Abstract

ETHNOBOTANICAL, PHYTOCHEMICAL AND IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF MEDICINAL PLANT GARDENIA GUMMIFERA Linn. F. (RUBIACEAE) FROM ATTAPPADY, PALAKKAD DISTRICT, KERALA

S Manorama* and S Sindhu

Abstract

An ethnobotanical survey in Attappady, Palakkad District, Kerala have revealed a wealth of traditional knowledge on medicinal plants and their uses amongst the local healers. The indigenous knowledge of local traditional healers and the native plants used for medicinal purposes were collected through questionnaire and personal interviews during field trips. Phytochemical evaluation of the leaves of Gardenia gummifera, most prominent in the recipes indicated the presence of tannins, flavonoid, alkaloid, flavonoid, quinines, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, terepinoids, phenols, steroids, phytosteroids, fats, gum, mucilage and phytosterol while saponin, carbohydrate, coumarin and proteins were absent. The further investigation of the potentially active constituents of G.gummifera should provide new potential medicines for the phytotherapeutic arsenal.

Keywords: