Traditional Herbal Therapy for the Human Immune System

Azamal Husen, Azamal Husen

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9781000461015
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Médecine
• Subtopic: Nutrition, diététique et bariatrie

Drawing on indigenous and scientific knowledge of medicinal plants, Traditional Herbal Therapy for the Human Immune System presents the protective and therapeutic potential of plant-based drinks, supplements, nutraceuticals, synergy food, superfoods, and other products. Medicinal plants and their products can affect the immune system and act as immunomodulators.

Medicinal plants are popularly used in folk medicine to accelerate the human immune defence and improve body reactions against infectious or exogenous injuries, as well as to suppress the abnormal immune response occurring in immune disorders. This book explains how medicinal plants can act as a source of vitamins and improve body functions such as enhanced oxygen circulation, maintained blood pressure and improved mood. It also outlines how specific properties of certain plants can help boost the immune system of humans with cancer, HIV, and COVID-19.

Key features:

• Provides specific information on how to accelerate and or fortify the human immune system by using medicinal plants.
• Presents scientific understanding of herbs, shrubs, climbers and trees and their potential uses in conventional and herbal medicine systems.
• Discusses the specific role of herbal plants that act as antiviral and antibacterial agents and offer boosted immunity for cancer, H1N1 virus, relieving swine flu, HIV and COVID-19 patients.

Part of the Exploring Medicinal Plants series, this book is useful for researchers and students, as well as policy makers and people working in industry, who have an interest in plant-derived medications.

1 Plant-based Potential Nutraceuticals for Improving the Human Immune System

Azamal Husen and Muhammad Iqbal

DOI: 10.1201/9781003137955-1

Contents

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Immunomodulatory Phytochemicals and Associated Responses

1.3 Synergistic Effect of Herbal and Other Plant Products

1.4 Conclusion

References

1.1 Introduction

Our immune system uses our body’s own defence mechanisms to guard against damage, disease, and infections. Composed of various tissues, cells, and proteins, the immune system is a highly complex and multifaceted system, forming an intricate network of cells and proteins that moves throughout the human body via the lymph stream and blood stream. A healthy immune system is able to distinguish between body cells (self) and foreign materials (non-self), eliminating the latter. It can also recognize and destroy abnormal cells derived from host tissues. In an autoimmune reaction, however, antibodies and immune cells target the body’s own healthy tissues by mistake, signalling the body to attack them (Terrie, 2017). Undernourishment or deficiency of zinc, selenium, iron, copper, or vitamins A, C, E, B₆, or B₉ (folic acid) significantly influence immune system responses. On the other hand, overeating and being overweight or obese may also hamper the immune response. Moreover, chronic stress, lack of sleep, specific medical conditions, prolonged use of corticosteroids or immunosuppressive agents, or immune-mediated diseases damage our immune system (Terrie, 2017). Immunity decreases and morbidity increases with increasing age due to deficiencies of vitamins C, D, E, B₆, B₉, and elements such as zinc, and/or selenium. (Ritz et al., 2009). Use of vitamin D supplements strengthens the physical barrier against viruses, stimulates production of antimicrobial peptides, and attenuates formation of inflammatory cytokines, whereas selenium improves the function of cytotoxic effector cells and helps in maintaining T-cell functions and the production of T-cell-dependent antibodies. Vitamin C enhances production of antiviral cytokines and free radicals, thus reducing the virus yield, and also inhibits excessive inflammatory responses and/or hyperactivation of immune cells (Bae and Kim, 2020). Use of nutraceuticals supports restoration of the immune system, particularly in the elderly.

