Therapeutic use of plant parts as food or medicine at succulent state: an alternative healthcare system for the prevention and treatment of diseases

The disease can be considered as an outcome of factors such as genetics to the overall lifestyle including the food intake habits of the individuals. In contemporary healthcare systems, treatment is possibly given more importance than the prevention of diseases. Therefore, research for concrete diagnosis and drug-based treatment of diseases has formed the two prime ways to explore more effective therapy for diseases. Like edible fruits, the succulent parts of medicinal plants contain the highest number and quantity of effective phytoconstituents that work in conjunction to exert beneficial effects on health. To strengthen the disease-preventive ability and modulation of the body's immune power, along with the inclusion of some beneficial practices in the lifestyle, oral intake of succulent biomedicines could be effective. Some of them could supplement as a part of the daily planned diet and others can be taken to treat specific diseases. This article presents an overview of succulents that can be used to control infectious and lifestyle diseases like diabetes and cancers. With judicious application of the cold chain systems, bio-preservatives can be added, and bio-encapsulated succulent biomedicines, once prepared, can be made available throughout the globe to patients or consumers. This article is also an attempt to present the main features of the novel alternative healthcare system that incorporates the typical use of medicinal plants in light of the perception of modern medicine.