V.Velpandian

Siddha system of medicine is one among the ancient systems of medicine treasured with a wide range of therapeutics for a vast range of diseases. Bronchial asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder threatening physically and mentally a major group of population especially in India 15-20 million asthmatics. Today several synthetic Bronchodilators and Antihistamine drugs available. Side effects of prolonged usage of these drugs became a great matter of concern. Several herbals in Siddha system ensure a safe and effective line of treatment in these chronic disorders. Some of the herbs indicated for Bronchial asthma are Acoruscalamus, Alpiniagalangal, Carumcopticum, Clerodendrumserrsatum, Justiciabeddomei, Ocimum sanctum, Piper longum, Taxusbaccata, Vitexnegundo, Zingiberofficinale. These herbs possess potent bronchodilator and Antihistamine properties. Hence thisreview is mainly focusing the ethno pharmacological activities of the herbals in management of Bronchial asthma and providing a better wellbeing for the society with safe line of treatment.

Hypertension commonly referred to as ‘high blood pressure’, is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated. In this modern era several antihypertensive drugs are available. But these medicines have many side effects such as palpitation, tachycardia, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, increased risk of developing diabetes, and reduced renal function and life threatening complications. Globally about 80% of the population using herbal medicines for their primary health care, particularly in developing countries. In herbal medicine the treatment for essential hypertension can bring the blood pressure level in to the normal range. WHO recently encourages, utilization of herbs and traditional herbal medicines, for national healthcare programs, as they are easily available at lower cost and comparatively safe medicines.In this article such herbs used in Siddha medicine have been studied and discussed for the therapeutic management for hypertension. In Siddha system the disease hypertension was described as Rakthaazhutham, Rakthathikkam, Azhutham. RakthakothippunoiandNaadiirukkam.All herbs reviewed in this article are useful in the treatment of hypertension. Among studied herbs, Rough chaff(Acyranthesaspera), Indianpennywort (Centella asiatica),Coriander(Coriandrumsativum),Cumin (Cuminumcyminum),Cardamom (Elettaria cardamom),Roughbryon (Melotheriamaderaspatn),Pepper (Piper nigrum), Arjun tree(Terminaliaarjuna), Land caltrops (Tribulusterrestri), Winter cherry (Withaniasomnifera), Ginger (Zingiberofficinalis) has Antihypertensive effect and cardiac tonic. Ginger (Allium sativum) and Deodar (Cedrusdeodara)reduces the blood cholesterol level and decreases the hypertension. Water lily (Nympheaalba)and Long pepper Piper longumshowed ACE inhibitor activity and reduces the blood pressure.

Standardization and quality control are essential analytical tools to guarantee the correct identifications of drugs. Adulteration and misidentification of herbal drug can cause dreadful health problems to the public and legal headaches for the pharmaceutical industry. The VPM was prepared according to the Siddha classical literature to treat the anti-dyslipidemic activity. The present study was carried out with specific aim to establish standards for Vaeppampoovathy Mathirai based on organoleptic characters, physico-chemical properties (The total -ash value 9.5%, Acid insoluble ash 1.7%, Water soluble ash 2.8% and the loss on drying at 1050 c was found to be 0.043%), phytochemical analysis showed the presence of rich source of alkaloids, carbohydrates, saponins, tannins, phenols, phytosterol, diterpenes, flavanoids, proteins& aminoacids. SEM analysis showed that VPM was arranged in agglomerates of size of micro particles. EDAX analysis showed the presence of minerals like carbon, oxygen, magnesium, aluminum, silica, sulphur, chloride, potassium, calcium. FTIR showed the peak values which are the fuctional groups present. The sophisticated analysis of instruments were also an essential criteria in studying the surface morphology, topography and the chemical bonds present in them which indirectly correlates with the activity and also an important factor in the standardization of the drugs.

In Siddha system of medicine, emotions and thoughts are considered to have a direct impact on a person's physical health. Because of the importance placed in the minds of Siddha system of medicine, many psychotropic drugs from this traditional system help often very specifically to treat the mental illness very effectively. One of such drug mentioned in Siddha system of medicine is Sadamanjil Chooranam (Nardostachys jatamansi DC).This plant used in Siddha system of medicinein the treatment of excitement, insomnia and depressive illness. In the present study, an attempt has been made to explore the anti-anxiety and anti-depressant potential of the aqueous extract of Sadamanjil Chooranam (SMCE)in Elevated plus maze model, Forced Swim testand Tail suspension testin the mice model. Two dose levels of trial drug SMCE (100mg/kg and 200mg/kg body weight) were administered in mice. EPM result showed that the time spent of the mice after the administration of SMCE 100mg/kg and 200mg/kg showed the higher percentages of time in the open arms and the percentage of open arm entries which were statistically significant.TST and FST results showed significant decreases in the immobility period when compared with control group. The greater the immobility time observed with mice treated with higher dose of SMCE (200mg/kg) which showed the dose dependent activity of the trial drug. From the result, it is concluded that SMCE extract appeared to possess potent antianxiety and antidepressant effects and both the effects are apparently dose-dependent.