Immunomodulators influence the immune system efficiently. These agents strengthen the immune defences, improve the body’s reaction against microbial infections and/or injuries, and suppress irregular immune responses. Nutraceuticals (chemicals from food with health benefits in excess of their nutritional value) are bioactive compounds naturally present in foods, dietary supplements, and plant products/extracts, which have acknowledged potential health applications (Figure 1.1). They play a vital role in maintaining a healthy body by providing necessary supplements required for various metabolic processes in order to regulate bodily functions. Herbs or herbal products may not act as precisely as antibiotics but have proven to be antibacterial (even antiviral) by boosting our body’s own defence mechanisms (Nasri et al., 2014; Chanda et al., 2019). Nutraceuticals obtained from plants act as the probable immunomodulating agents in such products. Phytochemicals (flavonoids, folate, polyamines, alkaloids, terpenoids, etc.) and other, essential nutrients (mainly carbohydrates, proteins, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins) play an important role in maintaining a balance between health and disease (Parveen et al., 2020b). Thus, nutrition is a crucial factor in modulating immune homoeostasis. Protein–energy malnutrition or even subclinical deficiencies of a single micronutrient may impair immune responses (Bhaskaram, 2001). Calder et al. (2020) elucidated the significance of optimal nutritional status to resist against viral infections, asserting the roles of vitamins (such as A, B₆, B₁₂, C, D, E, and folate), trace elements (such as zinc, iron, selenium, magnesium, and copper) and the omega-3 fatty acids (such as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) in supporting the immune system. Vitamins A and D have a potential benefit, especially in vitamin-deficient populations, while the micronutrients selenium and zinc give favourable immunomodulatory effects during viral respiratory infections, and many nutraceuticals and probiotics facilitate immune functions (Jayawardena et al., 2020). While proposing nutritional strategies to reduce damage to lungs from coronavirus and other infections, Wu and Zha (2020) asserted that the most promising, fact-acting treatments are herbal formulations, which probably address lung, heart, liver, and kidney functions simultaneously. Rathaur et al. (2020) and Parveen et al. (2020a, 2020b) have described the usefulness of single and compound herbal drugs used in the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of Indian medicine, respectively.

FIGURE 1.1 Various potential applications of nutraceuticals.

Various food components have the ability to modulate cellular processes and stimulate the immune system. For instance, peppermint (Mentha × piperita) and oils obtained from this plant are used as antispasmodic, aromatic, and antiseptic agents and are used for treating cancers, colds, cramps, indigestion, nausea, sore throat, and toothaches (Briggs, 1993). Yellow turmeric powder, a product of Curcuma longa, is very active against a range of bacteria, fungi, and viruses, as well as parasites (Moghadamtousi et al., 2014; Prasad and Tyagi, 2015). Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng) is used as a tonic, is known to promote immunity (Kang and Min, 2012), and has protective effects for the treatment of neurological disorders (Ong et al., 2015). Astragalus membranaceus (commonly known as Mongolian milkvetch) is rich in polysaccharides, flavonoids, and saponins (Auyeung et al., 2016), and exhibits powerful immunity-enhancing, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, and anticancer activities (Zhao et al., 1990; Auyeung et al., 2016; Wu et al., 2017). The most common and widely used herbal plants, such Allium sativum (garlic), Allium cepa (onion), and Zingiber officinale (ginger), are the basis of all healing herbal products, and can be categorized as food and spice, as well as medicine. In many remote areas, various plants and their products are used as ethnomedicines for treatment of all physical ailments of the local populations (Anis and Iqbal, 1994; Anis et al., 2000; Beigh et al., 2014). We intend to briefly d...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title
• Series
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• About the Editor
• Contributors
• Disclaimer
• Chapter 1 Plant-based Potential Nutraceuticals for Improving the Human Immune System
• Chapter 2 Antibacterial Properties of Medicinal Plants: Recent Trends, Progress, and Challenges
• Chapter 3 Antiviral Activity of Medicinal Plants: Current Understanding, Prospects, and Challenges
• Chapter 4 Conventional Medicinal Plants: Boosting the Immune System in Humans
• Chapter 5 Medicinal Plants for Strong Immune System and Traditional Skin Therapy in South Africa: An Overview
• Chapter 6 Traditional African Medicinal Plants for a Strong Immune System
• Chapter 7 Traditional Brazilian Medicinal Plants for a Strong Immune System
• Chapter 8 Traditional Himalayan Plants: Nature’s Gift for Maintaining a Strong Immune System
• Chapter 9 Traditional South Indian Herbal Plants for a Strong Immune System
• Chapter 10 Sacred Medicinal Plants and their Use by Indigenous People for Strengthening the Immune System
• Chapter 11 Molecular Features of Potential Herbal Products in Enhancing Human Immune System
• Chapter 12 Specific Plant Nutrients and Vitamins that Fortify Human Immune System
• Chapter 13 Role of Specific Spices in Fortifying the Human Immune System
• Chapter 14 Specific Fruits and Berries for a Strong Human Immune System
• Chapter 15 Natural Immunity Boosters and Anticancer Medicinal Plants
• Chapter 16 Potential of Medicinal Plants as Immunity Booster against COVID-19
• Index