North east India is the richest reservoir of plant diversity in India and one of the 'biodiversity hotspot' of the world. Tripura, which is a hilly state of this region, is also rich in plant diversity. North Tripura district of Tripura is comprising of mostly forest area and of which 82.67 % population living in rural areas has high practices of traditional medicine for different disease conditions. This study on folk medicinal practice was done in order to document the existing folk drugs and treatment procedures among the peoples of North Tripura district of Tripura with a view to provide lead material for the discovery of new drugs of natural origin. For this local health practitioner, village head, elderly experienced persons were interviewed during 2012-2013 in the medico-ethno botanical survey of North Tripura and folk medicinal claims were documented. Present study reveals first-hand information on 48 folk medicinal claims having plant parts, animal products and minerals. Enumeration of the claims were arranged according to disease condition wise providing information on scientific names of the used folk drugs followed by local name, Sanskrit name, parts used, method of use with dose and duration as informed by the claimants and their relevant properties as per Ayurvedic texts. The documented folk medicinal claims have both single herb preparation and compound formulations.

Ipomoea reniformis Chaos is claimed in Indian traditional medical practice to be useful in the treatment of epilepsy and neurological disorders. In the present study, pretreatment effect of methanolic extract of Ipomoea reniformis on epilepsy and psychosis was evaluated in rodents using standard procedures. Besides evaluating epileptic and behavioral parameters, neurotransmitters such as Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) in epilepsy and in psychosis dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin contents in the rodent brain were estimated. The extract pretreatment reduced maximal electro shock; Isoniazid (INH) and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures and also significantly inhibited the attenuation of brain GABA levels by INH and PTZ in mice. These results suggested that the observed beneficial effect in epilepsy may be by enhancing the GABAergic system. The test drug also inhibited the apomorphine induced climbing and stereotyped behavior and showed significantly reduced levels of brain dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin which may be due to blocking of central dopaminergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic pathways or by enhancing the GABAergic system. The results obtained in present study suggest that the title plant possesses antiepileptic and antipsychotic activities in rodents.

Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC., commonly known as Shalparni in Ayurveda, has been used for treating various diseases. The plant is one among ten ingredients of classical Ayurvedic formulations Dasamula. Decoctions of root and leaf, root powder and leaf juice of D. gangeticum are used as tonics, febrifuge, digestive, antiemetic, astringent, anti-asthmatic, anti-diarrhoeal and anti-inflammatory agents in traditional medicinal practices of India and its neighbouring countries. Phytochemical investigations of this plant revealed the presence of many bioactive phytoconstituents. The present review was prepared with the objective of documenting the phytochemical and pharmacological profiles of D. gangeticum. The data presented here were collected from various sources like books, journals, various online databases, and monographs and internet search engines Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, etc. Studies reported from phytochemical screening revealed that D. Gangeticum leaves and roots are rich in flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, phenols, carbohydrates, steroids, phenylpropanoids, pterocarpans, coumarins, and volatile oil. Among the isolated compounds, major bio-active constituents are alkaloids, flavonoids and pterocarpans. All these phytochemicals are widely distributed in various parts of D. gangeticum. The other active constituents like desmodin, hordenine and gangetin are largely responsible for its broad spectrum of therapeutic potentiality. Desmodin belongs to the class of pterocarpans and is reported to have antifungal and antibacterial activities. Gangetin, which also belongs to the pterocarpans, is reported to have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. FTIR spectroscopy showed that D. gangeticum extracts are mainly rich in phenolic derivatives. Scientific experiments carried out in vitro as well as preclinical animal experimentations, showed that the plant and its bioactive chemicals exhibit various therapeutic activities. It is reported that D. gangeticum extracts showed potent antioxidant, antibacterial, hypoglycaemic, analgesic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antiarthritic activities. Studies reported that D. gangeticum or its formulations are safe when used in appropriate therapeutic dosage.

In today’s era, medicinal plant resources are constantly depleting due to destructive harvesting. The scarcity of medicinal plants has put a threat to Ayurveda. The plants found in the ecology have certain positive effects on our human body, which remain to be disclosed and discovered. Diet is also important in fighting the disease. Kidney disease can only be managed not only with medicines but also with a proper diet plan. Out of innumerable medicinal and edible plants, Loni (Portulaca oleracea L.) is one of them which possesses innumerable therapeutic benefits. The study aims to procure the uses of Loni (Portulaca. oleracea L.) in kidney diseases and determine if it can be used as a diet for the above disease. The study has been carried out based on modern phytochemistry, modern and Ayurvedic pharmacology keeping in view of Ayurvedic classics like Kaiyadeva Nighantu, Bhavaprakasa Nighantu, etc. of Loni (Portulaca oleracea L.) along with other experimental and evidence-based research papers. Purslane has massive action in delaying the progression of kidney disease through its nutritional benefits and value and its anti-nephrotoxic activity, which are being discussed in modern and Ayurvedic science. In managing kidney disease, the study has suggested that Loni (Portulaca oleracea L.) can be added as an edible vegetable as part of the diet plan.