Table Of ContentTraditional Herbal
Therapy for the Human
Immune System
Exploring Medicinal Plants
Series Editor
Azamal Husen
Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia
Medicinal plants render a rich source of bioactive compounds used in drug formulation
and development; they play a key role in traditional or indigenous health systems. As
the demand for herbal medicines increases worldwide, supply is declining as most of
the harvest is derived from naturally growing vegetation. Considering global interests
and covering several important aspects associated with medicinal plants, the Exploring
Medicinal Plants series comprises volumes valuable to academia, practitioners, and
researchers interested in medicinal plants. Topics provide information on a range
of subjects including diversity, conservation, propagation, cultivation, physiology,
molecular biology, growth response under extreme environment, handling, storage,
bioactive compounds, secondary metabolites, extraction, therapeutics, mode of
action, and healthcare practices.
Led by Azamal Husen, PhD, this series is directed to a broad range of researchers and
professionals consisting of topical books exploring information related to medicinal
plants. It includes edited volumes, references, and textbooks available for individual
print and electronic purchases.
Traditional Herbal
Therapy for the Human
Immune System
Edited by
Azamal Husen
Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita, Ethiopia
First edition published 2022
by CRC Press
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ISBN: 9780367685256 (hbk)
ISBN: 9781032109121 (pbk)
ISBN: 9781003137955 (ebk)
DOI: 10.1201/9781003137955
Typeset in Times
by Deanta Global Publishing Services, Chennai, India
Dedication
Abu Ali Ibn Sina (980–1037 AD)
(A great physician, astronomer, thinker, and writer of the Islamic
Golden Age, and the father of early modern medicine)
Contents
Preface.......................................................................................................................ix
About the Editor ........................................................................................................xi
Contributors ...........................................................................................................xiii
Disclaimer ..............................................................................................................xvii
Chapter 1 Plant-based Potential Nutraceuticals for Improving
the Human Immune System .................................................................1
Azamal Husen and Muhammad Iqbal
Chapter 2 Antibacterial Properties of Medicinal Plants: Recent Trends,
Progress, and Challenges ...................................................................13
Limenew Abate, Archana Bachheti, Rakesh Kumar Bachheti,
and Azamal Husen
Chapter 3 Antiviral Activity of Medicinal Plants: Current
Understanding, Prospects, and Challenges ........................................55
Venkateish V P, Nivya V, Vani V, Baskaran V, and Madan Kumar P
Chapter 4 Conventional Medicinal Plants: Boosting the Immune
System in Humans ..............................................................................75
Antul Kumar, Anuj Choudhary, Harmanjot Kaur,
Asish Kumar Padhy, and Sahil Mehta
Chapter 5 Medicinal Plants for Strong Immune System and
Traditional Skin Therapy in South Africa: An Overview ...............123
Learnmore Kambizi and Callistus Bvenura
Chapter 6 Traditional African Medicinal Plants for a Strong Immune System ......173
Anywar Godwin
Chapter 7 Traditional Brazilian Medicinal Plants for a Strong
Immune System ................................................................................199
José Crisólogo de Sales Silva,
Solma Lúcia Souto Maior de Araújo Baltar,
and Maria Lusia de Morais Belo Bezerra
vii
viii Contents
Chapter 8 Traditional Himalayan Plants: Nature’s Gift for Maintaining
a Strong Immune System .................................................................211
Antul Kumar, Anuj Choudhary, Harmanjot Kaur, Atul Arya,
Baljinder Singh, and Sahil Mehta
Chapter 9 Traditional South Indian Herbal Plants for a Strong
Immune System ................................................................................245
Mani Divya and Sekar Vijayakumar
Chapter 10 Sacred Medicinal Plants and their Use by Indigenous
People for Strengthening the Immune System .................................255
Jamal Akhtar and Fouzia Bashir
Chapter 11 Molecular Features of Potential Herbal Products in
