Abstract
In chemotherapy for tuberculosis, leprosy, cancer and stress conditions the immune system are impaired and suppressed. In such situations the effect of adaptogenic phytoconstituents are essential for healthy blood to support optimal oxygen carrying capacity which is important for stamina. The aim of this review is to bring together most of the available scientific research related to adaptogens, those are plant-derived biologically active substances. Adaptogens are the substances that appear to induce a state of non-specific increase of resistance of the organism to diverse assaults that threaten internal homeostasis and improve physical endurance. Supplementation with various plant materials which are the source of vitamins, acids, minerals and other phytoconstituents has been evaluated for their adaptogenic activity during exposure to a stressful environment. This review has been compiled using references from major databases such as Chemical Abstracts, Science Direct, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Abstracts, SciFinder, PubMed, Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases. Nature is a rich source of biological and chemical diversity and a number of plants in the world have been used in traditional medicine remedies. This work constitutes a literature review on medicinal plants with its chemical constituents showing adaptogenic properties. Various medicinal plants with its phytochemical constituentsareshowing adaptogenic properties and it is used during chemotherapy in which the immune system are impaired and suppressed.