Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Compounds and activities: The extracts of this plant species have been reported
to possess antimicrobial, antimalarial, antihelmintic, antidermatophytic,
antidiabetic, antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inlammatory activities. The
bioactive compounds isolated from the roots of this species include alkanes,
lavonoids, sterols, stigmasta-4, 22-dien-3-one, stigmasterol, stigmasteryl
stearate, and palmitic acid. Larvicidal activities against the larvae of
Culex
using crude (1) and chloroform (2) extracts of this species showed LC
50
values of 159.50 µg/ml for 1 and 0.909 µg/ml for 2. The values of percent-
ages of mortality at 40 µg/ml of extract were 16.67% (1) and 90.0% (2)
(Mukhtar et
al., 2004). This plant species also has several therapeutic func-
tions. While the entire plant is antiseptic, antitubercular, and antidysenteric,
its root extracts are emollient, laxative, and diuretic. Its leaf extracts also
possess demulcent, refrigerant, diuretic, and antihyperglycemic functions.
In traditional medicines, this plant has been used as a therapeutic agent in
the treatment of lu and ulcerative conditions of the mouth and tongue.
