Anti-Obesity Siddha Medicinal Plants-A Preclinical Review

Obesity is a complex multi factorial preventable disease affecting all age groups of both the sexes. Now one third of world’s population is overweight or obese. From 1980 the world-wide prevalence of obesity has become doubled. Overweight and obesity were the 5th foremost causes of death globally. Obesity is associated with many co morbid diseases. Prevalence of obesity with co morbidities is on big alarm throughout the world. Recently in COVID-19 pandemic most of the obese people get affected due to the co morbidities and reduced immunity. The anti-obesity properties of medicinal plants were known from ancient times in traditional Siddha medicine some thousand years ago. Many Siddha medicinal plants showed anti-obesity activities that can be utilized in the management of obesity, through which the complications of obesity can be prevented. Most researches explored the anti-obesity potentials of medicinal plants. Terminalia chebula, Phyllanthus niruri, zingiber officinale, Piper longum, Curcuma longa, Elettaria cardamomum, Cuminum cyminum, Picrorhiza kurroa, Ipomea turpethum, Tinospora cordifolia, Michelia champaka are some medicinal plants possess anti-obesity properties that had been indicated in Siddha classical text. The objective of this review is to validate the anti-obesity potentials of Siddha medicinal plants scientifically through various research reports. Due to the presence of Phyto compounds like phenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, anti-oxidants these medicinal plants revealed anti-obesity activities and its anti-obesity mechanism had been proven scientifically through various animal experimental studies collected from many research articles. Modern anti-obesity drugs produce numerous side effects. Regular consumption of Siddha anti-obesity medicinal plants, in the prescribed dose and duration, can induce gradual and sustainable weight loss effectively. Furthermore, in future, there is a need for the development of standardized, safe and effective anti-obesity drugs from medicinal plants and highly economical too. Hence eventually exploration of anti-obesity Siddha medicinal plants will lead to safe and effective treatment for obesity.

Using digital games in virtual classrooms to make attitudinal learning motivating and engaging

The COVID-19 global pandemic has made it difficult for schools to conduct in-person learning, pushing educators to think innovatively to create digital classrooms and engage K-12 learners. This chapter will provide best practices and pedagogical reasoning into the use of digital game-based learning (DGBL) for attitudinal instruction in virtual classrooms of middle and high school students. When it comes to teaching socio-scientific topics, providing cognitive knowledge is not the only goal of education. Young learners need to develop appropriate attitudes and behaviors to ensure the holistic development of their personality. This is where DGBL has been found to be an effective instructional activity. Although the focus of this chapter is on using DGBL in environmental sustainability education, it provides implications that are applicable to other socio-scientific topics as well. © 2021, IGI Global.