The Chemistry inside Spices & Herbs: Research and Development

The viral pandemic, with both emerging and re-emerging characteristics, has had a significant impact on human lives worldwide. This pandemic has resulted in substantial morbidity and mortality due to its rapid and widespread transmission among the general population. Unfortunately, the lack of effective antiviral treatments has further complicated the situation, making it challenging to control and manage the disease effectively. The ideal method for safeguarding against viral infections is to be immune. India's indigenous systems of medicine, with its rich array of phyto-therapies and natural remedies, have attracted the global community's interest. As a result, people all around the world are turning to and rekindling their interest in immune-boosting traditional remedies. Spices, with their significant therapeutic potential and excellent safety profiles, are currently being extensively studied as herbal drugs and immuneenhancing home remedies against infectious diseases. The first part of this chapter discusses the need for new antiviral drugs, especially in light of the recent pandemic. The second part reviews the extensive scientific evidence on the immune-boosting effects of many Indian spices, as well as their potential to fight viral infections. It also discusses their safety and toxicity profiles.

Coriander is a plant common to several countries. Its use is associated with traditional medicine due to its functional and therapeutic properties. However, more and more coriander has been used in various sectors, such as food, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Given the importance of this plant, this chapter aims to present the main chemical, functional and nutritional characteristics in addition to the main applications of coriander. The different parts of coriander have several bioactive components, such as monoterpenes, alkanes, aldehydes, alcohols, pigments, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Because of its composition, coriander has numerous functional and nutritional properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antidiabetic, anxiolytic, and antidepressant activity, among others. Applications range from studying the impact on microorganisms to improving animal diets and extract preparations. Therefore, it can be said that coriander is a plant with multiple applications, and its nutritional potential should be increasingly explored to promote health benefits. 

Sphaeranthus indicus Linn (Asteraceae) is commonly known as Munditika, Mundi, Shravana, Bhikshu, Tapodhana, Mahashravani, Shravanahva, and Shravanashirshaka. It is generally found in wet places of the lowlands and also grows as a weed in rice fields. Herein, the traditional uses, chemical components and pharmacological properties are compiled to provide a ready reference for scientists working on this plant species. The whole plant and various morphological parts are extensively used in Indian medicine to treat a variety of diseases. The plant has astringent, stomachic, reviving, pectoral, demulcent, and calming properties. Various secondary metabolites, such as eudesmanolides, sesquiterpenoids, sesquiterpene lactones, sesquiterpene acids, flavone glycosides, flavonoid C-glycosides, isoflavone glycoside, sterols, sterol glycoside, alkaloids, peptide alkaloids, amino acids, and sugars have been found in the plant. Numerous monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenes, oxygenated sesquiterpenes, and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were found in the essential oils from the plant. The entire plant and various morphological parts have been reported to have ovicidal, anthelmintic, antifeedant, antimicrobial, antiviral, macrofilaricidal, larvicidal, analgesic, antipyretic, hepatoprotective, antitussive, wound healing, bronchodilatory, mast cell stabilising, anxiolytic, neuroleptic, immunomodulatory, anti-diabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, central nervous system depressant, anti-arthritic, nephroprotective, and anticonvulsant activities. Acute toxicity of extracts from different plant parts revealed the safety of the drug.

Since ancient times, Copaifera tree oleoresin has been widely utilised for conventional medicine, and it is currently a well-liked remedy for a variety of illnesses. The vast majority of the chemical makeup that makes up copaiba resins is frequently composed of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons such as germacrene D, copaene, caryophyllene, elemene and humulene. Kaurenoic acid, alepterolic acid, copalic acid and polyalthic acid are a few of the physiologically useful diterpene compounds present in oleoresin. Due to its many pharmacological qualities and extensive usage, oleoresin is one of the most significant regenerative natural remedies and folk medicines. In addition to being used as a contraceptive, oil or plant bark decoction is also used to treat inflammation, bronchitis, syphilis, and cough. Wound healing is improved when oil is administered topically to the skin. During massages, it is administered to the head to manage convulsions, pain, and paralysis. It is also suggested to apply oil-soaked cotton to tumours, ulcers, or hives. Dog bites and other infected wounds are treated with the bark's decoction, which is also used to treat rheumatism. The oil is utilised to create a patch that is mechanically applied to wounds and some ulcers to treat them. Caryophyllene has exhibited its activity in a number of pharmacological models, including cannabinoid receptors, making it one of the most significant phytoconstituents in copaiba oils at the present time. The goal of this chapter is to look into the phytochemistry of copaiba oleoresins, conventional uses, and the pharmacological properties of various oils from Copaifera species.

