There has been considerable interest in free radicals and their control by extracts of medicinal herbs. This article reviews the advances made in this frontier area of research.

Asvagandha (Withania somnifera) is an important antistress drug has now been sown to have an antidepressant action in clinically depressive patients, However, the mechanism of its antidepressant action has not been studied. Normal rats fed with asvagandha root extract (100mg/kg orally) for 4 and 8 weeks showed enhanced open field behavior and emotional stability along with a moderate but significant enhancement in the functional sensitivity of 5 HT2 receptors in the brain and a reciprocal subsensitivity of the 5HT1A receptors chronic asvagandha treatment (propylactically) was effective in preventing the behavioral deficit in open field activity in an animal model of depression. This was accompanied by an adaptive supersensitivity of the postsynaptic 5HT2 receptors in the brain. The effect of chronic Asvagandha on 5HT receptor subtypes is similar to the action of chronic ECT treatment and several antidepressant drugs.

Argwadhadhi Kwatham is a compound preparation of 3 single drugs viz cassia fistula L. Azadirachta indica A., Tinospora cordifolia L. Literature survey show tat all3 ingredients are very effective for skin diseases. Kahayams prepared individually with these 3 drugs was found to be more effective for skin dideases. This paper deals with a comparative study of the chemical constituents present in aragwadhadhi kwatham and the individual kwathams, all the four kwarham were chemically analysed T.L.C. studies were mainly used for the comparative studies.

Different flesh mushrooms grow widely in Meghalaya. Altogether fie edible species were collected and identified which were found abundantly in forest and are known to be consumed by local people for time immemorial, The species identified are lentinus edodes (Berk) Sing., Boletus edulis Bull ex Fr., Clavaria cinerea (Fr.) Schroet, Clavaria aurea (F) Quet and cantharellus floccosus Juss.

Talaka mattirai, Iti vallati meluku, tamibira parpam and Naka centuram of siddha system of medicine were screened for antibacterial activity against S. aureus, S.citreus, S.faecalis B. Subtilis, P.aeruginosa, Coli, S.Boydii, V.cholerae and Klebsiella sp. Talaka matrirai ibihibited the growth of s. faecalis, V.cholerae and B. Subtilis at a concentration of 0.6 mg/ml and 1mg/ml respectively. P.aeruginosa growth was inhibited at a concentration of 0.2mg/ml V. cholerae. at a concentration of 0.6mg/ml and S.boydii at a concentration of 1mg.l by iti vallati meluku. Tambira parpam inhibited the growth of S. faecalis and S. boydii at a concentration of 0.2mg/ml, V.cholerae at a concentration of 0.6mg/ml and S citreus and B. subtilis at a condensation of 1mg/ml there was inhibition of growth of S. citreus and B. subtilis by naka centuram at a concentration of 1mg/ml. Manometric studies revealed the total inhibition of S.boydii by Tambira parpam at a concentration of 1mg/ml while at 0.6mg/ml concentration inhibition was similar to tat of chlroamphenicol (1mg/ml). The antibacterial activity of these medicines was due to ingredients involved in these preparations.

Now-a-days it has become quite common to use modern electric heating devices in the place of conventional ones. A stud was conducted to standardize the temperature for the preparation of Pravala Bhasma by using Electric Muffle furnace (EMF) The details are presented in this article.

Spices are historically known contributions to the world. The credit for identifying the spices with medicinal and culinary values goes to Ayurveda. Saaru or Rasam is a very popular soup used all over southern India. In this paper an attempt has been made to present the ayurvedic rationale behind formulating the receipt of Saaru  or Rasam .

The paper reports the uses of 20 plants against 10 animal diseases in Ganjam district of orissa. Besides, Plants used for milching of cattle are described.

The alkali preparation of the root and fresh leaf juice of Moringa oleifera  possessed significant dose -depen-dent anti-ulcer activity in experimentally induced acute gastric ulcers with aspirin, the anti-ulcer effect of the alkali preparation of the root seems to be more pronounced than that of the fresh leaf juice. Te anti-ulcer activity of the alkali preparation of the root could be due to its content of alkaloids or its anticholinergic and antihistaminic activities, or a combination of these factors.

Filarias is one major health problem in the coastal areas of Orissa including district Bhadrak. Tis article deals with 8 plant species used in native phytotherapy for filariasis in this region with the view to provide clue for further research.

Bacopa Monnieri  (L) penn. Belongs to the family scrophulariaceae is commonly used in Ayurvedic system of medicine to treat various disease. The present stud examines the anti-tumous effect of ethanolic extract of whole plant bacopa monnieri (L) (EEMB) by in vitro short term chemosensitivity and in vivo tumous model test systems. EEBM dose dependently inhibited the proliferation of transformed cell lines significantly. Fifty percent dose on 3 hour exposure to EEBM was 150 μg/ml for Dalton's lymphoma ascites tumour cells (Dla). Oral administration of the EEBM retarded the development of solid tumour and restored the altered hematological parameters near to normal.

Ethnomedical information and Pharmacognostical investigations of Rhaphidophora pertusa  Schott. (Araceae), a lesser known, but promising wild medicinal plant are discussed in the paper.