Indian Medicinal Plants for regulating thyroid hormones related disorders

Profound impact on health and well being may be because of any dysfunction of the thyroid gland. Thyroid gland is an important endocrine gland playing vital role in physiology of almost all human body functions. Thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3’-triiodothyronine (T3) are two main thyroid hormones involved in the regulation of myriad functions of the body. Dysfunction of thyroid glands leads to changes in weight body, oxidative stress, imbalances in lipid and glucose metabolism. Thyroid disorders if untreated may develop serious health complications. Conventional medical treatments for management of thyroid disorders have several limitations. The incidence of thyroid disorders is high in India and it represents a major portion of endocrine disorders. The factors such as sex, age, ethnic and geographical factors and iodine intake in particular have influence on the prevalence and pattern of thyroid disorders. Herbal remedies can be used for management of thyroid dysfunction. A comprehensive account of pharmacological properties of twenty Indian medicinal plants for exploring their immense potential in regulating hyper/hypothyroidism have been reviewed in the present article. This information could be further utilized for clinical evaluation and toxicity studies. Additionally, scientific validation of the reported properties of the listed plants could provide remedies for thyroid hormones related various disorders which could be helpful for the mankind in the management of various ailments.