Future perspectives of Therapeutic Claims of an Ethnopharmacological Drug Ipomoea carnea Jacq. - A Critical Review

Abstract

Ipomoea carnea Jacq is an ethnopharmacological drug used for various indications by healers. As the herbal medicines are becoming endangered, ethanopharmacological drug can be used efficiently as they are available abundantly. The aim of this article is to highlight the therapeutic uses of Ipomoea carnea and to stress the use of ethanopharmacological drug vividly in the treatment. Materials and Methods: The data was located from books including ethnopharmacological drugs, Indian flora, traditional medicine and articles in various journals out of which only the data related to Identification of the species, pharmacological researches, therapeutic and other uses of Ipomoea carnea Jacq was selected. The data was segregated, edited, consolidated and reviewed critically to explore the therapeutic potential of the drug. Result: Phytochemical, invivo and invitro pharmacological studies indicate the therapeutic potential of Ipomoea carnea but there is scarcity of clinical evidences to prove their efficacy and safety in human beings. Discussion and Conclusion: Ipomoea carnea has significant pharmacological and therapeutical value. Though it is used as folk medicine, no clinical study has been conducted to evaluate the efficacy or to evaluate the toxic potential of Ipomoea carnea leaves, seeds or any other part.