Medicinal uses of spices used in our traditional culture: World wide

Abstract

From older times, spices had played a vital role in the lifestyle of people from certain parts of the world. Herbs and spices have been used for generations by humans as food and to treat ailments. Bio-molecules in the plants play a crucial role in health maintenance and promotion. They have served numerous roles through history, including as coloring agents, flavoring agents, preservatives, food additives and medicine. The active photochemical derived from these spices have provided the molecular basis for these actions. There are several medicinal uses of spices in our daily life, many spices are used in kitchen and have certain medicinal activity like purgative, laxative, expectorant, carminative, diuretic etc. Since ancient time and till today spices are used for many purposes medicinally. Spices such as turmeric, fenugreek, mustard, ginger, onion and garlic have a wide variety of bio functions and their additive or synergistic actions are likely to protect the human body against a variety of insults. Traditionally spices, as part of the diets, have holistic effects on human health.