Immunomodulatory Potential of Bioactives from Selected Ayurvedic Plants

The history of usage of herbal medicine is as old as human civilization. Plant-based drugs have been an invaluable and incredible source for several medical treatments in the traditional system of medicine. With technological advances, it has become possible to get a clear understanding of active compounds behind the therapeutic effectiveness of these drugs. Plant-derived immunomodulators are one such class of compounds, considered safe alternatives than synthetic immunomodulators which cause serious side effects. These agents can increase the body’s immune responsiveness against pathogens by activating both the innate and adaptive immune systems. Phyto drugs have gained more interest due to their multi-pharmacological potential of being antioxidant, adaptogen, etc. along with immunomodulator. The current book chapter focuses on a few extensively scrutinized immunomodulatory phytocompounds from medicinal plants such as Tinospora cordifolia, Andrographis paniculata, Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum, Terminalia chebula, and Piper longum. Phytomedicines from these plants have displayed significant immunomodulatory potential in a variety of experimental (in vitro and in vivo) models, few compounds have exhibited good therapeutic potential in clinical trials also.

Keywords: Herbal medicine, Immunomodulators, Medicinal plants, Ayurveda, Traditional medicine, Immune system, Phytocompounds.