Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants Grown in the Bundelkhand Region of India for Addressing Severe Non-communicable Diseases

Abstract

Herbal Medicines (HMs) have experienced exponential development in the past few years. Consequently, their natural origins and minimal side effects, the popularity of these medications is gradually growing across the globe. Ancient text Rigveda has well documented the remedial application of medicinal herbs for the management of a spectrum of disorders. Phytometabolites derived from plants are rich in bioactive agents, crucial in regulating dysfunctional biochemical pathways that arise due various diseases. Fortunately, India is recognized for its vast reserves of herbal medicinal flora and has been considered the world's significant region regarding phytomedicinal diversity. The cultivation of an array of Herbal Plants (HPs) amid the hot and arid territory of Bundelkhand has made it the epicenter of biodiversity and played a crucial role in the region's agricultural economy. Urbanization and lifestyle shifts have become defining characteristics of modern society, driving both economic growth and health challenges. Among the most pressing of these health challenges are Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), which account for approximately 74%of deaths worldwide, amounting to nearly 41 million deaths annually (No communicable Diseases). The review delves into the variety of medicinal herbs cultivated in the Bundelkhand area, highlighting their potential to prevent non-communicable diseases.