Medicinal uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological profile of Madhuca longifolia

Abstract

Madhuca longifolia is also called Mahua or butternut tree, belonging to sapotaceae family. It is about 17m in height. Madhuca longifolia is an evergreen tree. It is mostly found in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. It is gifted with many chemical ingredients which are responsible for various medicinal properties. It consists of terpenoids, proteins, starch, anthraquinone glycosides, phenolic compounds, mucilage, cardiac glycosides, tannins and saponins. Leaves are also contained quercetin -carotene, erthrodiol, palmitic acid, myricetin, 3-O-arabionoside, 3-O-L-rhamnoside, quercitin, , β 3-galactoside, xanthophylls. The timber is used in construction of houses, cartwheels, doors. It is a good source for nitrogen fixation. Various parts of the tree are used as fodder for cattles, as fertilizer as intercrop. Leaves of mahua are used in the treatment of eczema, wound healing, antiburns, bone fracture, anthelminthic, emollient, skin disease, rheumatism and headache. The flowers are utilized as tonic, analgesic and diuretic; bark for rheumatism, chronic bronchitis and diabetes mellitus and leaves as expectorant and for chronic bronchitis and Cushing's disease. In this review we make a compilation focused on the synonyms, botanical description, phytochemicals, pharmacological activity and medicinal uses of Mahua