Alzheimer\'s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, memory loss, and impaired daily functioning. While there is currently no cure for AD, several pharmacotherapeutic targets and management strategies have been explored. Additionally, traditional medicinal plants have gained attention for their potential role in AD management. Pharmacotherapeutic targets in AD include amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregation, tau protein hyperphosphorylation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and cholinergic dysfunction. Traditional medicinal plants, such as Ginkgo biloba, Huperzia serrata, Curcuma longa (turmeric), and Panax ginseng, have demonstrated the ability to modulate these targets through their bioactive compounds. Ginkgo biloba, for instance, contains flavonoids and terpenoids that exhibit neuroprotective effects by reducing Aβ deposition and enhancing cerebral blood flow. Huperzia serrata, a natural source of huperzine A, has acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting properties, thus improving cholinergic function. Curcuma longa, enriched with curcumin, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, potentially mitigating neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Panax ginseng\'s ginsenosides have shown neuroprotective and anti-amyloidogenic properties. The investigation of traditional medicinal plants as a complementary approach to AD management offers several advantages, including a lower risk of adverse effects and potential multi-target interactions. Furthermore, the cultural knowledge and utilization of these plants provide a rich source of information for the development of new therapies. However, further research is necessary to elucidate the precise mechanisms of action, standardize preparations, and assess the safety and efficacy of these natural remedies. Integrating traditional medicinal-plant-based therapies with modern pharmacotherapies may hold the key to a more comprehensive and effective approach to AD treatment. This review aims to explore the pharmacotherapeutic targets in AD and assess the potential of traditional medicinal plants in its management.

Background: The advancing etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have prompted the medical community to consider Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani as add-on preventive and therapeutic options. Objective: To explore the effect of standalone or integrative Traditional Formulations (TFs) on selected clinical symptoms and biomarkers of COVID-19. Search strategy: Out of 465 articles identified from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus, 17 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 1646 COVID-19 patients published from January 2020 to February 2022 were included in the study. Inclusion criteria: RCTs that compared the effect of standalone/integrative TFs in decoction, tablet, and powder forms with placebo plus standard care (SC)/placebo/SC as controls involving mild to severe symptomatic COVID-19 patients were included. Data extraction and analysis: Three reviewers independently assessed the titles and abstracts of each article based on the inclusion after deleting duplicates. The relevant full texts were retrieved and examined, and then their data were extracted and double-checked by three independent reviewers using prepared data extraction forms. The primary outcome variables were reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, fever, cough, dyspnea, myalgia, headache, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and D-dimer. Results: The effect of different TFs or integrative TFs was more to inhibit severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) than the controls. There was an increase in fever and cough, a decrease in dyspnea, myalgia, headache, and ESR, no change in CRP, and a slight increase in D-dimer as an effect of TFs. Conclusions: Integrative or standalone TF may be the inexpensive preventive and therapeutic option to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 and its clinical symptoms.

The aim of this two-part review in this issue is to provide some basic perspectives from Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, and to discuss how current research methodologies may be used to shed light on mechanisms of Ayurvedic treatments to support cancer care and prevention. It addresses some of the challenges for scientific validation of Ayurvedic herbal compounds, protocols, and modalities in four areas. Part 1 [1] has reviewed Ayurvedic theories and applications of body constitution (Prakriti), digestion (Agni and Ama) and mind-body-spirit health in relation to cancer. Here in Part 2, the focus is on preclinical and clinical research of Ayurvedic botanical herbs, with a review of pertinent literature on three selected herbs, Curcumin, Ashwagandha, and Triphala. A discussion of the challenges and possibilities of research in Ayurveda is offered to guide the development of translational research programs. Ayurvedic modalities are not intended as a substitute for allopathic treatments of cancer but as an integrative component for prevention and restoration of strength and immunity.

A healthy diet shapes a healthy mind. Diet quality has a strong association with brain health. Diet influences the onset and consequences of neurological diseases, and dietary factors may influence mental health at individual and population level. The link between unhealthy diet, impaired cognitive function and neurodegenerative diseases indicates that adopting a healthy diet would ultimately afford prevention and management of neurological diseases and brain aging. Neurodegenerative diseases are of multifactorial origin and result in progressive loss of neuronal function in the brain, leading to cognitive impairment and motoneuron disorders. The so-called Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) with its healthy ingredients rich in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune, neuroprotective, antidepressant, antistress and senolytic activity plays an essential role in the prevention and management of neurological diseases and inhibits cognitive decline in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer\'s, Parkinson\'s and Huntington\'s diseases. The MedDiet also modulates the gut-brain axis by promoting a diversity of gut microbiota. In view of the importance of diet in neurological diseases management, this review focuses on the dietary components, natural compounds and medicinal plants that have proven beneficial in neurological diseases and for brain health. Among them, polyphenols, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins and several ayurvedic herbs have promising beneficial effects.

