A Study of Certain Ayurvedic Plants Containing Steroidal Saponins with Anti Inflammatory Activity

Abstract

Inflammation is the local reaction of living tissue. The bacterial infections without inflammation would remain un encountered, such kinds of wounds will never heal, the tissues get injured and the organs might be permanently damaged. Detailed investigations have been undertaken on several plants for Anti - inflammatory activity. The most common screening model has been the prevention of Carrageenan induced edema in rats. The pure compounds investigated for Anti - inflammatory activity had diverse chemical structures. Extensive research has been carried out in the membrane permeability, immune stimulant, Hypo cholesterolemic, Anti-inflammatory properties of Saponins. In the plant kingdom large number of biologically active compounds like Saponins glycosides are present. Most of the plants having Saponin glycosides are medicinally important. Many glycosides are used in traditional and modern medicines because of their cardio tonic, analgesic, anti-rheumatic other useful actions. The present study is therefore focussed on discussing the various Ayurvedic medicinal plants having Saponins with Anti- inflammatory action. Method: Classical Ayurvedic texts along with the commentaries and modern literature was collected from Modern books, Journals were carefully studied to compile information about plants containing Saponins and to evaluate with Anti-inflammatory action. It was observed that these Saponin containing plants having different karmas and these karmas having Sotha hara property (Anti-inflammatory activity). Results and conclusion: The below mentioned 10 plants are time tested and mentioned in the classical literature and indicated in many inflammatory disorders with significant rate of success. The study helps to establish a potent drug from the existing formulary.