A Phytopharmacological Review on Garcinia indica

Abstract

Medicinal plants are gifts of nature to cure limitless number of diseases among human beings. Various plants have been identified to possess medicinal properties in various parts namely, leaves, fruits, seeds, bark and roots. Among them, Garcinia indica, a small to moderate sized plant belonging to the Clusiaceae family. It is a traditional home remedy in case of flatulence, heat strokes and infections. Many therapeutic effects of the fruit have been described in traditional medicine based on Ayurveda. These include its usefulness as an infusion, in skin ailments such as rashes caused by allergies; treatment of burns, scalds and chaffed skin; to relieve sunstroke; remedy for dysentery and mucous diarrhoea; an appetizer and a good liver tonic; to improve appetite and to allay thirst; as a cardiotonic and for bleeding, piles, dysentery, tumours and heart disease. This plant is also pharmacologically studied for its anti-oxidative, chelating, free radical scavenging, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiulcer activities. The present review has been primed to describe the existing data on the information on traditional, medicinal uses Pharmaceutical applications and Bioactive constituent present in the kokum fruit that will be helpful to create interest towards Garcinia indica and may be useful in developing new formulations with more therapeutic and economical value.