Traditional Uses, Pharmacological Action and Phytochemical Analysis of Carissa carandas Linn.: A Review

Starting from immemorial time; peoples traditionally used herbs and plants to treat different human and animals ailments. This initiated scientists to investigate on traditional medicinal plants and herbs for biological activities by checking through bioassay and then isolating the bioactive constituents from biologically active medicinal plants and herbs. The different parts of Carissa carandas have been used for various human ailments. It has been used by traditional healers in the treatment of scabies, intestinal worms, pruritus, biliousness, snake-bite/poisoning, astringent, anemia, stomachache, diarrhea, rheumatism, earache, anthelmintic, female libido, hyperdipsia, anorexia, intermittent, mouth ulcer and sore throat, syphilitic pain, burning sensation fever, biliary dysfunction and also used as appetizer, antimicrobial, anti-fungal, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-scorbutic. Its biological activities have been reported by different researchers as hepatoprotective, neuropharmacological, anticancer, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, antiulcer, anthelmintic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, antinociceptive, anti-diabetic, anti-pyretic, cardiotonic, histamine releasing, DNA damage inhibition, constipation, anti-diarrheal, antihyperlipidemic, antibacterial, antiviral, cytotoxic potential and diuretic. Its phytochemical constituents which impart medicinal value to the plant was reported as alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, unsaturated sterols, phenolics, saponins, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids, tannins, proteins, cardiac glycosides, phytosterol, phlobatannins, leucoanthocyanin, chalcones, coumarin, anthracyanin, emodin, minerals acids, vitamins and anthraquinone glycosides. So far 14 compounds have been isolated from roots, 40 compounds from fruits and 19 compounds from leafs. These compounds include phenolic, alkaloids, sterols, terpenoids, simple acids, simple ester, sesquiterpenes, carboxylate, amino acids, glucose and galactose, sterols glycosides, phenolic lignin. Hence we reviewed the traditional uses, extraction methods, pharmacological uses and phytochemical constituents of Carissa carandas.