Title : Medicinal plants: Source of phytobiotic compounds as therapeutic agents for human diseases
Abstract:
Medicinal plants exhibit a broad range of potential for nutraceuticals, presenting a diverse assortment of bioactive compounds that confer notable health advantages beyond fundamental nourishment. Natural compounds obtained from different medicinal and aromatic plants have gained respect as alternative treatments to synthetic drugs, as well as materials for different applications. Bioactive compounds are extra nutritive constituents that typically occur in small quantities in foods and provide beneficial health properties. The functional characteristics that are directly linked to the health advantages of different medicinal and aromatic plants have been the focus of significant study in the last few years. In this context the objectives of the study are to explore the bio-pharmacological as well as nutraceutical values of the phytobiotic compounds and provide a comprehensive insight into environmentally food conservatives.Scientific investigation has been sparked by numerous epidemiologic studies that showed the preventive effects associated with the presence of secondary metabolites, namely polyphenols, glucosinolates, carotenoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, vitamins, and fibers, among others, derived from their antioxidant, anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antithrombotic, cardioprotective, and vasodilator properties. However, their use is often limited, and only a few products are available for commercial use. Characterization techniques for the structural elucidation of phytobioactive compounds such as HPLC, TLC, FTIR, GC–MS/MS, and NMR have been elucidated. It is imperative that phytobioactive compounds may be used as potential alternative to synthetic compounds as therapeutic agents for the treatment of various diseases. The paper opens by underlining the significance of medicinal plants as important sources for developing new drugs. The relevance of various extraction techniques and analytical procedures is emphasized as the methods used for the identification and extraction of bioactive components is covered in detail. We examine the possible uses of bioactive substances obtained from medicinal plants in the treatment of numerous ailments.
