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Ethnomedicinal value of Pterocarpus santalinus (Linn. f.), a Fabaceae member

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Abstract

Pterocarpus santalinus (Linn. f.) is a small to medium sized deciduous tree, which belongs to the family Fabaceae. It is widely distributed in the tropical regions of the world. The plant has significant importance in traditional medicine for its ethnomedicinal value. The plant is mainly used to cure the skin ailments, oral diseases, cough, pyrexia, diarrhoea, dysentery, hyper nervous activity and also used as a potent anti-hemorrhagic, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer and hepatoprotective agent. Phytochemical investigations have revealed that P. santalinus contains triterpenes, flavones, coumarins, tannins, phenolic acids, polysterols and essential oils. The active constituents of P. santalinus include alpha and beta santalol, Cedrol, pterocarpol, isopterocarpol, santalin A, B, pterocarpin, cryptomeridiol and santalin. The plant can be investigated for pharmacological activities as it has high medicinal value. The review discusses the antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxicity and hepatoprotective activity of P. santalinus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Studies in Microbiology, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore, 570006, Karnataka, India

    Kavitha Keshava Navada & Ravishankar Rai Vittal

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  1. Kavitha Keshava Navada
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  2. Ravishankar Rai Vittal
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Correspondence to Ravishankar Rai Vittal.

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Navada, K.K., Vittal, R.R. Ethnomedicinal value of Pterocarpus santalinus (Linn. f.), a Fabaceae member. Orient Pharm Exp Med 14, 313–317 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-014-0168-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13596-014-0168-0

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