Herbal Plants for Mental Disorders in Sri Lanka

A mental disorder, also referred to as a psychiatric disorder or mental illness, is characterized by significant disturbances in an individual’s thinking, emotions, or behavior. In Ayurveda, herbal plants are used as alternative therapies for various ailments, including mental disorders. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of herbal medicines used in treating mental disorders in Sri Lanka. It relies on foundational books as primary sources to systematically identify and analyze the therapeutic potential of 24 traditional medicinal plants for treating mental disorders. Each plant was evaluated based on its scientific name, plant parts used, distribution in Sri Lanka, mechanisms of action, and identified phytochemicals. Furthermore, additional research was conducted using keywords such as mental disorders, herbal plants, plant distribution, phytochemicals, side effects, and mechanism of action through scientific databases. The phytochemicals present in these herbal plants possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, contributing to their potential antipsychotic activities. Trigonelline (from Abrus precatorius), bacosides (from Bacopa monnieri), asiaticoside and asiatic acid (from Centella asiatica), quercetin (from Ginkgo biloba), alliin and allicin (from Allium sativum), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (from Eclipta alba), and shogaol (from Zingiber officinale) demonstrate significant potential in modulating neurotransmitter levels, reducing oxidative stress, and alleviating symptoms associated with mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and neurodegenerative diseases. The suggested therapeutic value of these identified herbal plants and their bioactive phytochemicals indicates the need for preserving and extensively investigating these remedies to establish their clinical effectiveness.