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Key Rasayana Plants of
Ayurveda
Bharti Chaudhry*
Department of Botany, Ramjas College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007, India
*Email
Id: bhartichaudhry@gmail.com
Traditional medicine;
Rejuvenation;
Immunomodulator;
Nootropics;
Longevity
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Abstract
The rising incidence of non-communicable diseases
such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke,
autoimmune diseases as well as the prevalence of infectious diseases, such
as influenza, dengue, malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis, is increasingly
leading to a high rate of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Traditional
medicine is becoming popular as a natural and safer alternative to
synthetic medicines due to the side effects of modern allopathic medicine,
prohibitive cost of treatment, the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria,
viruses and parasites, as well as lack of curative treatment for many
chronic diseases. Ayurveda is the oldest, holistic, traditional system
practised in India that advocates prevention of disease and promotion of
longevity. Rasayana Tantra or Rejuvenation Therapy is one of the eight disciplines
of treatment in Ayurveda. Many medicinal plants used in Rasayana therapy are known to
replenish the tissues, rejuvenate both body and mind, enhance immunity,
restore healthy neuroendocrine functions, promote intellect and delay
senescence processes. The review aims to give an update of a few promising Rasayana drugs like Asparagus racemosus, Tinospora cordifolia, Curcuma longa, Phyllanthus emblica, Withania somnifera that have proved to be powerful
antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobials, immunomodulators and
anticarcinogens; as well as Medhya-Rasayana
plants like Bacopa monnieri and Centella asiatica that are potent nootropics
and have shown significant clinical potential in attenuation of
neuroinflammation, dementia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s disease and other
neurodegenerative disorders.
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