Osteoarthritis is a disabling condition globally, affecting a major population. The non-invasive conservative management of osteoarthritis is majorly catered to by physical therapy rehabilitation. Research has been conducted to evaluate the impact of the most commonly used electrotherapy modality, therapeutic ultrasound, on reducing pain and increasing functional activities in individuals suffering from osteoarthritis, but the condition is still, after over two decades of research, growing rapidly in its prevalence. Therefore, the aim of our study was to analyze the literature and compare the evolving trends in coupling medium used for the application of therapeutic ultrasound in arthritic conditions of musculoskeletal origin. Databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Pedro, and Cochrane were searched till June 2022. The outcome measures used were to detect the status of pain and improvement in functional status. Overall ultrasound therapy adjunct to exercise program was found to be superior to either ultrasound therapy or exercise program alone for the management of pain and functional status of the patients. Additionally, phonophoresis was deduced to have shown better pain relief than conventional ultrasound. Phonophoresis was done using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and Ayurvedic medicinal herbs in the form of Nano gel.

Background and Objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally and hypercholesterolemia is one of the major risk factors associated with CVD. Due to a growing body of research on side effects and long-term impacts of conventional CVD treatments, focus is shifting towards exploring alternative treatment approaches such as Ayurveda. However, because of a lack of strong scientific evidence, the safety and efficacy profiles of such interventions have not been well established. The current study aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analyses to explore the strength of evidence on efficacy and safety of Ayurvedic herbs for hypercholesterolemia. Methods: Literature searches were conducted using databases including Medline, Cochrane Database, AMED, Embase, AYUSH research portal, and many others. All randomized controlled trials on individuals with hypercholesterolemia using Ayurvedic herbs (alone or in combination) with an exposure period of ≥ 3 weeks were included, with primary outcomes being total cholesterol levels, adverse events, and other cardiovascular events. The search strategy was determined with the help of the Cochrane Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders Group. Two researchers assessed the risk of each study individually and discrepancies were resolved by consensus or consultation with a third researcher. Meta-analysis was conducted using the inverse variance method and results are presented as forest plots and data summary tables using Revman v5.3. Results: A systematic review of 32 studies with 1386 participants found randomized controlled trials of three Ayurvedic herbs, Allium sativum (garlic), Commiphora mukul (guggulu), and Nigella sativa (black cumin) on hypercholesterolemia that met inclusion criteria. The average duration of intervention was 12 weeks. Meta-analysis of the trials showed that guggulu reduced total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels by 16.78 mg/dL (95% C.I. 13.96 to 2.61; p-value = 0.02) and 18.78 mg/dL (95% C.I. 34.07 to 3.48; p = 0.02), respectively. Garlic reduced LDL-C by 10.37 mg/dL (95% C.I. -17.58 to -3.16; p-value = 0.005). Black cumin lowered total cholesterol by 9.28 mg/dL (95% C.I. -17.36, to -1.19, p-value = 0.02). Reported adverse side effects were minimal. Conclusion: There is moderate to high level of evidence from randomized controlled trials that the Ayurvedic herbs guggulu, garlic, and black cumin are moderately effective for reducing hypercholesterolemia. In addition, minimal evidence was found for any side effects associated with these herbs, positioning them as safe adjuvants to conventional treatments.

The present market for herbal drugs is estimated about ₹40 billion, which is expected to increase by 16% in next 3-4 years. The current production of many Ayurvedic herbs is less than their market demand, which incentivizes adulteration in the Ayurvedic drug supply chain. The present work aims to highlight the most used Ayurvedic plants that have been listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature\'s \"red list\" of endangered or vulnerable plants. The future of Ayurvedic medicines from these listed plants is uncertain, as the collection of herbs from their natural habitat is prohibited and their cultivation does not meet market demands. Many of these plants, such as Taxus baccata and T. wallichiana, are endangered and are only grown in their natural habitats; their cultivation in other areas is impractical. This is the present state, and will worsen as demand continues to grow, with increasing populations and increasing adoption of this system of medicine. It is possible that in coming years most of the Ayurvedic drugs will be adulterated, and will cause only side effects rather than the therapeutic effects. The Ayurvedic fundamentals are under-explored areas where the Ayurvedic practitioners and research scientists can work together. The scientific work on the basic principles will unravel many unknown or little-known facts of this ancient science. Hence, the present review emphasizes the conservation of Ayurvedic herbs, minimization of the use of medicinal plants and the promotion of the research based on Ayurvedic fundamentals.