Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International

Abstract

Since ancient times human utilized the nature to cure various ailments. The knowledge of medicinal plants resulted in the development of various indigenous systems of medicine worldwide. Serendipitous discovery as well as scientific approach on the reason for medicinal properties of plants gave the knowledge of chemical constituents such as secondary metabolites in plants. Wrightia tinctoria which is commonly known as ‘Danthapala’ is a known potential medicinal plant, the leaves of which is traditionally used in the treatment of psoriasis and non-specific dermatitis in Siddha and Ayurvedic systems of medicine and distributed in tropical region belongs to the family Apocynaceae. This plant is beneficial for the treatment of dandruff, various scalp and skin disorders. Phytochemical and pharmacological investigation on the various parts of the plant showed anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anthelmintic, anti-cancer, anti-dandruff, wound healing and anti-anxiety activity. The current review focus on providing an update on the recent pharmacological and phytochemical investigations on the plant by researchers around the globe with special emphasis on Antisporiatic, Antifungal, Antibacterial, Antiviral, Cytotoxic, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-diabetic, Analgesic, Hepatoprotective, Anthelmintic, and Wound healing activities.