THE MEDICAL USES OF COCCINIA GRANDIS L. VOIGT: A REVIEW
AbstractCoccinia grandis Linn. Voigt, also known as Coccinia indica belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae. It is extensively used in traditional medicine for the treatment of leprosy, jaundice, asthma, bronchitis, skin eruptions, burns, tongue sores, earache, indigestion, eye infections, nausea, insect bites, and fever. Phytochemical studies reveal the presence of phenols, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids, arabinose, xylose, mannose, galactose, glucose and rhamnose. Studies on the plant extract particularly the leaf extract shows that it possesses antihyperglycemic, xanthine oxidase inhibitory, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic, antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, antimicrobial, anti-hepatotoxic and anti-insecticidal activities. Among these, the plant’s activity against diabetes has been extensively investigated. Current studies on its antioxidant activity reveal its potential in cancer therapy. The plant leaf extract also shows significant activity chemoprotective effect against cyclophosphamide, commonly used in the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. A review of the various studies on the plant is provided to understand its medicinal properties.
Article Information
1
681-690
572
1754
English
IJP
A. Ramachandran, R. Prasath and A. Anand *
Department of Biotechnology, Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering, Kerala, India.
anjana_anand87@yahoo.com
29 March 2014
21 October 2014
29 October 2014
http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.IJP.1(11).681-90
01 November 2014