Nardostachys jatamansi DC, a small, erect, perennial, rhizomatous herb growing on steep, moist, rocky, undisturbed grassy slopes, is a popular species of aromatic and medicinal plant. The Sanskrit word “Jata,” which denotes a matted and uncombed lock of hair, is similar to its rhizome, hence the name “Jatamansi.” The plant is found between 3000 and 5200 m above sea level in the alpine Himalayas, which include parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim in India, as well as numerous regions of Nepal, Tibet, China, and Bhutan.

N. jatamansi has been used in ayurveda, ethnomedicine and alternative medicine for a very long time, going all the way back to the Vedic era (1000–800 B.C.). Its rhizomes were used as a bitter tonic to cure epilepsy, stimulant, antispasmodic and to treat hysteria in the traditional Ayurvedic medicinal system. It has a wide range of therapeutic benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antidepressant-like action, anticonvulsant, hypotensive, anti-asthmatic, anti-estrogenic, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antifungal, antibacterial, and anticancer characteristics. Additionally, it functions as a sedative, tranquillizer, hypolipidemic, anti-lipid peroxidative, antioxidant, and anti-oxidant. In addition, it is used to treat a variety of neurological conditions, including insomnia, excitation, epilepsy, neurosis, Alzheimer's disease, and issues with learning and memory. As per various phytochemical studies, esters, phenolic chemicals, and terpenic ketone are the major components present. Due to the frequently observed variations in the types of metabolites in the plant, tremendous medicinal applications can be precisely explored using the database of antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activities, making it a potential candidate for treating oxidative stress and other diseases produced during pathogenic conditions. For the prevention and treatment of a variety of pathological illnesses, as well as the side effects associated with them, the use of plants like N. jatamansi may thereby lessen reliance on synthetic pharmaceuticals.

The Bush Onion (Afrostyrax lepidophyllus) plant is an unconventional tropical West African plant characterized by a strong onion-like aroma. It is a member of the Huaceae family, and its bark is used as food sauces, condiments, spices, and flavorings due to its strong aroma. The seed is used trado-medicinally to treat venereal diseases and gastro-enteric diseases and as a laxative and mouthwash. It also has anticancer, antioxidant, estrogenic and insecticidal properties. These effects have been attributed to its content of phytochemical compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, alkaloids, and anthocyanins. It also contains appreciable concentrations of certain important phytonutrients. Its potential as an affordable nutritive source of non-synthetic constituents can be exploited as a valuable contribution to food and medicine sources, especially in the developing world.

Essential oils are secondary metabolites that are produced by a variety of medicinal plants. These are mostly composed of a blend of terpenic hydrocarbons and oxygenated derivatives like ketones, alcohols, epoxides, aldehydes, and esters. These are insoluble in water but are soluble in ether, alcohol, and fixed oils. The majority of these volatile oils are liquid and colourless at room temperature. The majority of the components found in essential oils are from the terpene family and are concentrated in the cell secretions of specific plants. The chemical makeup and positioning of functional groups on molecules affect the mechanism of action of essential oils. When it comes to their antibacterial activity, essential oils' chemical makeup influences how they work. The content is about several essential oils, such as lavender oil, which has antibacterial and antifungal properties due to its primary ingredients, linalool and βocimene. Both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties can be found in eucalyptus oil, which contains the primary ingredients 1,8 cineole, cryptone, p-cymene, and pinene. Sulphur molecules found in garlic essential oils are effective in preventing cancer. In order to confirm the safety and effectiveness of essential oils, more clinical trials are obligatory. Essential oils possess the ability to be employed as defensive as well as therapeutic agents for a variety of ailments. 

Proteases play an active role in all living organisms. In plants, they exhibit essential roles in various biological processes throughout the life cycle by proteolysis, like cell growth and development, differentiation, seed germination, reproduction, senescence, development of stomata, chloroplast biogenesis, apoptosis, plant resistance, etc. Nowadays, it is a well-known group of enzymes for its industrial and therapeutic values. Plant proteases viz. papain (papaya), bromelain (pineapple), ficin (fig tree), and cucumisin (melon) are well-characterized proteases that have medicinal values for the treatment of upset stomach, diabetic thrombosis, wounds, tumor, asthma, angina, rheumatoid arthritis, bronchitis, sinusitis, etc. In addition, some common Indian spices are found to be good sources of natural proteases, such as Withania coagulans (vegetable rennet), Carum copticum (Ajwain), Syzygium aromaticum(Clove), Cuminum cyminum (Cumin), Nigella sativa (black cumin), Cinnamomum verum (Cinnamon), Foeniculum vulgare (common fennel), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Cinnamomum tamala (Indian Cassia), Curcuma longa (turmeric), etc. which have traditional usage as healing agents in multiple disorders. This chapter highlights the pharmaceutical, industrial and biotechnological aspects of various plant proteases as well as the structure, properties and catalytic mechanisms.