2019, Vol. 7, Issue 3, Part A

author(s)
Prashith Kekuda TR, Smruthi BS, Saima Banu and Swathi BG

abstract
Plants represent an indispensable need of human life every day. Cochlospermum religiosum (L.) Alston is one among the most important medicinal plants belonging to the family Bixaceae. In this review, we present a comprehensive data available on the ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological activities of C. religiosum. Fruits of C. religiosum are edible. Leaves and shoots are often used as vegetable in some parts of India. Various parts, such as stem bark, root and leaves, of the plant including the gum are traditionally used in several conditions such as cough, bone fracture, ulcer, jaundice, itching, asthma, diarrhea, dysentery, tuberculosis, syphilis, sore throat, gonorrhea, piles, and dandruff. C. religiosum is used as sedative, to enhance face glow and memory. The plant is also widely employed in ethnoveterinary uses. The plant is shown to exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, insecticidal and antioxidant activity. A gum, designated as katira gum (also known as kondagogu gum), obtained from the stem bark of the plant is shown to exhibit various bioactivities including wound healing activity. The gum is also proven to exhibit promising bioremediation property with respect to removal of heavy metals. It is very important to conserve this plant species as the plant is medicinally important and is one of the threatened plant species because of its overexploitation.