Helicteres isora L.-“Mrigashringa”- Current Strategies and Future Aspects

Helicteres isora L. is an important medicinal plant which has been reported to posses phyto-constituents like alkaloida, glycosides, phytosterols, fixed oils and fats, phenolic compounds among which Cucurbitacin B and Isocucurbitacin B (cytotoxic principle) are of keen interest. Its diverse medicinal properties include anti-diabetic, anticancer, antispasmodic, anti-hyperglycemic, antioxidant, glycaemic control and renoprotective, glucose uptake activity, hypo-lipidaemic, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-nociceptive, heart antioxidant, lipid peroxidation and hypoglycemic activities. This plant was commonly used in indigenous and traditional folk medicine system in South East Asia. An upto- date data on phytochemical composition and pharmacological properties of different parts of Helicteres isora are reviewed and commented in this article.