Abstract

Stress is a normal part of everyday life but it is important to be able to use tools for its management otherwise chronic stress, if left untreated, can lead to a variety of stress related illnesses including hypertension, heart disease, anxiety, depression, memory impairment and chronic fatigue syndrome. The aim of this literature review is to summarize and critically analyze research conducted on the adaptogenic herbs. The aim of this review article is to assess the level of scientific evidence presented by the adaptogens from natural origin by different screening methods and to provide a rationale at the molecular level. Strong scientific evidence is available in relation with the molecular mechanisms associated with their stress- protective activity against acute and chronic paradigms. The beneficial stress- protective effect of adaptogens is in relation with regulation of homeostasis via several mechanisms of action associated with the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal axis and the control of key stress mediators and biochemical markers such as nitric oxide (NO), cortisol, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose etc. Good scientific evidence has been documented with active secondary metabolites present in adaptogens.

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