title: Pharmacognosy of Enicostemma littorale: a review.
abstract: Traditional medicine system of India comprised varieties of plants which are playing a significant role in curing diseases from ancient times. Among them, Enicostemma littorale blume (E. littorale) a perennial herb of the family Gentianaceae is cosmopolitan in occurrence in India. The bittery natured plant acts as a laxative, helps in curing fever, rheumatism, skin diseases, abdominal disorders, snake bite, obesity and helps to regulate blood sugar levels. The plant constituents have been reported for possessing antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiulcer, antiinflammatory, hypolipidaemic, hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic properties. This review provides a bird's eye view about geographical distribution, physicochemical parameters, phytoconstituents and pharmacological properties of E. littorale.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Thiruvalluvar University, Serkadu, Vellore-632115, Tamilnadu, India.
authors.forename: Rajamani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saranya
authors.forename: Thirunavukkarasu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thirumalai
authors.forename: Munisami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hemalatha
authors.forename: Ranganathan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Balaji
authors.forename: Ernest
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: David
mesh_terms: D029965:Gentianaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D007194:India; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D010598:Pharmacognosy; D063148:Plant Dispersal; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Enicostemma littorale; Folklore; Hypoglycemic; Medicinal plant