CHAKSINI (PERISTROPHE BICALYCULATA (RETZ) NEES.: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON A LESSER-KNOWN HERB OF UNANI MEDICINE

Peristrophe bicalyculata (Retz.) Nees. family Acanthaceae is a lesser-known drug of Unani Medicine but commonly used drug in Ayurvedic medicine. The plant is found throughout India. In Aligarh and around it is locally called as “Chaksini”. In Unani medicine it is mentioned by the name of “Massi” and “Kakajangha”. The most relevant description of the plant is mentioned as “Massi”. It is used for the treatment of different ailments e.g. fever, cold, cough, insomnia, headache, leucorrhea etc. and also for snake poison and sprain. Preliminary neuropharmacological screening e.g. anticonvulsant, narcotic, CNS depressant activities of the plant have been done. The plant has also evaluated for its antibacterial, antidiabetic and antilipidaemic activities. This review is prepared to explore the identifying characteristics, ethanomedicinal importance and therapeutic uses of lesser known herb of Unani Medicine.