Enhancing Human Immune System .................................................301
Chandrabose Selvaraj, Chandrabose Yogeswari, and
Sanjeev Kumar Singh
Chapter 12 Specific Plant Nutrients and Vitamins that Fortify Human
Immune System ................................................................................363
Kirubel Teshome Tadele and Gebeyanesh Worku Zerssa
Chapter 13 Role of Specific Spices in Fortifying the Human
Immune System ................................................................................397
Yashdeep Srivastava, Swati Upadhyay, Mohd Ahmad,
Deepak Kumar Verma, and Vinod Kumar Mishra
Chapter 14 Specific Fruits and Berries for a Strong Human Immune System ......411
Rakesh Kumar
Chapter 15 Natural Immunity Boosters and Anticancer Medicinal Plants ........431
Swati Agarwal, Sonu Kumari, and Amrendra Kumar
Chapter 16 Potential of Medicinal Plants as Immunity Booster
against COVID-19 ............................................................................455
Saumya Pandey
Index ......................................................................................................................475
Preface
The goal of this book is to provide a review, as thorough and up-to-date as pos-
sible, of the state-of-the-art herbal therapy for strong human immune systems and
research-based information on medicinal plants used for this purpose. A large num-
ber of people around the world suffer from daily inconvenience and unpleasantness
of a deficient immune system. Tiredness, frequent colds, infections, allergies, mood
swings, and premature ageing are all common manifestations of a weakened immu-
nity. The human immune system is an invisible bodyguard, fighting off invasion
and working tirelessly around the clock to keep the human body fit and healthy. The
immune system is responsible for responding when anyone is exposed to viruses,
bacteria, or other microbes, has a cut or a broken bone, or when cells begin to change
in an abnormal way, as in the early stages of cancer. The immune system also plays
the vital role of differentiating the live materials belonging to the body from those
coming from outside, and quickly eliminating the foreign proteins from bacteria,
virus, or other microbes. It is also responsible for inflammation, the natural pro-
cess that occurs in response to injury and is incredibly important to initiate healing,
although too much of it can be detrimental and is linked to heart disease, diabetes,
cancer, and many other illnesses.
In this connection, medicinal plants and their products are able to affect the
immune system and act as immunomodulators. Numerous medicinal plants are
popularly used in folk medicine to increase resistance of the body; they strengthen
the human immune defence and improve body reactions against infectious agents
or exogenous injuries, suppressing the abnormal immune response occurring in
immune disorders. Many herbs, shrubs, climbers, or trees, such as Allium fistulo-
sum, Allium sativum, Aloe vera, Andrographis paniculata, Calendula officinalis,
Camellia sinensis, Catharanthus roseus, Cinnamomum camphora, Curcuma longa,
Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, Elettaria cardamomum, Emblica
officinalis, Eucalyptus spp., Glycyrrhiza glabra, Hypericum perforatum, Mentha
piperita, Nigella sativa, Origanum vulgare, Ocimum sanctum, Ocimum basilicum,
Panax ginseng, Salvia officinalis, Sambucus nigra, Taraxacum officinale, Thymus
vulgaris, Withania somnifera, Zingiber officinale, etc., have shown success in
strengthening immunity against the H1N1 virus, influenza, hepatitis and swine flu-
virus, among others. These plants and their products have some specific properties to
reduce stress and anxiety, absorb odours and mould, eliminate headaches, improve
mood and brain function, enhance blood and oxygen circulation, increase energy
levels, boost healing processes, maintain blood pressure, act as a source of vitamins
and improve a number of bodily functions. Moreover, these plants have acted as an
antiviral and antibacterial agent; and boosted the immune system against cancer,
HIV, and COVID-19. This book addresses these issues and many more. In the future,
medicinal plant-based products are likely to be in higher demand to facilitate and
strengthen the human immune system against infections, allergies, and related ail-
ments. Taken together, this book aims to cover both the indigenous and scientific
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