Vol. 3, Issue 1, Part B (2026)

Lifestyle disorders such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and stress-related disorders are now major public health challenges in India and globally. Ayurveda, grounded in rich ethnobotanical traditions, offers a holistic framework for preventing and managing these conditions through plant-based formulations, diet, daily and seasonal regimens, and Rasayana (rejuvenative) therapies. This review synthesizes ethnobotanical documentation and scientific validation of medicinal plants used in Ayurveda and local health traditions for the management of lifestyle disorders.

Ethnobotanical compilations from India indicate that about 800-1300 plant species have been reported as antidiabetic or cardiometabolic in traditional practice. Frequently cited taxa include Tinospora cordifolia, Momordica charantia, Syzygium cumini, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Azadirachta indica, Phyllanthus emblica and Gymnema sylvestre, widely used in both classical Ayurvedic formulations and community remedies. Recent ethnobotanical surveys in India and neighbouring countries continue to document new uses and under-reported species for diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Pharmacological studies demonstrate hypoglycaemic, hypolipidaemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic properties for many of these plants, particularly T. cordifolia, M. charantia, W. somnifera, P. emblica and C. wightii. Clinical trials and systematic reviews show that standardized extracts and polyherbal formulations can improve glycaemic control, lipid profiles, anthropometric parameters and stress indices, with generally acceptable short-term safety. However, limitations include small sample sizes, short duration, heterogeneity of preparations, and limited long-term safety and pharmacovigilance data.

This article (i) reviews the ethnobotanical foundations of Ayurvedic management of lifestyle disorders, (ii) summarizes key plant species and their pharmacological evidence, (iii) collates clinical evidence for selected single herbs and polyherbal formulations, and (iv) proposes a framework for integrating ethnobotanical documentation, reverse pharmacology and rigorous clinical trials. Strengthening documentation, community participation, and scientific validation can help transform traditional knowledge into culturally rooted, evidence-based strategies for combating lifestyle disorders.