ABSTRACT
Nature is a source of various medicinal plants that help us to maintain a disease-free healthy lifestyle. For centuries, phytochemicals harvested from such medicinal plants have been used to heal multiple ailments. Panax quinquefolium L. (American Ginseng), mainly found in North America, contains ginsenosides of glycoside group as active compounds. It improves the cognitive function of Alzheimer’s disease, displays anxiolytic activity, and protects against various neuronal damages. It helps to restore insulin sensitivity and suppress adipose tissue formation to protect against diabetes and obesity. Inherent anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial properties make them widely applicable in herbal medicinal research. Physostigma venenosum (Calabar bean), an African plant contains physostigmine alkaloid, which acts as a nonselective reversible acetylcholine esterase inhibitor. It increases the concentration of acetylcholine at synaptic muscarinic or nicotinic receptors by suppressing acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity. It improves the cognitive impairment and memory function in Alzheimer’s disease and effectively counteracts anticholinergic drug overdose. By reducing intraocular pressure, it is capable of checking glaucoma progression and improves eye health. Overall, in this chapter the potential benefits and uses of P. quinquefolium and P. venenosum have been thoroughly discussed, providing references to studies that have been done utilizing these plants.
