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It is a tree with rounded crown and spreading branches. Its principle chemical constituents are chebulagic acid, chebulic acid and corilagin. Its fruits are laxative, stomachic and tonic. Studies indicate extract to possess immunomodulatory and hepatoprotective properties.

A large deciduous tree with characteristic bark and obscurely 5-angled fruits grown throughout India. Its principle constituents are beta sitosterol, gallic acid, ellagic acid, ethylgallate, gallolyl glucose and chebulic acid. It is astringent, tonic, expectorant and laxative. It is used in coughs and sore throat. Its pulp is used in dropsy, piles and diarrhoea. It is also useful in leprosy, fever and hair care. Fruits possess antibacterial property.

An annual herb. found throughout India ascending up to 1,800 m. in the Himalayas, and in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, commonly cultivated in gardens. The plant increases the physical endurance and prevents stress-induced ulcers. It also potentates the hexobarbitone sleeping time. Protective action against histamine-induced bronchoplasm has been shown in animals. Tulsi extracts inhibits acute and chronic inflammation and is found to be analgesic and antiypretic. The anti-inflammatory action involves cyclooxygenase inhibitory pathway. The extract also possesses antioxidant activity.

A monoecious climber with solitary fruits found throughout India also commonly cultivated, up to an altitude of 1,500 m. The fruits and leaves of the plant contain alkaloids, chiefly momordicine. Roots contain bitter principles. The extracts of bitter gourd produces hypoglycaemia in normal as well as alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. Charantin isolated from the fruits given in doses of 50 mg/kg orally lowered the blood sugar by 12% in the fourth hour after administration.

A large pubescent, woody climber found in the Deccan Peninsula, extending to parts of northern and western India. It is occasionally cultivated. An aqueous extract of the leaves contains the saponins gymnemic acid III, IV, V, VIII and IX. Gymnemic acid has anti-diabetic property. It has inhibitory effect on plasma glucose and serum insulin in man through regeneration of insulin producing beta cells, hence find its application in type I Diabetes.

Commonly known as “Malabar Tamarind& is grown in ever green forests of west and southern India and Sri Lanka.
The fruits are like small pumpkin and of the size of an orange, too sour in taste, and their fleshy rind has been valued as a culinary ingredient. The tree is valued for its fruit rind which is rich in acids and possesses marked antiseptic properties. Its chief acid is (-)-hydroxycitric acid known to significantly reduce body weight. Hence the extract is used in the management of obesity to reduce fat synthesis and accelerate fat metabolism.

A deciduous tree common in Indian forests ascending to 4,500 feet on the hills. It is now being commonly cultivated.
The fruit is the richest known natural source of vitamin C. Fruit bark and leaves are rich in tannins. Amla fruits are anabolic, anti-bacterial and resistance building. The aqueous extract of fruit has been reported to provide protection against radiation induced chromosomal damage in both pre and post irradition treatment. The tannoid principles of the fruits exhibit antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo. Clinical studies indicate amla fruits to be beneficial effects in reducing total serum cholesterol levels.

It is an erect or prostate much branched, hirsute annual herb often rooting at nodes. Leaves are opposite and sessile. Principle constituents of herb are alkaloids wedelolactone and demethylwedelolactone. The herb is used as tonic and deobstruent in hepatic and splenic enlargements. The plant possesses hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory property.

A small perennial, branched, aromatic herb is distributed in subtropical Himalayas of Kumaon and Nepal ascending to 8,000 ft. and in the Deccan peninsula, Gujarat and Bihar. The main chemical constituent is forskohlin, indicated in hypertension, congestive heart failure, angina pectoris, eczema (atopic dermatitis), asthama, psoriasis and glaucoma.

It is a prostate stoloniferous perennial herb native of India, China, Indonesia, Australia, the South Pacific, Madagascar and Southern and Middle Africa. It prefers marshy areas and river banks. It shows the presence of triterpenoid and saponin glycosides chiefly Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic acid. The plant is used in treatment of leprosy, skin diseases (psoriasis, eczema) and also to improve memory. It is also used in respiratory ailments, strengthening of veins (varicose veins), as blood purifier, for relieving stress and is an immune booster.