Abstract

NUTRACEUTICAL POTENTIAL OF SPICES IN UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THEIR ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY

M. Nafees Khan*, M. Naime, Mumtaz Ahmad, Jamal Akhtar and M. A. Khan

Abstract

Spices have been used for culinary, medicinal, cosmetics and spiritual purposes for centuries. Due to their health effects spices have been used for a long time in several Unani formulations to treat various diseases. Spices are rich source of phytochemicals, many of which are biologically active with their antioxidant effects. Because of their good antioxidant activity, they have also been used to treat some ailments. Antioxidants are substances that prevent oxidation of other compounds or neutralize free radicals. In this review article, we have presented therapeutic uses, chemical constituents, important Unani formulations with therapeutic indications, pharmacological activity as well as nutraceutical potential of some important spices which are frequently used in Unani system of medicine.

Keywords: Spices, Nutraceutical, Antioxidant activity.