FLEMINGIA STROBILIFERA: REVIEW ON PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND PHARMACOLOGICAL ASPECTS

ABSTRACT

                The genus Flemingia (family Leguminosae) comprises over fourty species in the world. In India, this genus is represented by fifteen species, including Flemingia strobilifera. Flemingia strobilifera (R.Br.), an important medicinal plant, is commonly known as Kusrunt and is found in Sind, Rajputana, Bengal, South India and Andamans. Several plants of this genus have been used in folk medicine to treat fever, diarrhoea, indigestion and as vermifuge. The plants are reported to possess antimicrobial, antifungal, anthelmintic, anticancer, anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-histamine activities. Previous chemical studies showed that flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides, chalcones, epoxychromenes and pterocarpans were the main constituents found in this genus. This review article includes the detailed exploration of the morphology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological aspects of Flemingia strobilifera in an attempt to provide a direction for further research.

Key words: Flemingia strobilifera, Flavonoids, Pterocarpans, Anthelmintic, Anti-inflammatory.