REVIEW ON NYCTANTHES ARBOR-TRISTIS (HARSINGHAR) - A HERBAL MEDICAMENT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO UNANI MEDICINE

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn is one of the important herbal drugs used for therapeutic purpose in India. It is described with the name 'Harsinghar' in Unani Medicine. Various parts of the plant are used medicinally to cure various diseases since centuries ago. These medicinal properties of the plant are due to the active phytochemicals present in the plant. Various chemicals have been isolated from this miracle plant having therapeutic potential possessing ethnomedical and pharmacological activities. It is a rich source of important phytochemicals like nycanthine, astringent principle, beta cortisol, coloring matter, tannins, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, saponins and alkaloids etc. Pharmacological actions of Harsinghar include cholagogue, anthelmintic, laxative, antipyretic, diaphoretic, diuretic; for which the the plant is employed in the treatment of skin disorders, dandruff, malaria, different types of fever, hemorrhoids, palpitation, cough, excessive menstrual bleeding menstrual etc. Diverse pharmacological studies of the plant have been reported such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, antipyretic, antioxidant activity proving the traditional claims scientifically. In this paper, an attempt has been made to summarize the information described in classical Unani texts and updated scientific research conducted on different parts of the N. arbor-tristis plant.