ABSTRACT
Indian spices are not only flavor enhancers and preservatives but have been traditionally known to be disease-preventive food ingredients. As more research related to the adverse effects of synthetic drugs emerged, the medical community’s focus has shifted towards the exploration of active pharmaceutical compounds in ancient herbs and spices. In the current pandemic situation of COVID-19, the efficacy of these spices has been revisited as immunity boosters, and their action against several microbial diseases is further investigated using in vivo, in vitro, and in silico studies. These spices have also been recognized as official drug ingredients in many other countries, such as China and the United States. Major spices such as turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, mustard, pepper, chili, clove, asafoetida, coriander, and fenugreek have been widely examined for their pharmaceutical applications. These include antidiabetic, antihypercholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer applications. The antimicrobial property of most of these spices is well established. Thus, this chapter reviews the medicinal properties of some well-known Indian spices and their potential applications as active pharmaceutical compounds.
