Ethnomedicinal review of the plant coccinia indica (bimbi) and its utilization in india

Summary of article contents:

Many traditional healing herbs have been shown to have medicinal value and can be used to prevent or cure seve al human diseases. There has been increased global used by the rural masses for their primary health care in developing countries but are also used in developed cou tries where modern medicines dominate. Coccinia indica (Cucurbitaceae), common or little gourd is a potent medicinal plant used in traditional medicine for various diseases. The different parts of this plant namely the leaves, roots, stems and fruits are used for several purposes like jaundice, diabetes, cough, asthma, ulcers, stomach ache, skin diseases, fever etc. Analgesic, anti crobial, antiulcer, hypoglycaemic, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, antimalarial, anticancer, antitussive, antimutagenic are the reported pharmacological activities of this plant. The present review highlights adequate i formation to develop suitable medicinal value Keywords: Traditional medicine, Coccinia indica, Medicinal plant, Pharmcological activities INTRODUCTION Ethnomedicine is a study or comparison of the trad tional medicine practiced by various ethnic groups and especially by indigenous peoples