Abstract

Dr. Ritoo Vishwakarma*, Dr. Jitendra Pandagre, Dr. Mahendra Dasondhi and Dr. Mahendra Raghuwanshi

ABSTRACT

Ayurveda, a medicinal plant based traditional Indian Medicine system plays an important role in health care today to world population as an alternative and contemporary medicine. India is known as the "Emporium of Medicinal plants" due to abundance of several thousands of medicinal plants in the different bioclimatic zones. Martynia diandra, locally known as “Vinchchuda” (English name - “Devil’s claw”), Family- Martyniaceae, has a diverse pharmacological and phytochemical properties. Martynia diandra Glox., is a small herbaceous annual medicinal plant, a native of Mexico, however, found throughout India. In Ayurveda, Martynia diandra Glox. is known as “kakanasika”. The entire plant contains biologically active constituents such as luteolin, flavonoids and phenolic compounds that have been reported to show potentially significant pharmacological activities. Therefore, the herb is widely used in traditional systems of medicines. However, the studies of the pharmacological activities are inadequate and further research is required for the determination of the therapeutic benefits as well as the toxic effects of the plant. The aim of this review article is to gather and summarize the information related to Pharmacognostical, ethnobotanical, phytochemical, traditional and pharmacological activities of Martynia diandra Glox.