Pharmacognostical aspects of Pergularia daemia Leaves

Abstract

Plant and plant products are being used as a source of medicine since long. In fact the many of currently available drugs were derived either directly or indirectly from them. The Pergularia daemia has been traditionally used as anthelmintic, laxative, antipyretic, expectorant and also used to treat malarial intermittent fevers. In the past decade, research has been focused on scientific evaluation of traditional drugs of plant origin for the treatment. Pergularia daemia is a slender, hispid, fetid-smelling perennial climber, which is used in several traditional medicines to cure various diseases. Phytochemically the plant has been investigated for cardenolides, alkaloids, saponins, tannins and flavonoids. This review is a sincere attempt to summarize the information concerning pharmacognostical features of Pergularia daemia.