Abstract

AN OVERVIEW OF THE RELIGIOUS AND MEDICINAL TREE- FICUS RELIGIOSA

Priyanka Shukla* and Prof. Dr. Shashank Tiwari

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Abstract

Herbs have traditionally been the major mode of treatment in India. Medicinal plants serve an important part in improving people's health. Since ancient times, lots of medicinal plants have been used in the management of various disease. Ficus religiosa is also called by common name that is Peepal and it has a unique place among all medicinally used plants. Nearly each part of this plant like leaves, bark, seeds and fruits are employed in the formulation of herbal medicinal products. This is a big evergreen tree which is also named as the Bodhi vraksha, that is commonly planted near temples or religious places. Ficus religiosa (Bo tree) is the most needed member of the Ficus species, which belongs to the family moraceae. It has been commonly used in the treatment of many diseases like contipation, dysentery, skindiseases, heart disease s, and snakebite since ancient times. But this knowledge is still dispersed and incomplete. Various plant parts such as bark, fruit, leaves and seeds are commonly used in indigenous medicine system. According to Ayurveda, F. Religiosa is most familiar herbal tree which is used in the management of diabetes. Since last few years it has also been studied for identifying the presence of some phytoconstituents (like phenolics, sterols, flavonoids etc). F. religiosa exhibit many pharmacological activities i.e. anticonvulsant, antidiabetic, analgesic, wound-healing, antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase, proteolytic, anti-amnesic and many more. The purpose of current review is to produce a detailed literature survey on traditional uses and pharmacological properties of ficus religiosa.

Keywords: Ficus Religiosa, Religion, Extract, Peepal, Disease, Evergreen.