compounds in ginger are known to help relieve
gastrointestinal (GI) irritation, stimulate saliva and bile
production, and suppress gastric contractions as food andfluids
move through the GI tract. At the same time, ginger also
appears to have beneficial effects on the enzymes trypsin and
pancreatic lipase, and to increase motility through the
digestive tract. This suggests ginger could help prevent colon
cancer and constipation. Chewing raw ginger or drinking
ginger tea is a common home remedy for nausea duringcancer
treatment. Taking ginger for motion sickness seems to reduce
feelings of nausea, but it does not appear to prevent vomiting.
Ginger is safe to use during pregnancy, to relieve nausea. It is
available in the form of ginger lozenges or candies. Ginger has
also been found to be "modestly efficacious and reasonably
safe" for treating inflammation associated with osteoarthritis.
 MENTHA

Common Name: Pudina, Mint

Scientific Name: Mentha piperita
Family: Meliaceae
Habitat: Terrestial
Nature: Dicotyledonous
Flower colour: White to purple

Medicinal Properties:
Aids in digestion: Mint soothes the stomach instantly andworks
wonders when it comes to treating tummy troubles. It is rich in
antioxidants, phytonurients and menthol, which helps the
enzymes to digest food. According to the Health Site."Pudina
is also known to calm stomach cramps and helps beat acidity
and flatulence. It is also very beneficial for patients suffering
from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). In fact, mint extracts
have been used to coat tablets meant to relieve symptoms of
IBS. It helps muscles in the stomach relax and promotes overall
digestion. Drink a cup of pudina tea after every meal by either
boiling the leaves along with a few green tea leaves or on their
own for maximum benefits." Menthol- rich mint tea, which will
help relieve a sore throat and act as a decongestant.
 CONCLUSION
These herbal products are today are the symbol of safety in contrast
to the synthetic drugs, that are regulated as unsafe to human being
and environment. Although herbs had been priced for their medicinal,
flavouring and aromatic qualities for centuries, the synthetic product
of the modern age surpassed their importance, for a while. However,
the blind dependence on synthetic is over and people are returning to
the naturals with hope of safety and security. It’s time to promote
them globally
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Wikipedia
 www.healthline.com
 www.medicinetoday.com
 www.science.gov