Abstract

PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON LEAVES OF CARDIOSPERMUM HELICACABUM, LINN.

Dr. CH. Dayakar, Dr. G. Nagaraju* and G. Sirisha

ABSTRACT

India is perhaps the largest producer of medicinal herbs and is rightly called the ‘Botanical garden of the world’. Medicinal herbs have been in use for thousands of years in one form or other in the Indigenous system of medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani. The medical treatment using plants is date back to ancient times of Charaka and Sushruta has always been preserved in the popular medicines. Among the 19 lakhs of varieties of the vegetable kingdom, 3300 varieties are marked for medicinal purposes that are scientifically grouped under six main species, capable of yielding six varieties of tastes. Herbal medicine relies on active plant chemicals with biological properties. Many conventional medicines are synthetic compounds designed to mimic the action of plant chemicals. For instance, the heart medication digoxin is derived from the foxglove plant. In herbal medicine, active chemicals are extracted from the plant parts (stems, seeds, roots, or leaves) that are the richest sources. The active chemicals can be quantitatively measured and prepared in the form of capsules, tinctures, teas, tonics, oils, or poultices. Aromatic herbs such as lavender can also benefit the immune system when used topically or as healing oils.

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