Phyto-Pharmacological Profile of Wrightia tinctoria

Wrightia tinctoria is a medium sized ever green tree grows up to 18 m tall and to 20 cm which produces milky white latex from the leaves which is directly applied on inflammation. Since from ancient period this plant constantly been used as a source of medicine. This plant shows a very important component of the health care system in India. In ayurvedic system the drug activity of W.tinctoria is defined as titka, kashaya, rooksha, sita and katu. Various parts of this plant such as stem bark, leaves, flowers also seed have been known to have medicinal assets. Phytochemical studies have shown that it contains alkaloids, triterpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, phenolics, carbohydrates, lipids etc. Wrightia tinctoria has been allotted to have good analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, antiulcer, antidysentric, antidiabetic, anticancer, antipyretic activities as well as active in the treatment of psoriasis. The present review primed to describe the botanical classification, vernacular names, species, Pharmacognostical and Phytochemical Properties and pharmacological activities of the plant Wrightia tinctoria.