A Review A Review on Pharmacognostic and Therapeutic Uses of Rubia cordifolia

Abstract

In today’s time research on plants has increased globally. There are thousands of plant species having good potential offering direct therapeutic effect individually or in combinations. Manjith a herbal drug also known as Indian madder with its botanical name Rubia cordifolia is an age old ethno-medicinal plant in India used as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-bacterial, anti-androgenic, immune-modulator, hepato-protective, astringent, tonic, antiseptic, de-obstruent, anti-dysenteric and efficient blood purifier, hence is extensively used against blood, skin and urinary diseases. This study is aimed at assessing the scientific evaluation of desi Rubia cordifolia in the course of pharmacognostical analysis to identify its various parts and to differentiate it from various adulterants, which mainly covers the macroscopic and microscopic features and its medicinal properties which are due to its richness in phytoconstituents such as quinines (anthraquinones), glycosides, saponins, tanins, alkaloids, hexapeptides, triterpenoids, steroids, phenols, and saccharids. Keywords: Rubia cordifolia, Manjith, Fooh, ethno medicinal plant, Unani, pharmacological study