ETHNOBOTANY, PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGY OF MELOCHIA CORCHORIFOLIA L.

Abstract

Plant profile, vernacular names, folk medicinal uses, ethno botany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of an important medicinal plant Melochia corchorifolia L. belonging to the family Sterculiaceae are reviewed in this paper. Triterpenes, flavonol glycosides, alkaloids melochinine, franganine and melochironine have been reported from the plant. Plant extract showed hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antibacterial and anthelmintic activities.