The Journal of Phytopharmacology, 2016;5(1):27-34 DOI:10.31254/phyto.2016.5106

Research Article

Pharmacognostic, physicochemical, phytochemical and pharmacological studies on Careya arborea Roxb.; A review

Hafiz Abdul Khaliq¹

Hafiz Abdul Khaliq

1. Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, Pakistan

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Abstract

Since the birth of humans on this planet, plants have been utilized for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of various ailments. C. arborea belonging to family Lecythidaceae is one the most utilized plants. It is a tree having large sessile yellowish flowers and large green berry type fruits with persistent style and calyx. Traditionally is has been used to treat cough and cold, infertility, jaundice developed after delivery, piles, blood dysentery, scorpion sting, sores in intestine, bed sores, ear pain, snake bite, inflammation, ulcer, spermatorrhoea and wounds in humans and corneal opacity and weakness in animals. Many pharmacological activities of this plant are reported viz. antidiarrhoeal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hypoglycemic, antibacterial, antifungal, antileishmanial, ?-glucosidase inhibitory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, cytotoxic, CNS depressant and anticoagulant. Various phenolic compounds, sterols, terpenes, saponins and tannins have been isolated from this plant. Pharmacognostic studies for its authentication have also been carried out. Hamdard Ghutti® is one of the available polyherbal formulations containing C. arborea. This review provides adequate information about ethnomedicinal uses, general morphology, pharmacognostic and physicochemical parameters, phytoconstituents, pharmacological properties, and available formulations of this plant.