Abstract

A PANORAMIC REVIEW OF HOLARRHENA ANTIDYSENTERICA (ROXB. EX FLEM.)WALL. WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NIGHANTUS

Avik Pal* and Sumita Ghosh

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Abstract

Medicinal plants have been used for the benefit of mankind since time immemorial. Various studies have been carried out to verify their efficacy which have led to the discovery of many lifesaving medicines. The global market value of medicinal plant products exceeds $100 billion per annum. Holarrhena Antidysenterica (Roxb. Ex Flem.)Wall. is one such well known plant otherwise known Kutaja or Kurchi. It is a small tree growing wild and gregariously in hilly regions. Its stem bark, leaves, seeds are used traditionally for various medicinal purposes. It has many proven medicinal properties like antidysentric, anthelminthic, anti-diabetic, hypolipidaemic activities. It is used for the treatment of dysentery, diarrhea, bleeding piles, malaria and various other diseases. It is reported to contain various alkaloids, flavonoids which gives it immense medicinal potential. Its uses are mentioned in classical ayurvedic texts and samhitas like Charak Samhita, Susruta Samhita etc and in nighantus like Dhanvantari Nighantu, Raj Nighantu, Madanpal Nighantu, Shaligram Nighantu, Kaiyadeva Nighantu, Bhavprakash Nighantu in great detail. Holarrhena antidysenterica (Roxb. Ex Flem.) Wall. has shown positive results in hyperglycaemia, also as an anti-diarrheal agent, hypolipidaemic agent and anthelminthic agent. This review also quotes various medicinal properties of Kutaja as found in various experimental studies.

Keywords: Samhitas, Nighantus, Anti-diabetic, hypolipidaemic.