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Abstract: Carissa Carandas Linn. (Karaunda) is a
widely used medicinal plant by tribals throughout India
and popular in various indigenous system of medicine
like Ayurveda, Unani and Homoeopathy. All parts of the
plant are used in traditional medicine. Traditionally
the plant has been used in the treatment of scabies,
intestinal worms, pruritus, biliousness and also used as
antiscorbutic, anthelmintic. The notable biological
activities reported are analgesic, anti inflammatory,
anti pyretic, cardiotonic and histamine releasing. The
plant is also an alternative source of oil, hydrocarbon
and phytochemicals. This review presents a detailed
survey of the literature on phytochemistry, traditional
and biologically evaluated medicinal uses of C. carandas.
Introduction
Medicinal plants are a major source of biodynamic
compounds of therapeutic values and are basis of many
traditional medicines throughout the world for thousands
of years. Herbal medicine is still the mainstay of about
75–80% of the world population, mainly in the developing
countries for primary healthcare not because they are
inexpensive but also for better cultural acceptability,
better compatibility with the human body and minimal
side effects. However among the estimated
250,000-400,000 plants species, only 6% have been
studied for biological activity and about15% have been
investigated phytochemically.
Owing to the global trend towards improved ‘quality of
life’, there is great demand for medicinal plants in the
developing world for treating various ailments of both
man and animals. Herbal medicine is an old practice as
man himself. These plants are widely used by all
sections of the society whether directly as folk
remedies or indirectly as pharmaceutical preparation of
modern medicine. In recent times, focus on plant
research has increased all over the world and a large
body of evidence has been collected to show immense
potential of medicinal plants used in various
traditional systems (Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani).
Medicinal plants are assuming greater importance in the
primary health care of individuals and communities in
many developing countries. Therefore it seems necessary
to evaluate the herbs properly.
General information
The plant C. carandas (Apocynaceae)7 is an evergreen
shrub or small crooked tree up to 3 m in tall with
dichotomous branches armed with simple or forked, 2-4 cm
long, paired axillary thorns. Bark is yellowish brown,
peeling in square flakes. Leaves are short-petiole,
light green, leathery glabrous and shining on surfaces,
obovate, elliptic or oblong, 3-7 cm long and 1.5-4 cm
wide apex obtuse, base rounded faintly scented flowers
in lax cymes. Fruits (berries) ellipsoid, up to 2 cm
long, red turning dark purple when ripe, normally 8
seeded, flowers between March and February in central
India. C. carandas traditionally has been used as
stomachic, antidiarrheal and anthelmintic; stem used to
strengthen tendons; fruits used in skin infections and
leaves are remedy for fevers, earache and syphilitic
pain. Alcoholic extract of root material was found to
decrease blood pressure and aqueous extract of root has
reported various pharmacological activities including
histamine releasing, anthelmintic, sapsmolytic and
cardiotonic. Fruits has also been studied its analgesic,
anti-inflammatory and lipase1 activity. Carisone &
carindone, carinol, lignin, oderosideH and
2-acetylphenol reported from root material. The leaves
were reported to have triterpene, tannins and carissic
acid. Fruits of this plant were reported to contain a
mixture of volatile principles like 2-phenyl ethanol,
linalool, β- caryophyllene, isoamyl alcohol and benzyl
acetate and a novel (Carissol) triterpenic alcohol. The
aim of present review is to highlight the traditional
uses, phytochemical and pharmacological investigations
carried out on the plant, to explain the multifaceted
role of this medicinal plant.
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