A Review on Antioxidant Properties of Extracts Obtained from the Leaf, Stem, Bark and Flower of Calotropis Species

Traditional medicine can be a valuable source in primary health care due to its enriching acceptability and enhanced compatibility with the human body with minimal side effects. Karanjwa Caesalpinia bonducella Linn is an important medicinal plant used in the Unani system of medicine for a long time due to its multiple therapeutic properties. The present review aimed to explore the existing data of the drug about its conventional uses based on its phytochemical constituents and pharmacological actions. Karanjwa review was undertaken by exploring the bibliographic database viz. Science Direct Pub Med Scopus and Google Scholar. The search was carried out using the terms lsquoKaranjwarsquo lsquoCaesalpinia bonducella lsquoFever nutrsquo lsquoGajgarsquo. Moreover books published in Urdu and English were also used to gather information as representative literature. The plant is known for its use in the treatment of different systemic ailments due to the presence of steroidal saponins fatty acids hydrocarbons phytosterols isoflavones amino acids and phenolics alkaloids present bonducin a homoisoflavone. In the Unani system of medicine the pharmacological actions of Karanjwa include antipyretic anti-inflammatory antimicrobial tonic desiccatives antispasmodic immuno-modulators antioxidant anxiolytic antidepressant hypoglycaemic antiallergic and antihistaminic anti asthmatic hepatoprotective anticancer and nephroprotective activities. The present study explored the pharmacological phytochemical and therapeutic properties of Caesalpinia bonducella Linn. Many pharmacological activities mentioned in Unani medicine have been validated and several activities need further exploration owing to its immense therapeutic scope.