In 1500 B. C. Hippocrates, a Greek physician, prescribed leaves and bark from willow tree to relieve fever and pain. In 200 B.C, native people of North America learn to make salicylate pain remedies from birch bark. . Researchers in the last century identified and isolated Salicin, a glycoside as active principle. From Salicin, Salicylic acid and finally Acetylsalicylic acid were synthesized.
Folk medicine describes a drug Ati-bala [confirmed to be Sida rhombodifolia] to be most powerful immnunomodulator and modern investigations prove that the drug, stimulates phagocytosis, acts as anticomplementary agent, immune stimulant and hypoglycemic. According to the latest development the drug has been found to be effective in enhancing immunity in AIDS patients.Plaunotol isolated from Croton sublyratus is a potent ulcer-healing agent. A number of plant derivatives have shown anti-Aids activity. Ancistrocladus korupensis (michellamine-b), Caulophyllum langigerum (calanolide), Caulophyllum teymani (costatolide), Homalanthus nutans (prostratin), Conospermum species (concurvone) are the medicinal herbs from African countries find application in research for exploring a suitable cure for Aids. All these drugs are derived from African folklore.
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